Diligent and Determined: Rekha Paladee
A story of foresightedness and perseverance
Rekha Paladee is an inspiring figure who embodies the perfect balance of ambition, resilience, and creativity. A businesswoman by nature and an MBA by education, she is also a classical dancer at heart, whose passion for Bharatanatyam has been the guiding light through an extraordinary life journey.
Born and raised in Bombay, Rekha’s childhood was steeped in the hustle and bustle of the city. Her days were filled with school, dance, and music, setting the foundation for her artistic inclinations. In 1994, her family moved to Bangalore, where she volunteered at Sathya Sai Baba’s Ashram, teaching Bharatanatyam while continuing to hone her own skills.

Her life took an adventurous turn after marriage when she moved to Trinidad and Tobago, spending over a decade performing on global stages. But her time abroad was not without challenges. Rekha survived harrowing experiences, including a near-fatal accident with a steel gate, battling a severe case of dengue, and enduring the trauma of her husband’s kidnapping, which culminated in a nerve-wracking seven-day wait for his return. The scars of these experiences, both physical and emotional, remain, but so does her strength and determination to persevere.
Even as adversity loomed, Rekha’s love for dance became her anchor. After returning to India, she founded Shree Sai Sangeetha Nrityalaya, a center dedicated to preserving and teaching Bharatanatyam and Carnatic vocal music. Through this platform, she has not only nurtured talent but also created a vibrant community of artists.
Rekha’s list of accomplishments is nothing short of extraordinary, including:
– Two Guinness World Records
– Two Indian Book Records
– Three Asia Book Records
– A National Nrityamani Award
– The Limca Book of Records
– World Book of Records, among others.
