YOUNG AT HEART

Akriti Jamwal. Updated: 8/1/2018 10:58:52 AM We the Women

Sunita Pandit

In today’s edition of We The Women, we are bringing you the journey of another women who makes the clichéd adage ‘age is just a number’ seem accurate. Sunita Pandit is one of the oldest female theatre artists, who has been in the field for more than three decades now. Let’s know more about her and dive into her experiences, thoughts and vision. Who knows we might surface up with pearls?Read on.
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In the streets of Karan Nagar, when it was becoming difficult to locate her house, I asked a passerby for directions to where Sunita Pandit the theatre artist lived. Back came the strangest answer I had ever heard. “Aage se Right leke jis gharke pass bahut saare kutte honge (The House which will be surrounded with dogs after the first Right). It took me a couple of hours on that rainy day, sipping tea with Sunita to comprehend the story of her journey in Theatre, her struggles and the dogs surrounding her house.
Born to Dev Dutt Pandit and LalitaDutt, Sunita is 53 today. “I and my siblings were fortunate to be enrolled in Convent school which not only built our personalities, but also ingrained in us virtues like Honesty and Dedication,” she reminisces.
Right from the beginning her father was concerned about the use of language. “We would either converse in Punjabi or English (English with my father and Punjabi with my mother) and whatever was the pick, it had to be perfect.”
Sunita shares that reading the newspaper and discussing it was integral part of her daily routine; something that sustains even today.
Reminiscing about her childhood, Sunita tells that she first spoke publically when she was in class 7th; “It was year 1977 when I won my first prize. There was no looking back after that; with each of such event I gained more confidence.”
A year later, Sunita had already started compeering the western music program which was aired live on YuvWani Service from 9:30 to 10 pm. Sunita remembers vividly, “My father used to take me to the radio station for the program after dinner. He would stay there and have his walk meanwhile and my sisters would record the program on tape and we would hear and discuss about it later.”
“Theatre came next. Theatre was because of mother but my father would never miss a show. When I used to be out for rehearsals and my father would ask about me, she used to make excuses for me. She would only reveal it to himon the day of final performance,”Sunita remembers.
She further adds, “A hug from my father every single time I used to perform would be the highlight and best achievement of my act.”
Sunita shares that her father was connoisseur of music and therefore it was natural for her to get inclined towards art, it being in her genes. “I always played lead character in all the plays in school.In class ninth, for a Hungarian play byFritz Karinthy ‘Refund’,I played the male protagonist,” she says.
Sunita continued theatre and debates even in college. There she participated in inter-university play under guidance of Professor Rita Jitendraand represented the state. They not only won the first prize but were taken to Srinagar by thenGovernor, JagmohanMalhotra and the play was recorded and telecasted on DD Kashir.
In college Sunita received award for ‘best debate’ and ‘best dramatist’ for three consecutive years from 1983-85, consolidated in one. Since then Sunita has performed in more than fifty plays includingIndradhanush by Prof. Rita Jitendar; O JamayaeeNaiJis Lahore Ni Vekhyaby Kavi Rattan;AndhaYug, Lotan and Marakhey by MushtaqKak; Rakhtbeej&AadhaAdhuraby Deepak Kumar; Mahabhoj by BalwantThakur; KuawaChala Hans KiChaal by Sumeet Sharma; Comedy of Terrors by Sanjeev Gupta; Kisi EkPhool Ka Naam Lo by NarinderSachar;KabiraKhasha Bazaar Mein by MKRaina; RaktBheej by Rakesh Gupta and many more.
In her late teens, Bebo (name by which Sunita is known in arena of theatre) performed the role of an-82-year-old in ‘O JamayaeeaNaiJisLahore nivekhya’ and the whole audience was sobbing because it was based on partition and that generation could relate to it; such was her performace.
Sunita has also acted in TV serial with Late ShivDutt inWapsi Babul DaVarha as well as participated in National Theatre Festival. She also anchors events by Government as well as Private Undertakings, every now and then.
Today,Sunita is looking after the Cultural Cell of Directorate of School Education and doing the same play ‘Refund’ for Inter-district competition for Teachers day in the Directorate of School Education, to give exposure to the students.
Sunita has been serving as a teacher for more than one and a half decades now. She expresses, “Wherever I have been posted as a school teacher I have tried to broaden the horizon of the students in those government schools.”
In this line of profession,Sunita also got an opportunity to meet former President PratibhaPatil when she got nominated to represent the state for the Teachers conference by the Directorate held at RashtrapatiBhavan. She has garnered several certificates of merits for the same.
Taking care of animals, even strays constitute a vital part of Sunita’s day. She shares, “Theatre is my passion, it feeds my soul but it is like a feast that happens once in few months. But loving animals; feeding and treating animals is what gives me satisfaction at the end of the day.”
Sunita believes that if she cannot do much she can at least afford one meal a day for the strays.She has a tank constructed outside her house which is maintained properly just to provide clean drinking water to the animals around.
Though Sunita is an animal lover and loves them equally but Bravo, her beloved dog owns her heart. Almost 8 years ago he came in her life when he was one year old, deprived of love and nutrition. According to Sunita they bonded instantly. Today, she loves and treats her like her child.
“Bravo was an aggrieved soul, I believe loving and nourishing him has only brought prosperity to us. He has become center of my life,” expresses Sunita.
Sunita got married at the age of 37 to fulfill her deceased father’s desire who she had lost in 2002 but even then she decided against having kids, to which her spouseHitender complied. According to Sunita, she got married not because she had to but because she felt she was ready to take on the responsibilities. “I never got prepared to give birth and bring up a child and I do not regret it,” she adds.
After losing her father and her elder brother, it was youngest siblings of all--AnubhavDutt who became a father figure to Sunita. “After papa and Vicky left, Gudda- as Abhinav is fondly called- became my pillar,” expresses Sunita.
That age has not marred Sunita’s spirit even a bit is exhibited by her routine. “I get up at 4 and by 4:30 I am out for my trek to Manda. There I do a bit of breathing exercises and yoga for around 20 minutes; all of it takes an hour and half. After coming back I leash Bravo and take him for a walk.”
She further adds, “On coming back I wash water tank and utensils for strays, fill it with food and water. After doing all the chores I rush to my office.”
Sunita maintains that she do not drive or take auto; she enjoys being surrounded by crowd and observe its nuances; even the different music on the public transport.
Sunita shares, “After coming back from office and having lunch, I provide English classes in the evening, which is followed by praying for a while.”The earning from these tuition classes goes for the strays.
Late in the evening Sunita feed Sheru, Kalu and Pisti (the strays) again. “I ensure that they are sprayed and identified,” says Sunita.
Sunita has a degree in Law, something she had to fight for, then Post graduate diploma in journalism and Mass communication via evening session while she used to sub-edit at a local Eveninger ‘Bismark’ during the days. Around same time Sunita started teaching as well. She went on to attain B. Ed and M. Ed degree.
Following which she headed a school in Rajouri for three years until she got government job in mid-thirties. She even attained Master’s degree in English in late forties as a tribute to her late father.
Sunita believes in living in the moment but aspires to act again in certain plays and providing something substantial for more strays. Her journey is a reminder of how our vision is limited by what we are cultued with and a mirror to how dinamic it could be.
“Be bold, trust yourself and stay true to your conscious,” with these words of advice for women out there, Sunita who not only preaches but practises it herself, brought to a close the wonderful conversation on a beautiful day.


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