Boss Lady! - Shweta Choudhury

"My journey started during my college days when blogging in Odisha was in its infancy. Having followed a lot of bloggers from outside this state, I also started blogging as a hobby, and people started liking my work. After graduating from CET, Bhubaneswar, I chose to continue with blogging rather than going for placements. When I started, people used to stare at me and think I am a model because of my make-up, clothes photoshoots on the streets. I used to leave at 9am and returned home at 9pm due to  every day travel from CTC to BBSR by bus.

Being interested in digital marketing, I decided to pursue management. Managing studies as well as blogging was intense, but with the dedication of chasing my dreams, I got into the college I wanted to, and also flourished in my blogging. My parents always let me do my desire. I was earning from my college days and had also gifted my Mom a phone. I gained reputation became being my own boss. 

Instagram, with its ‘Born on Instagram’ feature, offered to manage me by assigning me a partner, who had worked with big creators, like Avneet Kaur and BeYounick. Then, I was offered to be featured during IPL 2020, there was no limit to my happiness. This event boosted my career further as I got featured on several platforms like national magazines, newspapers, and I got radio interviews as well. Instagram started working with me regularly and they also approached me to do the DDLJ’s 25 years with YRF. I remember one of my fans gifting me a sketchbook of my pictures, and that was a really wonderful moment, because that reflected my impact on that person’s life. 

To discover what makes you happy, is important. If you feel you can make a career out of it, then nothing should stop you from moving ahead." - Shweta Chowdhury.

A Life With Strings- Pragya Kumari.

“Our entire family of five had to shift to my grandma’s place because my Dad couldn’t continue with his business. Papa and Maa used to stay away from home in quest of work and it was my siblings and I living alone with our grandparents. At my grandma’s, we weren’t acknowledged well.

Problems arose during admission into schools due to the lack of funds. My sister and I used to save money for paying up our school fees. After a few years, Maa came back to stay with us. Things seemed hopeful, but there was always the hostility from my grandparents’ side. They used to maltreat us. For 10 years, all four of us used to stay in a single room. There have been times when my brother and I had to study without electricity and water. We used to study all day, so that the darkness of the night wouldn’t cripple our dreams.

Through all these years of struggle, I completed my graduation. Though I was studying Science, my mind was always in awe of art. I couldn’t take art classes, given the financial conditions. But, while in hostel, I started learning art by myself. I scrolled through Instagram to widen my horizon. During this time, an artist friend from Pakistan recommended me to go for String Art.

I was full of zeal to learn this art form. When I tried doing it for the first time, my hands pained so much that I was on the verge of giving up. But, my friend pushed me and I kept pursuing it. My first String Art caught the eye of an Art Academy called, “Flaminart”. They asked me to create a logo for their company. Today, I am learning all new art forms from this academy itself.

My sister and I also opened an Instagram Handle, through which I received numerous orders from across India. When I started earning and saw the burden of my family lessening, I knew I was on the right track.

String Art came as a light into my life. It has helped me and my family cope up with the troubles of the world. My next step is to open an Art Gallery so that people can know how difficult it is to manually make an art piece. People these days don’t embrace Art and artists. When we charge a certain amount for our art, they usually gasp at the price, without looking at the efforts gone behind it. I hope that one day, Art earns the respect that it deserves.” – Pragya Kumari Swarnakar.

    

Discrimination Is Not Okay! - Sharanya Naik

"While working at the Indian Express, I realized that this is not my calling. I wanted to use my journalism skills to write about the struggles and lives of those who have been pushed to the margins of our society.

I shifted to my home and decided to work among the Adivasi communities of Malkangiri, Koraput and Rayagada to learn from them about their lives. Usually, we perceive them to be unwelcoming, but once you truly get to know them and can win their trust, you realize how loving they are. 

During my initial years, I got to know that they were waging on an everyday basis just to live a life with dignity and freedom from all forms of oppression. I realized with great pain that they have been violated so badly by every non-Adivasi society that interacts with them that they have become distrusting of the state and society around them. They believed that the police or any other State actors, was meant for the people of the urban areas only and not for them. 

During all these years of being a part of them, I, personally, went through a lot of change. They helped me deschool myself and live a life that was more fulfilling than anything I had lived before, close to nature. They made me unlearn everything that I had learnt and gave me a new perspective towards life. I am more at peace with myself now and my heart is smiling because of the acceptance that they gave me and the trust I could gain of them.

My next goal is to work among the Adivasi youth groups. For all these years, I have been majorly working with the elders. But, now, I want to shift my focus towards the youngsters. They are the most miseducated now because of their access to modern society which has taught them to 'hate' their own people and their ways of life. Coming from an already racially discriminated society, their confidence gets a blow when they face everyday abuses from their own non-Adivasi peers who refer to them as 'illiterate', 'backward', 'primitive', etc. I hope that one day I am able to make this world a better place for them to live in, without facing any naming and shaming of any kind." - Sharanya Naik.

