The article examines the work of the Indian dancer-activist Mallika Sarabhai. It situates her in her socio-economic background as a representative of an influential family, which set up the Darpana Academy for Performing Arts, an institute built on the Nehruvian philosophy of modernity. It presents her vision of what makes a politically engaged feminist artist, looking at the inspiration for her works as well as the kind of movement vocabulary she chooses for her choreographies. It specifically addresses the issue of her position during a period in India which saw the rise of Hindutva (‘Hinduness’) and an escalation of violence against Muslims in the state of Gujarat, showing how her political engagement led to government harassment and loss of sponsorship to her institution.
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