My Family Is My Life - Lopita Dash

"When I was in school, my Dad had to leave his job & shift to BBSR for my studies. We were earlier based in Kalahandi, which didn’t have good education facilities back in the 2000s.

My father started his business and could earn me & Mom a good lifestyle. But, life isn’t a bed of roses and we faced a huge loss in business during my boards. We had to sell some of our assets in Bhubaneswar for survival. The financial losses & the stress of board exams took a toll on me.

Papa wasn’t able to pay my graduation fees. I was always hunting for some freelancing projects so as to help them a bit. Soon, during my second year of college, I got a contract from AIR for their program "Yuva Vani". I started earning & could pay my own bills. Later, I got to work with some renowned TV Channels. Getting a job in Orissa Post Live was like cherry on the cake because it was a fulltime job and the pay package was also more than my expectations. I worked there for 2 years, gained a lot of experience and some beautiful opportunities.

In August 2020, I co-founded "The Click Productions", while already doing the job at Orissa Post. Initially, it was difficult to get sponsorships. I had to meet clients almost twice or thrice a week, according to their schedule. Balancing my company and my job was getting tougher day by day. But, I did it anyway, because I knew one day, this struggle would end.

Now, I am independent, standing on my own feet. When my parents look at me, my company and the recognition that's coming my way, they seem elated. Lack of finance made my family go through a tough time, but now we are happy, stable and out on the other side of the tunnel." - Lopita Dash.

More Than Just A Game! - Kalinga Utd FC

“Based in Kalinga Vihar, BBSR, we studied in St. Arnold School. We used to play football together in school, and in 2015, we decided to form our own club. That was how Kalinga United Football Club came into being. At first, we were a group of 10-11 members, and we started playing in local tournaments. As the club began to grow, people started joining us, and now there are 30 of us in the club.

We have a senior team and a junior team. Earlier, we used to send a single team to the tournaments, but now we send both of our teams. We try to give more chances to the junior players and we play together whenever we practice so that they get more exposure. The senior members manage the club, and also train the juniors.

We had gone to the semi-finals of the Neymar Jr’s Five, organized by Red Bull. We’ve participated in a lot of other minor tournaments, and a lot of people in this town recognize our club. When we started, we had never thought that we could get this kind of appreciation when we go for tournaments, but it makes us really happy when people recognize the club by its members.

We’ve been through a lot of tough times as well. When this club didn’t exist, we, as kids, wanted to play with the seniors and participate in competitions, but there was not one who took us into their team, or gave us any guidance. We don’t want that to happen to our juniors, and that’s what our club is for.

In our school days, when our principal got changed, he did not allow us to play football in the school field anymore. At that time, we had nowhere to play at, and while searching in our locality, we found a small abandoned field that was full of bushes and shrubs. We cleaned that entire field, and made it our own. We play all of our home matches there, and last year we also organized a tournament there.

We want to keep this club alive for many more generations, and we hope that people will keep supporting, and joining our club. We hope to play better, and win many more things for the pride of our beloved club.” – Kalinga Utd. F.C.

Change The Way You Talk To Yourself! - Susmita Sasmal

"As I was very thin during my childhood, I had to face bullying, pathetic and harsh comments and taunts from my relatives, neighbors and batchmates. People would say, "Arey dekha kathi jauchi", "Tate ghare khaibaku diantini?" and so on. 

These things made me insecure about myself. I doubted myself a lot and asked my mother and my sister if anything was lacking in me. Worried for my health, I took a number of tests, but everything came out normal. My Mom and sister tried to keep up my spirit, whenever I felt upset. 

My mental health went from bad to worse because of all the self-doubt and dissatisfaction with my body(as I didn't fit into the society's definition of "ideal weight"). I consumed proteins and various Ayurvedic medications, but nothing happened. My school performance declined, I stopped going out and stayed in my room all day long. 

This went on for quite a long time, but one day, I sat in front of the mirror and told myself, "I don't have to put myself through this. People's comments and definitions have dictated my life for so long, but not anymore!".

That day, I accepted myself and changed the way I talked to myself. I am still skinny, but I am happy with it! It's my body and people are not going to have a say in it." - Susmita Sasmal.

A Voice For The Speechless! - Abheepsa Mishra.

"I have grown up with cats and dogs around me. Feeding them is very important to me. My Mom and I would treat the injured stray animals near our locality and feed them. Later, many birds and mongooses also started coming up to our house and we used to spend a lot of time nurturing them. Currently, I feed around 17 stray dogs everyday. We are also looking after 15 cats at home and have adopted a stray dog. 

