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Bangalore News
Gayathri Krishnan: A bureaucrat who dances her way to our heart
May 24, 2018
It is hard to juggle one’s passion and profession at the same time. In the hullabaloo of our rushed life, we often forget to pursue our love: the love for writing, dancing, music, poetry and many more. Without dedication, who would be able to take out time within those very 24 hours that is meant for family, professional work and running errands. But this bureaucrat does it with such ease that it almost looks simple.
Gayathri Krishnan gives solo performance in her dancing gear along side, she wears the bureaucrat hat, fulfilling one of the most coveted professional commitments. She says it doesn’t take much to balance. “Dancing for 30 minutes to an hour a day is immensely rejuvenating and enjoyable, and most days I am able to do it. Usually when everyone else is asleep! After work when I am home, free and after my son has slept and I have time for myself, I enjoy dancing and practising my routine.I believe whatever we really like, be it dance or music or reading or TV or social media, we will always have time for it. Some have 30 minutes a day for, say, Facebook, or their favourite TV program, or running, or reading, or writing.
For me, it is dance. There is never really a lack of time. I believe it is about efficiency, smart work, delegation, freeing ourselves from worrying about things beyond our control and not trying to be superhuman! A key learning for me is to trust others to do a good job, not micromanage, clearly define deliverables and to set realistic performance standards for myself and others. That way, I do not take on more than I can manage,” says Gayathri.Gayathri is learning Bharatanatyam under Pandanallur S Pandian master. He teaches the Pandanallur bani of Bharatanatyam. On April 30th, with other students they had a concert at Pollachi. In addition to group events, she did a solo padam, “Chinnam chiru kiliye.” Prior to this, she had performed solo in Chidambaram Thillai Nataraja Kovil.
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She always knew that dance will be an important part of her life. “As a child I did not really dream about being an IAS officer. I always knew I wanted to work and earn but wasn’t particularly decided on any one career. I was just sure that I wanted to study as much as I can. I liked to read and liked most subjects.Had I not had so much love for books, reading and studies, perhaps as a career I could have pursued dancing. I enjoy almost all forms of dance. However, the structured classical dance forms have always seemed quite divine to me, and the dedication and effort put in by the dancers has always awed me,” she explains.
For a career woman, is it more hard than it is for a man. Especially, given the profession you are in and the demands of the same, how does one do it? “I wouldn’t say it is easy to find time for everything, and some days it is harder than others to get free. But we always have time to do what we really really want to do. I enjoy my work and it is something that, while challenging, is also highly meaningful and fulfilling for me. Being with my family and spending time with my child are essential to me.
Sometimes travel or work reduces the time I get at home, but usually I am able to make up for it. It is important to me to be there for all the special moments of my family members, and try to schedule things so that I do not miss the milestone events of the people who matter to me. As for dance, it is a part of who I am.” She adds, “ Also I was fortunate to have my guru, Pandanallur S Pandian, give me some flexibility in class timings to adjust my rather erratic work commitments.”
Despite struggling a bit to keep the dancer in her alive, she endorses pursuing any at form, that she believes not only rejuvenates the mind but also provides a balance to one’s life. “Art is the highest form of human expression, and any art form has a huge impact on the artist. It helps to focus on something beyond the mundane, and takes away everything from one’s mind. I also love to write, and both writing and dancing take me to a completely different world, and when I am immersed in my art I am not aware of anything else.
It completely refreshes and rejuvenates me. And it provides balance to life. I think everyone should have something in life that is their very own, which is not tied into any other identity of theirs, as a family member or employee. That special something will help us engage positively with the world, no matter what else is going on in life. I absolutely believe everyone needs it,” she concludes.
