A striking reversal has played out in the life of 31 year old Shyamnath Goswami from Hyderabad, who once wowed judges on the country's popular reality show Dance India Dance and now spends his days frying samosas and kachoris just to keep his household running.
A childhood obsession with dance
Shyamnath grew up in a modest, cramped home in Hyderabad where resources were limited but his love for dance was not. After school he would spend hours at an internet cafe watching dance videos, then head up to the terrace at night to practise alone, sometimes staying there until 2 am. That relentless self taught grind is what eventually shaped his talent.
Chosen for a distinctive style at the audition
At 19, he made a bold call, dropping out of college and auditioning for Dance India Dance without telling anyone at home. Among thousands of hopefuls, his Tollywood inflected dance style impressed the judges enough that he became the only contestant selected from Hyderabad.
Mumbai brought a mountain of trouble
Things did not get easier once he reached Mumbai. His mobile phone and belongings were stolen right at the railway station, forcing him to spend several nights sleeping at Borivali station. Despite the setbacks, he pushed through and made it into the show's television round.
A sudden blow before he could gain recognition
Just before he could earn real recognition on television, his life took an abrupt turn. Returning home, he learned that his elder brother had died suddenly. His father was already unwell and unable to work, so the responsibility of running the entire family landed on 19 year old Shyamnath's shoulders almost overnight.
He set aside his dancing shoes for a food cart
To keep his family from falling apart, Shyamnath put his dreams on hold and set up a stall selling kachori, mirchi bajji and samosas outside gate number 6 of the Telangana High Court in Hyderabad's old city. For the past 12 years he has worked at that same stall every single day, from 2 pm until midnight, to keep the household afloat.
The performer in him is still very much alive
Circumstances may have pulled Shyamnath away from the dance floor, but the artist in him has not faded. Whenever the opportunity arises, he still choreographs for local events. He remains confident that life will one day give him another chance to showcase his art to the world.
