Sweet Banters Of Love! - Pooja Panda

"Mr. and Mrs. Panda, who are also my parents, have a ritual that is being followed for the past 4 decades. This ritual used to annoy me a little, but after knowing the reason behind this, my annoyance turned into adoration. 

Every evening, Mr. Panda asks his wife what groceries are required for the house. Mrs. Panda first makes her husband count all of the things that he forgot to purchase the previous day(And boy, what a great memory she has!) and then she will bring out her list like a weapon and start shooting, one by one, all the things that are required. 

When she hands the grocery list to Mr. Panda, he won't take it, stating that he is genius enough to remember every item. Then, starts their banter. Mrs. Panda will whine saying, "If you remember everything, why don't you get everything?" and this keeps going on and on. 

On a serious note, Dad doesn't get everything(which is the very thing that annoys me) and yet, he will not agree to taking the list. One day, I decided to intervene in their ongoing banter. Mom was very irritated and I asked my Dad as to why he always does this. 

Mr. Panda, with a smile, said that this banter has been happening ever since they got married. Initially, it acted as an icebreaker between the two of them and helped them to have a conversation. He talked about how he would try to prolong this banter just so that he could just keep talking to Mrs. Panda. 

Dad further went on to say that Mrs. Panda will be more in shock than being joyful, when he gets all of the items because she, too, knows that this banter is not a quarrel; it's a conversation for them, a conversation that is foundational to their relationship

This monologue of Dad made me realize that this was their way of saying "I love you". It further made me realize that love is not just in those mushy talks, but also in the sweet banters, the little rituals. Since then, whenever I hear my parents quarrelling, I am at peace, because I know that it's their way of showing love to each other." - Pooja Panda.

A 92 Year Old v/s Covid! Guess Who Won? - Satyendra Kumar Das

"Two weeks ago, I, 92 years old, tested positive for Covid. Due to low oxygen level, I was admitted to a hospital. My body had become extremely weak, such that I wasn't able to stand on my own. The physical ailment was nothing compared to the emotional rollercoaster. With no way to see my family, I felt extremely alone. I was unable to sleep, eat and kept crying throughout the night. 

Three days later, my family managed to send in a phone. As soon as the phone reached my hand, calls kept pouring in. My children, grandchildren, best friend and relatives called to check up on me and I also called them, whenever I felt alone. I was constantly debating with them about getting back home, but they made me understand that I have to stay in the hospital for my own welfare. Their conversations gave me the strength that no medicine could. 

Gradually, my health improved. My oxygen was stable and I was discharged in a week. Just before the discharge, some journalists came for an interview. I felt like I had won a war, seeing the vigour with which they asked me questions. The doctors and everyone else, were astounded by my recovery. 

Now, I am back home, with my family! There is no joy greater than that. Their presence and their very faces is all I need to regain my strength." - Satyendra Kumar Das.

Given below is the link to Satyendra Kumar Das' interview as tweeted by Cuttack DM:

https://twitter.com/CuttackDM/status/1394121816155639808?s=19

Covid Internet Hero - Arupananda Subudhi

 I completed my B.tech from LPU in 2017. Then I took up a job in my core field. Gradually I started developing interest in marketing. In 2018, I started blogging on technology, automobile & food. With developing interest in this sector, I decided to leave my job and make this my career. 

I settled in Delhi, built a strong network for my work. Everything was running smoothly until covid happened in 2020. No company was interested for marketing and most of them wanted to have it done in half the price. My income started to fall, left with only savings, I decided to come back home. Thereafter I joined Byju’s .

 I tested positive for COVID with mild pneumonia in November. My lungs were affected. I was hospitalized and there, out of curiosity I asked the nurse about each medicine and she was kind enough to answer me every time. After I recovered, Byju’s didn’t let me join back, so I resigned. Then while I was looking for jobs, I came to know about the onset of second wave. After seeing the condition of Mumbai & Delhi, I knew it is coming to Odisha. There was no awareness being spread on Instagram, so I thought even if I don’t have a job, I can help people by educating them from my experience and research. I started posting on Instagram and created a ‘COVID 19 HELP GUIDE ODISHA’, first of it’s kind in the state. I learnt about an initiative, ‘India cares’, by Arun Bothra(IPS), where volunteers were actively working to fight covid. I contacted the volunteers, @aveer_das and @mariansweta and formed a group.

