Tribute - Remembering and reflecting on my first dance teacher and idol - Uma Palam Pulendran

When I came to know that Ms. Vijayambigai Indrakumar (Nee Ramasamy) had passed away recently, I was shocked and deeply saddened. The last time I spoke to her was sometime in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by a few text exchanges. In the last couple of years, I tried to reach her several times, but to no avail. I wish I had reached out sooner. I felt a deep sense of grief and regret.

As the news sank in, memories steadily came flooding back - from my last conversation to my earliest memories of her and our special teacher-student relationship. She was my first Bharatanatyam teacher. More importantly, she was my first "idol of dance" - my diva dancer. I used to address her as "Vijayambigai Ms.". We addressed our teachers as either "Akka" (informal) or "Ms." (formal). They did not become our "aunties" as we know them today. Now, referring to her as "Vijayambigai Ms." feels too formal and odd! 

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