Perhaps it was written in my stars that I should become a kathak dancer," is what Fasih-ur-Rahman, one of the leading kathak dancers of this decade, feels. At a time when young people aspire for professional careers, Fasih opted for one which is still considered forbidden territory for men in our society. But he had made up his mind and today, he is sure he made the right decision.

Meeting Fasih and talking to him is an interesting experience in itself. The performer is immensely polite and thoughtful, though a little unsure of himself. In casual jeans and a kurta, he greeted me with a shy smile, a hallmark of his personality. After nineteen years of extensive training from the late Maharaj Kathak, he's been able to get himself dubbed as one of the best classical dancers amongst the present lot. He lauds Maharaj Kathak and cherishes the moments he spent under his tutelage.

"It was in the early 80s when I started out with him. Maharaj Kathak was awesome and it would always be an honour for me that I managed to extract that little something from him. He was not only a teacher but a mentor, someone who really taught me to lead my life - to perceive things mentally and, above all, to perceive dance in its purest form."

Fasih talked with a fiery passion and a deep sense of love for what he does. He is no different from the Fasih of yesteryear who watched as an enthusiast classical dancing. Rather, it seem the passion has increased tenfold. Recollecting the days of his first performance in 1982 he says, "I had always been a shy kid," and with a glint in his eyes continues, "but to my surprise, I didn't have stage fright, nor did my knees turn to jelly the first time I faced an audience. Everything went unbelievingly perfect!"

That was 17 years ago. Since then Fasih has been performing solo. Though his fondest memories are of 'Maharaj Evening' at Lahore in 1994 which he terms as his best performance, it was when all of Maharaj Kathak's students such as Nighat Chaudhry, Naheed Siddiqui, Ikhlaq and Jahan Ara performed: "It was great, it was too good to be true. Specially now after Maharaj's death it almost seems as if magic happened that night.

How Fasih stepped into it and started teaching kathak, even he doesn't know. "Perhaps I was unconsciously trying to adopt Maharaj's image," he muses. Fasih has been teaching kathak for more than nine years now. He has his students at the Alhamra in Lahore and also in Karachi where he takes regular workshops at the Indus Valley School of Arts and Architecture. He does dance courses at a couple of special children's schools as well. "For starters it's good that there has been a change...a positive change in the atmosphere, in the perception of people. At least I don't have people coming to me to learn a few dance steps for their sister's wedding or something similar anymore," says Fasih.

He feels that in order to bring about some change in the attitude towards dance, one has to make dance be accepted as an art form primarily. "I believe dance should be taught and learned as a subject." He plans to open a dance institute where apart from dance, other disciplines like yoga and vocals, tabla, sitar and harmonium will also be taught. Does he himself play any instruments? "I play ghungroos, don't I?" he retorts with a mischievous smile.

What about the problems and hardships that he has faced? He shrugs the notion off with a shake of his head. "I'm content and satisfied, for all that matters in the end is the result. After all these years, when I look back, I always get a feeling of fulfilment which is more important to me than the frustration. It's good to know there has been a little change in the attitudes," he explains. "At least, now when they (the audience) come to a classical dance performance they don't turn their faces away on seeing me, a male dancer, performing. I think that's a big enough breakthrough for one lifetime.