Humans of Bombay

“My husband and I got married about 30 years ago. He had a stable job, and I was a housewife. Everything was going great — but everyday when he’d come home, he’d be exhausted.

He’d always be upset, and never looked forward to waking up and going to work. The people there didn’t treat him well, the pressure was too much and he couldn’t take it. He was unhappy, and I wanted to help him — but I used to feel like there was nothing I could do.

Until one day, I came across a class that taught people how to bake cakes. I took it up and put my heart and soul into learning —I thought if I could learn well and start selling cakes, I’d be able to take the load off my husband. And it actually paid off!

Every morning I’d wake up early to bake cakes, and stand for hours here, selling them. For the first couple of months the sales were slow, but eventually people started recognising me — and I had regular customers!

That’s when I went up to my husband, and told him that he didn’t need to work anymore. I was earning and even though it wasn’t as much, it was enough. He quit his job, but instead of sitting at home, he decided to come and help me! He asked me to teach him how to bake cakes, and learnt quickly!

Now both of us run this business together. We‘ve managed to give all our 3 kids the best education and lifestyle— and live peacefully. And what’s most important, is that we find joy in what we do.

We enjoy everything from baking, packing and selling — even coming home and celebrating a day of hard work. We're partners in everything— to not only put food on the table, but look out for each other’s happiness.”

“Dad used to say, 'It is the journey that matters, not the destination.' At 24, he was the youngest fighter pilot in the Mirage 2000 squadron; he truly was top gun of the Air Force! Aman, my brother & I grew up hearing stories of his bravery; we decided to become pilots early on!
In 2009, I joined an Aviation school. I remember our train ride to RaeBareli. Dad helped me set up. With him, it was easy. We could talk about anything; be it my relationships or studies.

He’d always tell me, ‘Do whatever you want, just put all your heart into it’ And that’s what I did; whether in aviation school, or when I flew my 1st plane; I gave it all!

Dad beamed with pride & for a few of my flights, he was with me in the cockpit, not operating. Having a legend like him sit behind me would get me a little nervous to give my best but I always did well; he had my back. Like, during a training session in Lithuania, I was instructed by a Russian man who spoke broken English. I couldn’t understand him. I called Dad right away & for the next few nights, he helped me get through the curriculum! Things were going well & I had no reason to feel it won’t continue doing so. Years had gone by...Mom & Dad were traveling the world together.

Seeing their photos, I was happy to see them get their much-needed getaway. But 2 weeks after their trip, Dad’s health reports reflected some blockages. But we were glad to have detected it in the earlier stage. We were waiting for a small procedure to install a stent before he’d be back on his feet. On the morning of the operation, we had breakfast, spoke about the regular & walked him to his hospital room. We were hoping to see him soon but…a few hours later, the doctors came out & said, ‘Due to some complications, he had a cardiac arrest.’

And just like that, he departed. It wasn’t easy. We were shattered. He was just 60.
But together, as a family, we chose to live by his words; we celebrated his journey! Even today, 2 months later, his Air Force buddies come over & we talk about him- as a strong commander & a loving father. And that’s how we want to keep it; to ensure that he always lives through the memories he created for all of us.”

Featuring: Captain Akshat Saxena and his family

“After my father passed away, I came to Delhi with maa and my brothers. Bhaiya used to work in a nearby factory and made enough to take care of us and pay my school fees. ⁣

But before the lockdown, he went to Jaipur for some work and I noticed that Maa used to be tense all the time. She wouldn't tell me anything but I understood that we had a money problem. Ghar ka ration khatam ho raha tha; Maa would sometimes skip her dinner. My younger brother was also sick.⁣

I wanted to do something to help and since my school was closed, I had plenty of time. One day when I saw a vegetable vendor in my area, I got the idea of selling vegetables in a pull cart! Maa was hesitant at first, but when I promised her I’d be safe, she helped me hire a cart!
⁣
Every morning, at 4am, I go to Khalsa mandi and fill my cart with fresh stock. The market is usually very crowded– so, social distancing becomes difficult. I somehow manage to juggle through the crowd and head to the nearby households. Sometimes people say, ‘Beta, itne chote ho– aap kaam kyu karte ho?’ But I’m always smiling because I’m helping Maa! My first day earning was Rs. 1000– I was very happy! I gave all the money to Maa and she used it to buy ration for us. ⁣

I remember, at first, I was very hesitant to talk to customers. Mujhe bahut darr lagta tha, but they were all so nice to me that I opened up to them. We ask each other about our family and a few of them even give me gifts!⁣

So this is what I’m doing now, but someday, I’ll join the army, serve my country and make everybody proud of me! Especially my family– I want to be their hero!”