The Thrill Of Motorcycling - Suman Parida

“Motorcycling has been my solace since childhood. You can say that I grew up with them because my Dad works in the automobile sector. One time, while my scooter was on the main stand, I accidently left the clutch sooner and the vehicle did a wheelie. Though it was unintentional, I enjoyed it!

My school days were quite boring. I was under confident and dormant. Due to my heavy weight, I used to live in a state of inferiority complexion. Later, for my degree, I moved out of Bhadrak and shifted to BBSR. The change of scene brought a change in my confidence level. I stayed happy, got along with people, fell in love on the first day of college, did amazing in studies and also got into motorcycling. Every weekend, my friends and I would go stunting, with all the safety precautions, of course. It was a gala time.

My deep inclination towards motorcycling was affecting my grades. I had 7-8 backs. In 3rd year, I decided that I have to have a job and motorcycling can come along later. I shifted my focus, cleared my backs, went on to be the first rank holder and also had a job in hand. In 2016, my company asked me to move to California, but I decided to come back to Odisha. My parents were alone and being around them, in case of any issue, was important. They built me and now, it was my duty to give back to them.

While in Odisha, my mind being filled with motorcycling, my friends and I created a group called, ‘’Motorcyclists”. It has become my family now. One of the group members and I also opened an Automobile Gear Store called, “Mad Biker”. Mad Biker gave me satisfaction like nothing else. None of my jobs can even compare to that. People messaging about how our helmet saved their life, leaves me with a wide smile. Just a pair of wheels that helped me to move faster, changed my life and HOW!” – Suman Parida.

You're Beautiful Just The Way You Are! - Akankhsya Mohapatra

 “After undergoing body shaming, hormonal imbalance and painful periods due to an ovarian cyst, I finally decided to get fit. YouTube was my first guide, I started working out at home, gained knowledge on nutrition and lost 17kgs in 8 months. Later, I developed interest in yoga and eventually, won medals in competitions. I was also teaching yoga to people. I had goals set and life was good until I met with an accident in 2016.

In the hospital, they sedated me and after returning home, by around midnight my belly started to swell and became hard as rock. I couldn’t sleep as it was painful. My parents took me to S.C.B. and as it was crowded, I had to lay on the ground. After waiting for hours, the doctor came and diagnosed me with an internal injury, being unsure of what it is. 

I got admitted to another hospital where they ran tests. I had high fever & my condition was deteriorating Doctors had lost hope on my survival. Later, with the help of my Uncle, a renowned cardiologist, we found the best doctor and flew to Hyderabad. I got admitted in the Global Hospital where the started my treatments on pancreatic injuries.

I underwent through numbers of surgeries. I had been given so many doses of anaesthesia earlier, that the surgeons feared injecting me with more, so I literally took the pain some of the holes being drilled into my belly. The drain out pipes weren’t enough for taking out the fluids so they had to inject it out. Not a single part of my body was unpricked by then.  

The prolonged hospitalisation led to PTSD. In this state, I flew back to home as the doctors suggested being around the family for speedy recovery (which did happen). But, some people stated theories like ‘You must have done wrong to others. Hence, the suffering’, ‘if you had fat tissues instead of the abs, it would have protected your pancreas’, ‘You will get diabetes soon’. Such things did shake me, but my doctor motivated me to be fearless.

People have been insensitive and cruel. Not paying heed to them is the best way out. My mother stayed up with me on those sleepless nights, didn’t have water and prayed all day. She made me realise that suffering isn't personal."

I am forever indebted to people who have prayed prayed for me and to those who pulled me down. They have helped me to face the challenges of life." - Akankhsya Mohapatra.

Wandering With The Kondhs - Ron Gesser

“My wife and I love exploring the various cultures of India. We arrange for a guide and a driver and set out to the various locations. We went to Odisha on our fourth trip to India. Being a photographer, I feel it’s just the perfect place to capture the different tribes and their interesting lifestyle.          

                                                                                                                                                                       

   In Odisha, since the Government has placed restrictions on meeting the tribes in their villages, we only get to interact with them in the weekly markets. The Dongria Kondh tribe was the most fascinating. The way they represent themselves, their unique hairstyle and their way of dressing was new as well as overwhelming for me. Whenever I picked up my camera to capture the various tribes, they were kind enough to give a smile and pose for the picture. 

                                                                                                                                            

I would love to go back to Odisha. My wife and I enjoyed witnessing the lifestyles of various tribes. Their authentic traditions are a visual treat. One thing that bothered me was the poverty dwelling among all the tribes. I feel the Odias and the Indians, in general, should try to provide for them without trying to assimilate them into the regular society. They should be helped without harming their will to live their life according to their desire.” – Ron Gesser.