 Known bloggers of Odisha (@oh.delicious.cuttack, @shweta.choudhury), actively joined in this group and we started to collect details of the people, enquire about the test reports, CT scan, SpO2 level, arrange Remdisivir and beds after verification of the details. Recently, the SpO2 of a man with cancer & damaged backbone, dropped to 85 and we helped him with O2 cylinder, provided by @Sikhaid. We also arranged a bed for him, with the help of CMC and now he is stable. Currently we are working on black fungus epidemic especially in rural areas. I’d like to tell everyone to keep a check on your health, diabetes and avoid catching cold. – Arupananda Subudhi

Eager Beaver - Xerxes Irani

“I studied in Stewart School, Cuttack, where I represented my state at the national level in Basketball. I was also a district level swimmer and a part of the school's football team. After my 12th in Ravenshaw, I went to St. Xavier's college, Calcutta. During my college days, I played at the national level, was University Gold medalist in Basketball and got the Outstanding Sportsperson award. Sports taught me many values that have shaped me into who I am today.

I worked in Decathlon for a few months, then started my own venture of a Laser Tag Arena, a first of its kind in Calcutta, which became a huge hit among the youth. I got the ‘Youngest Entrepreneur’ award in West Bengal that year. Unfortunately, it got shut down due to a fire when the business was at its peak. I reopened it at a second location but ran into some hassles and had to shut it down. After sacrificing my passions and working relentlessly for years, I was at a loss financially and emotionally.

I shifted to Bangalore where I pursued a certification as an advanced personal trainer while working in an NGO, ‘Bridges of Sport’. I coached young athletes for almost two years, in remote areas of Karnataka. Thereafter, I got a job in ‘Fitness First’, Mumbai, as a fitness consultant. When I heard about the Roadies auditions happening in Pune, I went there. After multiple rounds of interview, I became the first Odia to make it to the Roadies.

Being selected amongst the best talents in the country felt like a blessing. I ended up winning the hearts of the judges, fellow contestants and most importantly, the viewers by performing well in the tasks. Since childhood I’ve believed in performance and not politics. However, in order to survive the journey, one has to play survival politics, so eventually I got voted out, despite being a strong contender.

Currently, I am based in Cuttack, and involved in multiple projects. I want to contribute to the sports ecosystem in Odisha by identifying and providing the right coaching, infrastructure and education to the suburban and rural talents of our state. I take pride in being an Odia and a khanti Cuttakia.

All I can say is that it doesn't matter where you're from or what you do, as long as you do it with passion and put in the hard work, all the efforts and sacrifices pay off in the end in one way or the other. Life is all about doing the right thing in one's own capacity and upholding ones’ morals and self-respect and this leads to internal happiness. One has to always be humble and grateful to God. When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.” - Xerxes Irani

Following My Calling! - Avinash Patnaik

"In 2013, I started working for the Government of Odisha, as an agriculture officer. During the weekends, I used to travel extensively. It set my mind and soul free. 2 years later, I had to shift to BBSR because Dad met with a serious accident and Mom suffered from a disease which couldn't be diagnosed properly. 

Before this crisis, life was pretty simple, but all of a sudden, a heap of responsibilities came upon my shoulders. My travelling stopped for an entire year and my life revolved around my parents. 

However, a year later, I started travelling again, and also opened an Instagram account dedicated to the same. I also got into food blogging and revived my childhood passion of painting. At this time, a thought about leaving my job started lingering in my mind because I wanted to pursue PHD, besides keeping up with my food, travel and art page. 

Later, I resigned from my job. One of my relatives passed a harsh comment saying, "You are taking all wrong decisions and you will suffer one day!". This broke my heart and made me teary-eyed. However, my Aai supported my decision and asked me to go with it. Her words were like water to my thirsty soul. 

I had decided that I would try and earn something, while I am pursuing PHD. Thus, I started baking and also did collaborations with various brands. I started food styling! My parents help me with the food pictures and sometimes, are more concerned about the angle of the picture than me. Recently, I also started working with one of India's reputed chefs. 

Many people want to do something, but are stuck with something else. In their mind, there is a war going on between their passion and their secured job. I hope, one day, their job and their passion refers to one and the same thing." - Avinash Patnaik.

DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love! - DJ Azex

 I come from a non-musical background. I set foot into this field in 2012, when I was in twelfth grade. My family was against my decision of becoming a DJ as they feared what our relatives would say, but I knew if I will be consistent in this field and put my heart and soul into it then I can obviously do wonders.

 Rejections were a constant thing at the beginning. Back then, when I used to show up at the venue or a club, other experienced DJs used to criticize and pass comments like ‘Basti chua asigala’. I have cried my eyes out, a number of times but at the same time it added to my tenacity and that’s what kept me going. 

I was never given a chance and nobody favored me over others due to groupism. Following a mob mentality was against my principle so, I started with very small shows in  college fests, farewell parties.  Then, around 2015, people started to know me due to word-of-mouth publicity. 