#MondayMotivationwithHOB

“Sunday used to be my favorite day of the week, Didi, because on Sundays, Abba used to bring home Firni – it’s my favorite sweet. And as a ritual, me, my 2 siblings, Ammi and Abbu, all of us used to sit together near the bonfire and devour it. Actually, now that I think about it, it was the only time when all 5 of us would spend time together. We’d talk about the latest movies and my siblings and I used to perform skits to entertain Ammi and Abbu. For years, we had this ritual.

But as I started growing older, I realized that our financial condition wasn’t too good. At times, I’d even hear Ammi and Abbu discuss money matters– ‘Aaj dhandha nahi hua.’ ‘Aaj koi customer nahi aaya.’ Abbu is a carpenter and since the past 3 years, the business has been stagnant. Still, Abbu never let us kids know. We continued with our education and every evening, he’d return home with the same enthusiasm and ask each one of us, ‘Aaj school mein kya kiya?’ Until there was this one Sunday when Abbu came home without Firni. He looked so anxious. I quietly took my younger siblings to our room, it was the first Sunday when our house heard no laughter. Whole night, I kept thinking about what to do. And the next morning, I had an answer - I decided to drop out of school and help Abbu run the house. I saw Abbu break down that day. He said, ‘You’re only 15. I had such dreams for you. I don’t want you to end up like me!’ I just hugged him. I spoke to some people around and by the end of the day I’d decided that I’d be a tourist guide and help people see the beauty of Kashmir. Anyway Didi, I’m great at conversations, as you can tell, and no one knows Kashmir the way I do. Abbu wasn’t happy, but it’s just something I had to do.

Bas phir agle din se hi kaam shuru kar diya. I’d take people to Betaab Valley and Aaru Valley on horses and entertain them with my antics. I didn’t want my siblings to meet the same fate, so I worked in two shifts. Years of enacting skits with my siblings was coming to good use here. In no time, I became the most sought-after tourist guide here. From billionaires from the US to television actors from India – maine sabko Kashmir dikhaya hai! Some are kind enough to leave good tips and some are so generous that they invite me to their homes. Dekhna, ek din duniya ghoomunga!

I’ve been doing this for 2 years now, on good days, I make INR 300. And yes, although I miss going to school, it’s okay now. I’d do anything to ease off responsibilities from Abbu’s shoulders. And honestly Didi, it isn’t all that bad. I see beautiful sunsets every day and I get to meet such amazing people too. See, today I got lucky and met you also. But I do miss our Firni Sundays. Inshallah, they will also be back soon!”

“We all have a #MeToo story — we’ve all been through difficult situations on public transport, schools, colleges, and tuitions. While most of us have internalised this whole thing and decided, ‘I’ll be more careful next time,’ there were a few who chose to speak up about their plight. The culprits were named and shamed, and yet, no action was taken. What was the point of it all, then?

I believe this is why we need more women in positions of power. So those women can lend courage and support to others and tell them, ‘You’re not alone!’”

Palki Sharma Upadhyay is not just a name in the world of journalism; she is a beacon of excellence, integrity, and dedication. With her unwavering commitment to truth, her insightful analysis, and her captivating storytelling, Palki has carved a niche for herself in the media industry.

From covering historic elections to reporting from conflict zones, Palki has been on the frontlines, bringing us the news that shapes our world. Her keen investigative skills have led her to unravel complex political scandals, humanitarian crises, and social issues, giving voice to the voiceless and shedding light on the stories that need to be told.

Beyond her professional achievements, Palki Sharma Upadhyay is a strong woman who has challenged and changed the narrative about a ‘working mother’, and aspires to change the way newsrooms work.

