Date:15/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/15/stories/2007061505011200.htm

National

Inder Malhotra bereaved

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Rekha Malhotra, wife of veteran journalist and editor Inder Malhotra, died here on Thursday after a prolonged illness. She was 81.

An accomplished classical dancer in both the Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi styles, Ms. Malhotra was a lead performer in Ram Gopal's dance troupe during the ensemble's highly successful tours of Europe in the 1950s.

First exposed to Bharatanatyam as a student in Lahore in the 1940s, Rekha eventually mastered the dance form under the tutelage of Govindraj Pillai and Karanambal of the Sri Rajarajeshwari Bharatanatya Kala Mandir of Mumbai. In November 2006, the Kala Mandir sent Pillai's younger brother — the well-known guru, Kalyanasundaram — to present her with a special memento and shawl at her residence for her lifetime contribution to dance. Though ill, she acceded to the guru's request and performed `abhinaya' one last time.

Ms. Malhotra is survived by Mr. Malhotra and son and painter Anil Rewri, who lives in the United States.

Her funeral will be held at the Lodhi Road crematorium at 10:30 a.m. on Friday.