When I took admission in Ravenshaw, I found many dogs there and I started feeding them daily. Then, my mother came up with an idea to start a group with some like-minded people. With the help of Purabi Patra, founder of AWTE, we formed a group called, ‘Chesta- The Try' in 2017. We used our pocket money as funds or did fundraisers for the treatment of animals.

We have done birth control surgery of many dogs. My aim is to do maximum birth control surgeries, as either the puppies are killed by humans or are eaten up by other dogs. No amount of manpower is sufficient to take care of each of them. Thus, I think it’s better to keep their population in check. We also helped a dog with cancer and got her treated in OUAT. I am thankful to Dr. I.A. Senapati for helping us in treatment and Mishra Vet Pharmaceuticals for providing us with medications and accessories, since the beginning of our group.

Recently, in our colony three dogs were killed, but we cannot take any action due to absence of proof. Why do people harm them if they cannot do any good to them? No matter how expensive the X-rays and treatments have become, we always try. I even cut down on my expenses. I want to open an animal hospital in Cuttack, where treatment is done at a minimum cost.

I have overcome many hard phases with these animals around me. Despite people passing negative comments like, ‘you will have disturbance in studies’, ‘you will get rabies’, ‘you will become unhygienic’, my mother and I never stopped doing what we love and I also stood first in 12^th boards in Odisha. My Mom has been my biggest support system; without her I’d not have managed to come this far. – Abheepsa Mishra.

A Surgeon, A Covid Warrior, All In All Humanity's Guardian Angel! - Dr. Lipsa Swain

TW: Death and Violence

"After MBBS, I took up surgery, which is a primarily male dominated field. Women are not allowed by their families to opt for surgery because of it's long hours, which in turn, affects the time devoted towards being a homemaker. My relatives, too, didn't support my decision, but my parents were a like a rock and were happy with whatever made me happy.

In 2020, besides surgery, I was allotted Covid duty. Last year, it was still manageable, but this year is a complete disaster. In a single day, there were so many incoming patients that ICU won't be available. People used to wait in a queue for an ICU bed.

One day, we had around 6 deaths in our hospital; all of them, ripe in age. The task of disclosing the news to their families was bestowed on me. That night was very hard for me. I called my Mom and started crying. Seeing people struggle for a single breath was heart breaking and I felt defeated.

Besides this traumatic experience, all the doctors, nurses and staff of our hospital faced something else as well. A certain patient passed away after being in ICU for 10 days. One of his relatives rushed into the hospital pushed and attacked the watchmen. After some time, we were able to control him and we sent him off.

However, at 1 in the night, this guy showed up with a bunch of people. They came into the hospital from every direction possible and broke the glasses, plants and pots. It was a complete chaos. 

What was even more surprising was that the news channels telecasted that we were ignorant about the patient and hence, he passed away; nothing, not a word, about the vandalism. 

Being a doctor, who has to take a fight every day since 2020, I'd like to plead before people that we are not the enemies. Violence against us will only lead us to defeat. We need to stand together. Moreover, the third wave is around the corner. Don't settle, mask up and sanitize!" - Lipsa Swain.

Age Is Just A Number! - Kaberi Mohapatra

“I am a 54-year-old mother, and by profession the director of a saree brand called 'Ranga Tuli', a food blogger and the former president of the Inner Wheel Club of Bhubaneswar Confluence. Since childhood, I was a very ambitious and bright student. My father was a very successful engineer, and my grandfather was also a very renowned personality in the field of medicine. They were my inspiration.

Life took a sudden turn when I was 20. My father passed away, and 6 months later, my mother was diagnosed with cancer. At the age of 24, I got married, and due to my husband’s job relocations, and the birth of my two kids, I could not make any further progress professionally.

In 2000, we moved to Ahmedabad, I made new friends and started growing in my own life in a different way, in a way that helped me regain my confidence. My husband and children encouraged me to try something new, I started experimenting with cooking. I took baking and cooking classes, and slowly discovered my passion for cooking, and had the urge to learn more in the field.

In 2020, in the era of Instagram, my daughter persuaded me to do something based on my interest and I started my blog to post my own recipes called 'nofancycooking'. Initially, I thought that I was too old to do it and was not so sure about blogging, but with my family's constant support and motivation, I continued doing what I loved and was somewhat successful in the approach. Gradually, my followers increased and people started appreciating and trying my recipes; this made me really happy.