Join us in uncovering Palki Sharma’s journey as she shares her insights, experiences, and the incredible stories she has gathered during her illustrious career.

Watch the whole episode here: https://lnkd.in/dJFfjd3u

Karishma Mehta

“Like every kid, my sisters and I idolised our dad– our superhero. From getting us ready for school to sacrificing a well-paying job for our education, he proved that it was his life’s purpose to ensure we studied well.

And he didn’t stop at us. I still remember… at the airport, when I was leaving for London for my PG, he was asking the security guard if he was educating his daughters. I shrugged it off as just a ‘classic Papa’ incident not knowing that it’d be my last memory of him… A month later, I got a call; Papa was no more. He had passed in his sleep from a cardiac arrest. That call changed everything for me.

It was difficult to exist in a world where Papa didn’t. After my PG, I applied to over 300 jobs but couldn’t convert one. Then, Maa said, ‘Come home and take your time to figure things out!’ She tried to motivate me. She’d tell me how Papa tried his hand at different businesses and often failed, but he never gave up.

That gave me the idea. I started an accounts outsourcing firm. The work was a happy distraction, but it was only a matter of time before it got overwhelming– over time, the firm grew to over 200 people. There were days when I skipped meals, settling for junk food later – quick and healthy options weren’t available. And I wasn’t alone – over 40% of Indians skipped breakfasts.

It took me back to a conversation with my sister, Anindita, in New York – why aren’t there any protein bars made with natural ingredients? She had a name for it – 'Yoga Bar'; I loved it so much that I had it trademarked in 2012.

Little did I know that 2 years later, we’d be bringing this idea to life...

We began researching health foods; we wanted to make breakfast bars with natural ingredients. Then, a year later, with funding from our eldest sister and some loans, we finally launched Yoga Bar in 2015.

At first, we only kept our products at yoga studios, and almost every customer who tried them came back for more. It kept us going. Soon, we expanded to supermarkets, retail stores, and e-commerce platforms.

The days were long and difficult – setting up manufacturing to distribution and figuring out the logistics. But it all felt worth it as stories poured in – grateful mothers, professionals sustaining on our bars, and this one time, a man shared how Yoga Bars helped his mother recover after a major surgery.

That drove us to keep going. And that’s how by the end of 2021, our valuation was at ₹68 crores; it was just the beginning. Last year, we had the ITC acquisition valued at ₹500 crores!

If only Papa could see us… But as a mother to a 4-year-old myself, I know wherever he is, he’s beaming with pride!

Looking back, I couldn’t have done any of this without the little voice inside my head that told me, ‘You can do it!’ For that, I must thank Papa. And now, it’s that little voice I want to pass on to my daughter. After all, what better way to celebrate Papa’s legacy, right?”

#partnership

Yoga Bar (Sprout Life Foods)

“I remember when I was 16, I wanted to visit my aunt in Delhi. Everyone told my dad it wasn’t safe, but he sent me alone by train! He encouraged me to go out & explore.

As I grew up, I wanted to see more of the world! I travelled across India with my parents & at 23 I went to Turkey with my cousin!

But life got busy & I eventually got married. My husband was a traveller & had been to 30 countries! I was inspired by him & decided to plan a solo trip to Europe!

My husband supported me, but my father-in-law said—‘women shouldn’t travel alone’. Even a friend said he wouldn’t marry someone who’d travel alone after marriage. But I wanted to prove to them a woman could do whatever she wanted to!

I got my visas & booked tickets–I was raring to go! At the airport, I was so nervous–I couldn’t believe I was actually doing this until the air hostess said, ‘Welcome to Rome!’

I visited all the places on my checklist–I spent evenings in cafes, with wine & a book, I visited the Vatican & waved at the Pope!

My next stop was Mykonos–I was excited to party at their most popular beach! When I reached, there was no one! The bus back was going to take time & I didn’t have any network. I met a few girls who told me not to worry & invited me to a party with them! We did just that!

