By Jawahar Malhotra
HOUSTON: You have to be impressed by his zeal and enthusiasm, even as his body slows him down. Ever chipper, Masterji (an honorific given to him by his many admirers) moves fast for a 78-year-old man, with a portly figure, a cane, and in a wheelchair. And his mind works faster as he thinks of many ways to reinvent himself.
Masterji Indravadan Trivedi, a former celebrated classical Indian dancer, dramatist, actor, painter, Hindu priest, movie producer and director, environmentalist, and Peace Bhagat doesn’t let the creeping years slow him down. His round face, with a full white trimmed beard, poses a striking figure but his eyes are the most expressive when he excitedly tells you about his next new idea and convinces you that his limited mobility is not an obstacle that he cannot overcome, even though he does not own a car or drive.
Born in Dahegam, Gujarat, Indravadan finished his education in Baroda, then worked at a government job that did not inspire him and instead set off on a bicycle tour of India in 1981! By 1991, he had arrived in New York City and set off on a motorcycle tour of the US, eventually settling down with his wife Avantika in Houston in 1992. He performed as a classical dancer – catching everyone’s eyes with his bare chest, piercing stare and gold laced white dhoti – and taught dance classes, eventually retiring in 2001. He then turned to dharmic pursuits and special peace projects for the last ten years.
Just two years ago, Masterji completed a trip to north and west India on a multi-city trek to spread knowledge about his “Go Green” initiative. It was an ambitious plan to “raise self-awareness of one’s place in the world and impart practical spiritual education,” explained Masterji, “distilled from years of my own experiences and knowledge.” Masterji went to India in February to celebrate Vasant Panchami at the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. He celebrated that by being the central figure in the Kumbh Mela float this past Saturday at the Sri Sita Ram Foundation’s Dusserah-Diwali Mela at Constellation Field.
Masterji’s latest project is the Tulsi Abhiyan 2047 that will share the healing powers of the Holy Basil or Sacred Basil, a type of aromatic shrub from the mint family. “I have had a fascination with the plant since childhood”, he said, “and in 2021 have started a project to donate 110,000 seeds and plants all across the world”. He next plans to visit Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and end in India, a tour partially sponsored by the Rotary Club. He is already on the agenda to present tulsi plants to the Conroe City Council during their meeting on October 13.
