M. g. ramachandran spouse

For the last 33 years, Nagendra Prabu, a freelance tour guide and resident of Madurai, carried a deep sense of frustration as he went about his daily activities. Around the time he turned 7, Nagendra recalls, he developed a consuming passion for dance and even a jingle heard on the streets, would set him into motion, his body automatically grooving to the rhythm.

At home, however, the focus was on academics and while dance was allowed to be a hobby, Nagendra could never realise his dream of performing for the world to see. As he turned 40 this year, the last of his hope was squashed by the burden of responsibilities.

"I am a husband and father of two. I figured that the dancer in me will never get his due," he tells TNM. "I was resigned to this fate and carried on with my work" he adds.

So imagine Nagendra's surprise, when he woke up last week to a barrage of calls, messages and social media posts praising his dance, grace and knowledge. Recognition of his talent came right from the CEO of Niti Aayog to office bearers of the state Archaeology Departme

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