Even at the hostels, I met such amazing people! There was this 50 year old lady, who had no plans of getting married & wanted to spend her life travelling!
I even met a South African guy, who asked me to accompany him to a hill, so that we could watch the city from the top! I’m in touch with him even today!
I covered 2 countries & 6 cities in 17 days! I almost missed flights, made friends with strangers & spent time in the most exotic locations!

In our society, women are given limitations at every stage. While growing up, after marriage & when they become moms. I’m lucky I grew up with parents who told me that you can live life to the fullest, no matter what.

I recently became a mom & I want to bring my daughter up with the same ideals. I don’t want her to be bogged down or held back. I want her to find her way & fly. Because that’s what she deserves–that’s what every woman deserves.“

“In 2021, Roopa, my wife, woke me up & said, ‘Shashank…we are going to be parents.’ For a moment, I couldn’t register what had happened, but in a few seconds, when it finally sunk in, I was floating on cloud 9! And from that day on, I knew what kind of father I wanted to be.

While growing up, I had everything around me except Baba’s time. He was a typical 90s father–he provided for all my needs, but to this day, I don’t remember getting a hug from him. So, I always knew that when I became a dad, I wouldn’t let my kid feel the same way.
So, from Day 1, I didn’t leave Roopa’s side. From doctor’s appointments to every outing, I was there. I remember we would often go out for dessert dates because Roopa had sweet cravings during the pregnancy. On one such trip, the baby kicked for the first time. We were so happy! I kept telling Roopa, ‘Ek aur bite khana, wapas se kick karega!’ Those moments still bring a smile to my face.

Just like that, jumping, panicking, & eating desserts, nine months went by. Then came the real challenge—the delivery. During the entire time, I didn’t move from in front of the operating theater; my heart was almost in my mouth. But when I finally heard a little crying sound, I took a deep breath. My baby…my Yuvaan was here. And as soon I held him, he grabbed my fingers, & at that moment I knew, ‘I could go to war for him.’

From then on, I became a dad on duty—swaddling him, making him burp, & putting him to sleep were my responsibilities. In fact, I had become a swaddle pro master. Initially, it was difficult—I remember going to the office with just two hours of sleep. And you won’t believe it—a few months later, while I was making him sleep, he said his first word; it was Papa. Roopa was so mad! She kept saying, ‘Yuvaan, now say Mumma,’ but he would only say, ‘Papa.’

Even today, Yuvaan is 2YO, & my life revolves around him. He keeps coming to me & saying, ‘Papa, clean potty.’ ‘Papa, abhi ghumne chalo.’ ‘Papa, story time.’ And in those moments, while I am narrating his favorite ‘monkey story’ to him, I feel that somewhere, the little Shashank who never witnessed his father’s love is healing.”

Featuring: Shashank & Yuvaan Shetty
Written by: Nishita Singhania

“My husband & I were over the moon when we had our baby girl. I remember holding her, overwhelmed, tears flowing down my face. But within 6 days of her birth, the doctors told us she has Down Syndrome.

I was shattered–how could this happen to my baby? Did I do something wrong? Did I have a child too late? In the year that followed, I felt depressed & self-blamed. For a while, I hid it from friends & relatives.

But our relatives soon found out. They asked me, ‘Did you know she had this problem before birth? Because in India we abort the child if they have such conditions’. I was dumbfounded. I was so angry–how could I let them get away with saying that? That was a turning point–I had to accept this wasn’t a problem, before I could expect others to! That’s when I decided to tell the world I’m not ashamed. So I began blogging about it & it wasn’t long before I received support from so many people!

But the real highlight has been seeing her blossom into this talented, hard-working gem. She’s 5 now, but her schedule is far from a typical 5-year-old’s! She attends school from 9 to 5 & then has physiotherapy. On weekends, she does gymnastics & hydrotherapy. Now, when I tear up, it’s only out of pride–like when I see her tumbling during gymnastics & then picking herself up, or practicing her sign language. I’m overcome by her perseverance–I know how hard it is for her but she just doesn’t give up. Her accomplishments are endless, she’s won awards in gymnastics & models for big Australian brands too!

I want the world to know we aren’t suffering–in fact, we’re living with an adrenaline rush, because every day, she makes us feel like the luckiest parents on the planet! She’s so happy all the time–how can we even think of being sad? Just recently, she ball danced with her friend on stage & my god, you should’ve seen her smile!