Being a saree lover, I also started my business 'Ranga Tuli'. I am also planning to build a cloud kitchen in the future because a lot of people are taking interest in my recipes. I remember my father always encouraged me to do what I loved, and I am happy that even in his absence I could fulfill his desire in my life. Lastly, I truly believe in the saying 'Age is just a number'." – Kaberi Mohapatra.

Beauty Lies In The Eye Of The Beholder - Tanistha Panda

TW: Depression and Anxiety 

"I met with an accident in December 2019, and broke 3 bones of my ankle. Thus, I was advised to complete bed rest for 5 months and months before  this, I had lost my father(a week prior to my boards so I had to drop that year). Soon, depression and anxiety issues started to set in. I was completely broken from inside. After battling with anxiety and mental breakdowns for three months, I researched face art, it caught my attention and I started to take more interest in it. 

First, I was  confused with what medium to use, but later got to know about the specific colours required for it. Family didn’t support me. Face art distracted me from the mental trauma. I was one of the first face artists in Odisha. Initially, people made fun of me, and passed comments like, “If you want to draw then use pen & paper, why do all this on your face?”. I did a face art on Marvel concept and people started  liking and accepting it.

My mother and I were facing financial issues, because my Father was a government teacher and had a good salary, and my mother is a private teacher in a deaf and dumb school. After I lost my father, everything fell apart.

 But, my mother is very supportive and asked me to do what I want to, and agreed to spend all the money, irrespective of the costly products required for Face Art. Nobody from the family supported us, so eventually I started earning from Instagram collaborations, to help my mother with finances. Some brands force me to buy the products and review and then they make fake promises of payment, but it becomes difficult on my end to buy so many things with this financial situation.

Now that I’m about to graduate, it’s becoming hectic to manage studies, collaborations and Face Art altogether. However, my mother and I have accepted this lifestyle now, and we are trying to do everything to keep ourselves happy and are overcoming all the hurdles. – Tanistha Panda.

Sisterhood! - Jyotirmayee Sahoo

"In 2014, Sony Nana, my eldest sister (second from left) was diagnosed with a brain tumor when she was just 2 months away from her placement. The tumor was operated on, but it took away 90% of her sight and also her speaking and hearing ability. But, she didn't succumb to her destiny. She fought and is still fighting. Now, she is an acclaimed writer, poet and an aspiring guitarist and painter(using whatever little her eyes can see).

My elder sister, Rony Nana (extreme right) was the first child in the house to get out of Odisha. Just because she didn't belong to their community, didn't know their language, couldn't speak English as fluently as she does now, they alienated and mocked her. But, gradually, she befriended them and is the centre of their group.

Two months back, my younger sister(extreme left), Chinu, got diagnosed with depression and anxiety. She would hyperventilate every now and then, so we had to admit her in the hospital. I would carry her to the loo, make her walk in the hospital arena. The doctors were so elated to see our bond that when we were leaving they took pictures with us, patted my back and said, "We are glad you were here!". She isn't completely fine, but she's willing to make a difference in her life.

The youngest one is Linu. She gave us reasons to smile and laugh. Looking at her grow and playing with her, was the therapy we all needed to survive.

My point is my sisters have made me a better and stronger person. They are my heroes!" - Jyotirmayee Sahoo.

The Event Planners For Your Big Nights! - Abhisek Baliyarsingh

"After doing a disaster in my boards, my friend suggested me to take up event management, since I was good at MUNs. In NIEM, I met my friend, Rounak. He and I did an internship at Network Events and promotions. 

Chandan Sir was like our Jeetu Bhaiya; we learnt all about event management from him. With him, we worked at Crown, Swosti and Mayfair. From arranging the chairs to setting up the stage, we did it all. After gaining sufficient knowledge, Rounak and I decided to start our own company. Our childhood friend, Krishna, also joined us on this journey. 

We visited banks, hotels and mandaps, seeking work. Our first tie-up was with the KM Convention. The profit wasn't too much, but we were happy as it was our first project. 

Initially, things were tiring. The vendors were new, explaining everything to them was an ordeal, the team was small, so for the smallest of things one of us had to go, but it was worth it. Now, we are tied up with several big hotels, companies and mandaps of the city. Beside events, we are also building a team to work for animals. We have started a food drive for the animals living on the street.

In this Covid, we are using all the time in building our portfolio. Our business, indeed, has suffered. But, it is our passion and letting it go is a big NO, even if there are no profits." - Abhisek Baliyarsingh.