The Humans of Rourkela

“I have seen my mother being a working woman, so I never had the concept of being a homemaker in my mind. I always had the zeal to do something good in life. When I got married, I hadn’t completed my degree. My father pushed me to complete and get my doctor’s degree. Honestly, then I used to feel, one shouldn’t have a father like him. He kept pursuing me to do something or the other in life. Today, I’m glad he did.

I became a homeopath. But there came a time when I got into severe depression because I wasn’t able to do anything in life. At that time, my father motivated me to keep going so that my energy was put into productivity. In fact, he was the one who suggested that I should set up my own homeopathy clinic. I began with searching for a place for the same.

Not a place for a clinic, but I got to know that a salon is getting sold. Although, I opted to purchase that salon but I had no money. I spoke to my friend and I remember, she dragged me along and paid the advance for the place, on my behalf. Thereafter, to buy that property, I had to mortgage my wedding jewelry. Whole of my life was at stake. I had to make it work!

Not even in my wildest dreams I had thought of setting up a salon. I’m from the ‘NO GOOGLE’ generation and I used to go around in search of makeup seminars. I took several one-day seminars. Thanks to my fine arts teacher from school, I was able to catch up with the makeup process very quickly. All I used to do was observe and learn.

Irrespective of all the problems, I never gave up because I had the passion to do the best. Today, when I see women crying over their situation, I feel that they are falling weak because they are so busy sympathizing with themselves that they don’t get a moment to think of solutions. During this whole process, I have learnt one very important thing – you need to help yourself rather than looking for help!

Also, when we talk about equality – it’s not only about equal wages for women or equal opportunities. It’s about equal responsibilities too! People look at me and they ask, how do you manage to work at this age as well? But no one is going to ask this to my brother or my husband, because they are men! Why can’t we women take that equal responsibility as that of a man? I want to spread the word via this platform that if we are asking for equality, It should be in every field and not selective!
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I feel grateful enough to have such a supportive family and a father who never gave up on me.
I was 26 when I started setting up Silver Tulip. I did everything in my power to make it what it is today. But we have a lot more to do and I see it flourishing a lot ahead!"