New Delhi: 39-year-old Archana and Chetana are established
Bharatnatyam dancers now with their own institution, Nrithyarpanam School of
Dance. However, that was not always the case. What sounds like a dream to many
dancers in India, had a humble beginning and took sacrifices and overcoming
bumpy roads along the way for these women to be who they are today.
Archana and
Chetana, twin sisters from Bengaluru, faced a life-altering loss at the tender
age of three, when they lost their mother. Their father, unable to shoulder the
sudden mammoth responsibility of raising two toddlers all by himself, turned to
SOS Children’s Villages India. The girls soon found a home in SOS Children’s
Villages Bengaluru and they were brought under the care of an SOS Mother, which
eventually became the foundation of the lives they lead and their career today.
Sumanta Kar,
CEO, SOS Children’s Villages India says, “From an early age, SOS Children’s Villages India
recognised not only their academic potential but also their artistic
inclination. Alongside formal schooling, the twins were enrolled in
Bharatanatyam classes, a decision that eventually shaped their life’s purpose.
We ensured that Archana and Chetana grew up in a secure, nurturing family
environment that prioritised education, values, and emotional well-being.”
With consistent
support from SOS India, both sisters successfully completed their bachelor’s
degrees in engineering. Soon after graduation, they entered the corporate
sector. However, driven by a deep passion for dance nurtured since childhood,
they took the brave decision to follow their hearts and left their corporate
careers to pursue Bharatanatyam professionally. Their decision was met with
encouragement and support from SOS Children’s Villages India as they helped the
twins transition into this next phase of their lives. Archana and Chetana eventually
went on to become accomplished Bharatanatyam professionals, nationally and
internationally recognised for their artistry.
Their
achievements include being Cultural Ambassadors of India, a critically
acclaimed Arangetram, debut performance in 2004, empanelment as Indian Council
for Cultural Relations artists, and multiple prestigious honours such as the
Natya Mayuri Award from Chennai, the US Krishna Rao and Chandra Bhagadevi
Endowment Award from Karnataka, the Akka Award from Chicago, USA, and Rotary
Nachaley 2017. They are also graded artistes of Doordarshan.
Archana said, “We
wanted to give back to the dance community that has done so much for us and
helped shape who we are. Our childhood would have been incomplete without
dance. It is the art that helped us cope with being away from our father,
losing our mother, and leaving our house. We don’t know where we would be if we
didn’t have dance in our lives. We opened Nrithyarpanam School of Dance with
this thought in mind. If we can even change one life for the better through
dance, our work would be successful. We want to be for today’s kids what dance
was to us, growing up.”
“We will be ever
grateful to our SOS Mother who brought dance into our lives and insisted that
we give it a shot. She could see how difficult it was for us when we initially
came to SOS Bengaluru. As we started taking dance lessons, it would be the
highlight of our days and we would eagerly look forward to it,” added Chetana.
As the eldest
children in their SOS family, Archana and Chetana also grew into natural
leaders, sharing responsibilities at home and forming strong bonds with their
SOS siblings, values of care, responsibility, and togetherness that continue to
guide their lives.
Their journey is
a powerful testament to how family-like care, holistic education, and sustained
emotional support can transform adversity into achievement. Archana and
Chetana’s story reflect the enduring impact of SOS Children’s Villages India in
enabling children to not just survive but truly thrive.