I became popular among the youth. Offers started pouring in and eventually my graph started to rise. I have also been  the ‘Official DJ’ for RedBull of east India and toured around India in 2016 and 2018 for the same. Interacting with the audience and keeping them hooked to the music has been my motto. 

Looking back at the struggles and criticism that I have faced, now I can happily say that they all were worth it. By God’s grace I’m well off and my parents are also happy and proud of what I am today.       – DJ Azex

My Lifelines! - Shrusti Nanda

"Social media was a new thing back then. Flexing about myself, making a lot of friends and boasting about my followers were things that I used to do while trying to be a social butterfly. I stayed home so that I could stay online 24*7!

In my 10th pre-board exams, I nearly failed in Maths and Science. Consequently, my mom decided to devote her time to my studies, while doing her household chores. Her resilience while taking that decision, will stay etched in my heart. Though an English teacher, she loved teaching me algebra. She sat with me two whole months, working even harder than me. 

In those two months, she would ask me to get up early in the morning so as to ask me questions. But, I would be clueless. My hard work couldn't match up to the efforts that she was putting behind me. My habits would compel someone to chew their fingers off, Mom was super composed. Patiently, she would teach me the basics, without looking down upon my condition in case of studies. Besides academics, she taught me about life. She introduced me to meditation and that helped me love myself, without seeking validation from others, that's how social media fever left me.

Later, I gave the Board exams and I had scored 59 in both Maths and Science, but above 85 in other subjects. Yes, I didn't do well in the subjects that she taught me vigorously, but guess what? Knowing that I loved the art subjects, she appreciated me for having done well in the thing that truly interests me and welcomed my results and myself with open arms!

Currently, I am persuading Psychology and my teacher is another inspiration for me. She motivates me towards charitable work and helps me to walk the talk! I am eternally indebted to my two super women." - Shrusti Nanda.

Suku, Anna, Tuna And Their Happy Family! - Shruti Kar

"A year ago, I found Suku, Anna and Tuna. My mom and I used to give them food and everyday that I would go to tuition, I carried two packets of Parle-G in my bag. Eventually, my dad joined in too. We started cooking homemade food for them and were happy to see them get their nutritional portions right. They had become a huge part of our family in no time. Our neighbors thought we were crazy for hugging stray dogs, but we just couldn't stay away from them for much longer. 

Later, one fine day, I was heartbroken when I could not find my three munchkins anywhere. My dad and I searched every possible place. I cried bitterly on my mom’s shoulder. I used to stare at the road for hours hoping I would see 3 tails wagging, but nothing happened. I dialed every single number of the municipal corporation and even took it to Twitter. Five days later, in the morning, my Mom handed me the number of the dog catcher squad's chief, which she had gotten from a BMC sweeper, and I considered him an angel for that. Dad and I went to the location as said by the chief and ultimately, found them. I could stop myself from tearing up. 

Currently, all three of them are happy, active, vaccinated and most importantly loved. Now, I am 14, but when I grow up, I want to start an NGO for stray animals, where they will be given immense care and love." - Shruti Kar.

A Storyteller! - Raj Sampad

“Being the nephew of Nirad Mohapatra, the legendary Odia film maker, I always had this affinity towards photography since I was a kid, and I had a small point and shoot camera with which I used to click pictures of all things. After I completed my 12th, my father asked me if I wanted a DSLR. I didn’t know what that was, but I said yes because it felt like it was something fancy. Knowing nothing about it, I slowly learnt everything by experimenting with it.

At that time, there were a lot of photography pages on Facebook, and I didn’t feel I would do anything different by following that trend. With my cousin, I started a small home production by the name ‘Incendiary Films’. We started with short films, and then stepped into documentary film making, based on real life events that were impactful on the society.

My major breakthrough was when I made a documentary on the famous sand artist, Sudarsan Pattnaik. The film got a lot of awards and grew very popular. I also portrayed Late Dr. Prakash Rao’s story, and when that video got viral, a lot of people gave him donations, and he received Padma Shree after that as well. I realized that my strong point was finding genuinely fascinating stories of common people rather than those of renowned personalities.

Stepping into the professional side, I started with a small ad production house. Later, when I moved to Mumbai, I worked for 'The Better India', where I met over 160 people who had done extraordinary work, and I filmed their stories.

Now I am a freelancer, and often take up projects with 'The Wedding Filmer'. I recently did a small video on the Mumbai Dabbawalas for Milaap, following which they could raise over Rs 1 crore. Last year, during lockdown I did a short food series called ‘Bou Kohuthile’, based on Odia cuisine. That was highly appreciated.

Besides everything, the fact that I get to come across so many common people who have so many wonderful stories to tell is a different experience altogether. There are so many raw and unscripted stories waiting to be told, stories that instill your inner passion.” – Raj Sampad.