THE ART OF SURVIVAL

From the spotlight to the roadside — a number of artistes who earned by singing and dancing on stage are now selling vegetables, pulses and masks out of desperation to survive, as the lockdown has put a stop on events

It was 2018 when talented Lavani dancer Meera Dalvi-Sonavane was invited to Delhi, at a programme where she was felicitated at the hands of former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar. But with just two short years and an unexpected lockdown, the now 51-year-old’s fortunes have taken a 180 degree turn for the worse, pushing her to now learn the art of survival instead.

Today, Meera has set aside the art form she loves, and is selling pulses on Sinhagad Road. Thanks to no shows taking place due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its strictures, several artistes like her from more humble origins have been compelled to take up various odd jobs like selling vegetables, pulses or even masks to make ends meet.

Sitting on the pavement and selling trinkets or produce is a far cry from performances on stage, they say, where the spotlight shone on them and hundreds in the audience would give thunderous applause to their efforts. In fact, the summer season usually was the most valuable in terms of earnings, and they would perform various shows — all of which now stand cancelled. In fact, while the coronavirus outbreak looms large, even the future looks rather bleak for them.

Speaking to Mirror, Meera, the resident of a slum area next to Pu La Deshpande Garden on Sinhagad Road, said, “My art as a Lavani danseuse took me to places like Delhi and Chandigarh for events. In Maharashtra as well, I performed across several cities and received a lot of admiration. But in my middle age, coronavirus has forced me to sit on the road and sell wares. If there are no shows, there is no income — artistes like me have no option but to look for alternate sources of money.”


While Meera’s son works as a delivery boy, his income is not enough to look after their family of five, which includes her small grandson. “I am not like those big artistes, who earn a lot through their career and have a lot of savings. I come from a really poor family and in spite of performing in front of well-known people, I did not get enough money to save. Today, when all shows of April, May and June stood cancelled, I have had to opt for a complete change of career,” she said.

Like her, even 27-year-old contemporary dancer Manju Waghmare is now selling masks by the roadside. Manju, who stays in a slum near the Shivajinagar court, shared, “With a washed-out summer, money became tight. I had to start something of my own. A friend offered to give me some money, but instead of just taking it, I asked her to give me masks, which I am now selling. My mother has also given me some money with which I bought sarees which I am trying to retail to take money back to home.”

The young woman, used to a different sphere of life, feels unsafe on the lonely roads at all hours. But, she says she has to take this risk to earn. “I am used to glares and comments at shows — but I usually have my entire crew with me and never felt unsafe on stage. But selling these masks standing on the roadside, some men have stared and even made vulgar comments. I feel unsafe. And yet, I have to step out every day to do this, or I will not survive,” said Manju.

While the government had announced the COVID-19 lockdown across India in March, it went on extending. Usually, after April, when various examinations are over, the season for shows of these artistes begins and goes on till Ganeshotsav and Navratri. Now, while the danger of the coronavirus persists, these artistes expect no performances for the rest of the year.

The complete absence of events has also thrown another young Hadapsar-based artiste couple into a quandary. While 30-year-old Vinayak Powar is a singer, his wife, 26-year-old Kajal Powar, is a contemporary dancer, both performing at various shows usually. Now, instead of a double income, they are both stuck at home with no work. After trying to do various odd jobs, they have zeroed in on selling masks at Bhekrai Nagar, which they dole out every day from their vehicle parked on the roadside.

Vinayak narrated, “When the lockdown was announced in March, I realised that there would be no work this summer. So, I immediately took up the job of a delivery boy with a firm. Amonth later, as COVID-19 cases continued to rise, I realised that the risk of my infection was high, and we did not even have enough money for any kind of treatment. So, I left the job and we now sell healthy safety gear.”

He added, “The income is nowhere close to what we got in shows. But at least we can buy some rations. The major problem we face is that we have no permission from the civic authorities to sell products on the road. It is only our desperation that has led us here. Each time the police come, we have to leave the place immediately.”