She really is the light of my life–if I’m upset over work-related stuff, she tells me, ‘You’re alright’. And then I see her working so hard against all odds & that’s what keeps me going. Her strength becomes my strength–she lifts me up & I know that one day, she’ll lift up the world too.”

“Mental health is more important than physical health—there, I said it! As a Sports Medicine Doctor, I truly believe that. So when it comes to maintaining overall health, it’s about taking care of both together. Lifting weights is something I recommend to everyone for physical health. And what people say about ‘you are what you eat’ is absolutely true! And of course, sleep is so underrated—the lesser you sleep, the less productive you feel.”

Scrolling through Dr. Manan Vora’s Instagram feed, you’ll find many such useful tips. An Orthopaedic Surgeon coming from a family of doctors, Dr. Manan was never pressurized to be one! And so, a national and state-level athlete, Dr. Manan’s passion for sports and medicine led to him becoming a Sports Doctor.

Along with contributing to the field of medicine, he also shares his wealth of knowledge with his community of 400K online. From bone health to gut health, and nutrition to sleep, Dr. Manan talks about it all!

So join us for a conversation on all things health with Dr. Manan, where we dive deep into a whole range of topics—from optimal sleep to bone health, and from basics of nutrition to physical activity and recovery, and so much more.

Sprinkled with valuable insights and tips, this podcast is a good place to start, if you’re relooking at your health and your habits. We promise you WILL take away some value by the end of it… Do not miss it!

The episode is out now, watch here: https://lnkd.in/dVy7KSmT


#sports #sportsmedicine #health #mentalhealth #fitness #excercise #doctor #podcast #interview #talkshow #stories #humansofbombay #hobshow

“Do you know what it’s like to be the captain of a struggling ship? Six years ago, that’s exactly what I became. On the morning of 17th December 2018, I was named the CEO of Mafatlal Industries Limited, a company drowning in losses at the time—₹180 crore, to be precise. The board was looking for ‘young blood’ to turn things around… and they chose me. My first thought was, ‘There’s a legacy of four generations before me… Am I going to drive it all into the ground?’

And then, the noises my parents had shielded me from suddenly grew louder. My every move was judged and scrutinized… In my first board meeting, a senior member said, ‘Your father would have handled this differently.’ The media questioned, ‘Is the Young Mafatlal Ready to Lead?’ Everywhere I went, my mettle was doubted—‘Could I ever step into Dad’s shoes?’

But then something happened that changed my perspective…
While visiting a temple, I noticed my father’s shoes kept outside. They indeed were large. But then I looked at my own, relatively smaller shoes… and a thought struck, ‘Sure, I can’t wear his shoes. But he can’t wear mine either; they’d be too tight for him!’ And it hit me – I simply had to make my own choices and pave my way!

With that in mind, I got to work. I gave myself 1,000 days. I told myself, ‘If I’m unable to bring the company out of these choppy waters in 1,000 days, I’ll step down.’ And then I dove head-first into understanding, ‘Where did we go wrong?’ I dug deep into our operations, market positioning, and customer feedback. Countless meetings followed where I was told, ‘This is too big a risk,’ or ‘Let’s opt for the safer option.’ That’s when I realized—we had been playing it too safe, focused on ‘avoiding losses’ rather than ‘making profits.’

So, I decided to flip the script. We worked aggressively to bring in new technologies, and make our supply chains more efficient. The focus shifted to eco-friendly textiles and expanded into newer, innovative product categories. It sparked a new energy within the team– we were chasing growth, dreaming audaciously, and making unconventional decisions.

And maybe it was a series of those decisions, fate, or just the team’s relentless efforts, but in three years, we wiped out the ₹180 crore losses to break even. Since then, Mafatlal Industries Limited has grown by 50-60% every year, hitting all-time high numbers every time for the past 3 years.

Six years ago, I might not have been ready to be the CEO. But today, I know that maybe one is never really ready. You learn on the job and give it your 100% every single day until you create history. Because whether it’s a 119-year-old business or a 1-year-old startup, showing up every day is where half the battle is already won!”

