Lucknow: Battling social prejudice, family restrictions and financial hardship, three students of Bhatkhande Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya turned adversity into achievement.Dipti Singh, 32, an MPA (Bharatanatyam) student will receive three gold medals. She discovered her passion in her village in Chandauli after watching a Bharatanatyam performance on television. Her father, a farmer, wanted her to pursue BCom, while her decision to learn dance drew ridicule from relatives and neighbours. Undeterred, Dipti convinced her father by citing actor Hema Malini’s success as a Bharatanatyam exponent. She went on to complete her graduation in Bharatanatyam from Banaras Hindu University and joined BSV for master’s degree.MPA (Guitar) student Neha Qazi, who will receive five gold medals, faced a different challenge. Coming from a Muslim household where music and dance were discouraged, she kept her musical pursuits hidden from most members of her extended family. “I always practised either at the university or at my sister’s place,” she said. Only her father and sister knew about her passion.Runjhun Singh’s journey is marked by resilience in the face of personal loss. The recipient of two silver medals, she began learning dance at the age of 4 with her father’s encouragement. After his death in 2023, her mother struggled to support the family. To continue her education, Runjhun started teaching Bharatanatyam to children. “I have fulfilled not only my dream but also my father’s wish,” she said.
