Unstoppable pursuit: Saravanan managed to pull himself out of depression after losing his leg and continue with his passion for folk dancing.
KLANG: When Indian folk dance exponent and teacher M.Saravanan lost his left leg above the knee in an accident in 2016, he believed his world had come to an end.
The technician’s first love has always been Indian folk dance and drums, which he had been teaching for the past 35 years.
“What is a dancer without a leg? The first two months after the accident were torturous for me.
“But because my support system was strong with my wife, siblings, friends and students standing behind me, I started to heal physically and emotionally,’’ he said in an interview.
The 51-year-old, who is the founder of folk drums and dance troupe Om Muruga Urummi and Karagattam JB, said he is thankful to have been strong enough to battle his way out of the depression that had enveloped him following the accident.
Saravanan, also known as Master Sam, said it was during the first month in hospital after the accident that intense depression and self-doubt haunted him.
“I was in a very dark place emotionally. Everyone who visited me would tell me that everything would be okay, but that only made me feel worse,” he recalled.
“Were they saying that to make me feel better because everything would not be okay later?’’
After Saravanan was discharged and recuperating at home, he started to seek inspiration by reading about disabled dancers who were successful in their careers.
One such performer is Sudha Chandran, who became one of India’s top bharatanatyam dancers in spite of losing one of her legs in an accident when she was just 16.
Sudha, who uses a prosthetic leg, is also a well-known figure in the Indian cinema world.
Saravanan, who is based in Johor, said his students were supportive of him.
He began accompanying them to the troupe’s performances in temples, weddings and cultural shows.
“Those events gave me confidence, and it was not long afterwards that I resumed teaching.
“I also perform the karagattam while seated on my wheelchair when there are requests,’’ said Saravanan.
Karagattam is a form of folk dance which originated in Tamilnadu, South India, in which dancers balance pots on their heads.
Saravanan said he now manages his dance and music troupe full-time.
“I also receive financial help from my siblings who, together with my wife and son, have been my pillars of strength,” he said.
Saravanan’s advice to those who become disabled due to some mishap is to “fight the darkness and come back into the light”.
“There is always hope. Never give up,’’ he added.