#Partnership

“I’ve been making sandwiches here since the past 18 years and each day, I sell upto 200 sandwiches! This is my bread and butter — I’m able to support my family because of this job and I never take it for granted. The best part though, is that I meet people from all walks of life — I’ve learnt so much over the years.”

“Can you think of a particular person who has left that kind of an impression on you?”

“There was an old lady many years ago who used to stand at the corner and ask passers by for spare change. This one day, I’d sold over 250 sandwiches, so I knew that I could afford to give her something that day. As I handed her the money, she took my arm, led me back to the stall and returned the money — I was confused until she told me to make her a sandwich! I told her I’d make it for her for free and that she should save this money for tomorrow, but what she said next has really stayed with me. She said, ‘why should I run you into a loss, when you’re the one who was kind to me?’ — and that really hit me…she didn’t know where her next meal was coming from, but she was thinking about me!

I realised then, that you don’t have to have a lot to be kind, just the intent needs to be there and ever since I’ve made it a point to extend kindness to those who need it — no matter how small it seems.”

“I like to believe that there was something special between Yash & I since we were classmates in 3rd grade. We even started living in the same society—over the next few years my crush on him grew & in 7th grade, he got to know about it. Luckily he felt the same & that’s how our high-school romance began!

Everyone teased us because we’d make excuses to meet & pass looks in class! We were so shy that my best friend had to arrange a ‘meeting’ for us where Yash said ‘I love you’ to me. On my 15th birthday, we shook hands for the first time & I could feel the sparks!

We emailed, chatted online, & even wrote letters. When we got mobile phones in 10th grade we’d talk all night—from 12 AM till 5 AM! We never ran out of topics, from psychology to sports, we talked about it all.

Things were getting serious & that’s when I told my dad about Yash, but he said, ‘It’s normal, you’ll get over it soon’! 2 years later I went back to dad & told him that my feelings had grown stronger & again he gave me the same answer.
We got into different colleges, so every day I’d go to Yash’s college & beg his dean to give me admission there. After 5 days he finally agreed & we ended up in the same college!

We’re from different castes so in my 3rd year, even though my parents knew about Yash, they wanted me to marry someone else. That was a difficult time & we didn’t talk to each other for 15 days until Yash couldn’t take it anymore & met my dad. He spoke to him for 3 hours & by the end of it dad happily agreed!
This year on my birthday he proposed to me at Tomorrowland! After coming back, I did a counter proposal for him where I made a music video with his mom in which I asked her, ‘Can I have your son for the rest of my life?’ I played it as a surprise for him when we were out with friends at a restaurant!

We’re getting married in February & my engagement ring has an inscription that says, ‘Forever isn’t a myth’. In our case, that’s definitely an understatement. We’ve been with each through all the big and small moments of life. We’ve grown up together—he knows my faults & flaws; he’s seen the worst of me, & I, his. And the best part is, we love each other more for it, & despite it.”

“My father was always interested in the world of law- he loved courts, hearings and knowing more and more about cases. He wanted to study law, but when he was younger, his family couldn’t afford it. So instead he became a consultant, and worked at a firm.

He worked day and night, to make sure that all of his kids have an education that sets them up for life! My sister is a doctor, and both my brother and I are studying to become lawyers.

When I started studying law, my father used to be very intrigued to know about every little detail. He’d ask me about my classes, subjects and all the other things I did.

One of those days, we realised that now that our father had time on his hands, he could go back to university and do what he always wanted to do - study law!

So believe it or not, now my father and I are in the same college, and he’s actually my junior! We have so much fun together — we talk about our professors, our classmates and even our assignments. In fact even during our break, my father sits with my friends and they all love his company! But once I was sitting with my friends and my dad came up to us and said that he couldn’t sit with us. He asked me if he could go with ‘his’ friends instead! It was so cute.

Watching him revive his passion, makes me so happy. I can’t wait for both us to start practising law! And I hope I can do for him, what he’s done for me — tell me that I’m the best at what I do, push me to reach for the stars! Life has come a full circle for us, and now we’re both out there, chasing our dreams!”