When I was five years old our circus was about to close. The girl who played all dangerous acts of our circus died in a road accident. I was very young that time. But surprisingly I used to understand things deeply from such an early age. I saw how helplessly my joker uncle cried, who never failed to bring smiles on people’s faces. I saw performers’ depression who only knew to make people happy. Circus is my family. And I could not let my family to lose. At the age of five, I became the hero of my circus. I became hope of my people and reason of their continuation. I play all dangerous acts of this circus. Many people only come to see me and hold their hearts breathlessly during my performance. I was never afraid, I never felt fear. Because I never played for money, I played for love. Love for my own people, love for my passion. Though my name is Shanta, but people call me ‘Life of the Circus’ and I say my circus family is the reason of that life.
- Shanta (15)