A bindi is considered a sign of marital status of a woman in India. But what happens when her spouse passes away? Should widows stop wearing one? Should all the colour be drained from a widow's life? Has she no right to live her life?
There is more to a bindi than just being a status symbol. This talk explores the science behind the bindi and why women should be allowed to dress the way they desire irrespective of their marital status. Subhashini Vasanth is the Founder Trustee of Vasantharatna Foundation, started in the memory of her husband, Col. Vasanth V, who was awarded the Ashok Chakra (Posthumous) in 2008 for his selfless, supreme sacrifice while fighting terrorists in Jammu & Kashmir. Her own personal loss motivated her to start the Foundation, to create a support system for the well-being of families of soldiers martyred in the service of the nation. She was recently awarded the Neerja Bhanot Award in 2016 in recognition of her work for the foundation.
Subhashini is an eminent Bharatnatyam exponent known for her intense abhinaya and immaculate footwork. She has performed in several dance festivals, both in India and abroad and is acknowledged by critics and connoisseurs alike.
She now divides her time performing, teaching, spending time with her daughters and reaching out to other families like herself. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx