Womenia Story

24/01/2023

17/09/2022

Life is like a game, when you master a level, it gets harder. It does not mean that life is unfair, but it has so much expectations from you.

With this belief, Anand Mayee, Founder of NayabStore Pvt.Ltd is an inspiration who is habituated to experience the tough side of life and feels that the best days shall never be taken for granted. Being in a small town, she never postponed things to be done in future when she gets an opportunity. She feels that opportunities are not handed to anyone, they have to be created. Anand Mayee is an example of how problems and challenges should be taken as teachings of life and God to get the best out of them and not get demotivated.
When at a young age she was held back in Bhagalpur, after initial struggles she tried figuring out ways to not just read motivational quotes and stories but become a part of them. While starting modestly as a teacher, she considers it to be a life shaping experience. Being from a middle class family, she had to make her own way of earnings through teaching and part time modelling for saree brands which ignited her interest towards Bhagalpuri Silk Fabric and she started her comprehensive research on the types of silk yarn and its manufacturing by visiting villages where they were found and being manufactured in pitlooms. Even though she had no prior knowledge about them, but the zeal to learn about them made her do things which anyone of that age would think twice of. She collected the Silk Yarns and Linen Threads, went to villages like Champaran, Katoria, Bhagaiya, Nathnagar, just to know about the manufacturing. By doing this she also came across the problems faced by local weavers who are left alone working only for INR 200 per day and their Pitlooms being at a very vulnerable situation. This gave birth to an idea of building an environment where people come to know about the problems faced by these Weavers, where she is able to rekindle the lost value of Bhagalpuri Silk Sarees and Local Fabrics.

This was the Founding stone to Nayab Stores Private Limited, an all Women company that manufactures, designs and deliver quality at an affordable price. She never wanted to earn lots of money and give low quality products to people. Her intention was pure towards the sustainability of the environment, towards those helpless weavers and towards the lost value of local products. While registering this business, she had to face a lot of challenges. With almost zero help on the mechanics of starting a business, she started reading about the schemes of doing a business and how to do it. She arranged the funds to start the business through the two jobs she had been doing. And thus giving birth to Nayab Stores on 25th May, 2018. Her idea was to become a manufacturer herself so that she could employ those weavers and help them achieve good lifestyle. She got those pitlooms renovated and started giving them work marketing about Nayab Stores and receiving bigger orders. She then started learning about designing a saree and getting inspired through different art forms of wearing a saree. She had help from her Mother Leena Dubey, who is also one of the founder and her sister Sneh Mayee, who is working with her on designing the sarees and marketing the company. But her idea needed that little push, and there came Mrs. Pinki Singh, who belived in her idea and joined hands with her coming up with the First Official Outlet of Nayab Stores Private Limited in Bhikanpur, Bhagalpur. Then all four of them began a journey that becomes an inspiration for all.
Starting Modestly, Anand Mayee has became an inspiration for the young generation who wants to create their own path towards success. Knowing how struggles look like, she has been like a guiding force to all those young minds. Her work during the lockdown, when she extended the helping hands for her employees through monthly ration may have been neglected because she belives in helping not showing. She also wanted to create a Nayab Foundation to help those in need I'm anyway possible. Even though not being a registered entity, she did support her sister through Nayab Stores to put up a Medical Camp in Gurudham, Bounsi in January, 2020 and February, 2021 wherein she also educated the local females on the use of Sanitary Pads during periods and also distributed 100 packs to them to start of their journey for a safe future.

Her intention of becoming a part of motivational stories has always worked for her as she believes in giving people not for her cause but for their cause. We wish that her idea to help people and take Nayab Stores to greater heights be fulfilled, and we believe it will be done because hard work with kindness always pays off.

15/09/2022

"I am a wanderer at the moment. Every season I am in a different city. Currently, I am in the land of looms and lores, Kannur, Kerala pursuing my master's in Experience Design from NIFT, Kannur.

I am a passionate, driven, and enthusiastic doodle artist who sees things in varied different ways and imagine as well, and visualizes a whole new world with pursuits and ambition.

I am a graduate of Architecture, so perceiving the world around me gives me the pleasure of understanding the space, the demographic, and the authenticity of the things/spaces.

I have always enjoyed amalgamation, so moving from the on-site field to the screen was a gradual process. Understanding the needs, empathizing with the quest at hand, and processing the views stay the same when coordinated with buildings, an application, or a website.

Aesthetics works hand in hand with function and form; here, my understanding of design and all aspects help me achieve a better and more efficient outcome.

For as long as I can remember, my family has been so supportive of my education choices. They have been my backbone when I took up Architecture instead of Engineering when I took online classes to teach lettering. They are the ones who have believed in me and have helped me feel, love, and grow into the person I am today.

To everyone out there, you make your milestones. Believe in yourself. Don't get disappointed with your peers, and step up to the aims that you set for yourself." - Mayuri Patil, Doodle Artist

15/09/2022

On 10 November, Falguni Nayar, founder of beauty startup Nykaa, became India’s wealthiest self-made female billionaire. Nykaa’s IPO (Initial Public Offering) was listed on Wednesday, and as shares of the firm surged to a whopping 89 per cent, Nayar, who owns half of the company, is now worth $6.5 billion.

As Nayar now joins the ranks of the wealthiest across the world, it is important to note that Nykaa’s parent company, FSN E-Commerce Ventures, is the country’s first woman-led unicorn to hit the stock exchange.

Nayar’s journey began around nine years ago, when she quit her job as the managing director of the Kotak Mahindra Group to start something of her own. She was just shy of turning 50 at the time.

In an interview with Film Companion, Nayar recalled that when she was ending her 20-year career in investment banking to make a shift to the beauty industry, everyone was a naysayer. “I think they thought that because I already had such a successful career in a company that was growing well, there was no reason for disappointment with what I was doing…I asked my son, ‘Do you think this can look like a midlife crisis?’ He said ‘Definitely’.”

When Nykaa made its debut, the beauty segment in India was fragmented, to say the least. Brick and mortar stores had a limited collection to offer, and men’s beauty products did not include the wide range they do today. But Nykaa gave Indians a unique mix of affordable brands, alongside rare and luxury brands, as well as cruelty-free products and the like, all under one ambit.

And it’s not just products — Nykaa, which is the sanskrit word for ‘one who is under the spotlight’, has a large repository of informative blogs, articles and forums for readers to access and share knowledge, questions, answers, news and updates as well.

Nayar said she jumped into starting her own venture with limited knowledge of technology, retail or beauty. “I tell a lot of young entrepreneurs that business is like a roller coaster ride. Do it only if you think you will enjoy it, because there will be ups and downs,” she said.

Currently, Nykaa offers 4,000 beauty, personal care and fashion brands online, and has around 80 retail stores across the country.

15/09/2022

Dear Womenia Community,

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15/09/2022

"Hailing from Patna, Bihar, I chose to stay back in the city for studies and career. Back then it was contemplated as a set back because my siblings and most of my friends had migrated from Bihar.

Today, I’ve been practising dentistry at my clinic, The Tooth Doctors, co-founded 5 years back and the journey had been sweet and sour like every other small town entrepreneur. My profession has been very rewarding in terms of human associations and community buildup and we have come a long way from three of us to a team of eleven associates working round the clock to provide better health care facilities for all. Having been awarded thrice as the best centre in Patna for oral health care by Indian Dental Association, there are many more milestones achieved and furthermore to go. Apart from dentistry, I’ve been an avid reader and a budding author with my debut book Sweet 16 published in 2021. The manuscript of my second book is midway through and shall soon be made available to the readers. One habit that has kept me unruffled in every inimical scenario is reading a little every day. I read over fifty books every year and they have immensely helped me at every step.

It’s inevitable to avoid an obstruction but learning to deal with them is an art and a full-time job for life. Learning is a never-ending task and we should keep hold of people who add up to our knowledge and self-growth. As the saying goes, if you’re the smartest person in the room, it’s time to leave the room. So stay hungry, stay foolish, and never quit the hunger to learn a little more everyday. Tasting success is important but compassion, empathy, and gratitude are the virtues that define one’s life. Dive in these life skills and you shall always be shining bright. "

Dr. Akanksha Abhishek
Dental Surgeon, Author, Co-founder, The Tooth Doctors

14/09/2022

“मैं एक ऐसे मिडिल क्लास परिवार से आती हूँ जहाँ पर सरकारी नौकरी को ज्यादा तज्जबों दिया जाता है लेकिन अगर आपकी रूचि कुछ और या आप कुछ नया करना चाहते है तो और भी ज्यादा प्रॉब्लम खड़ी हो जाती है, और ऐसे परिस्तिथि में जब आपको कोई रिसोर्स ना दिखे , कोई सपोर्ट ना मिले लेकिन फिर भी आप बहुत कुछ कर सकते है अगर आपके अंदर कुछ नया करने का जूनून हो तो आप इस परिस्तिथि में भी खुद के लिए एक मौका बना सकते हो, जो की मैंने किया!

छः साल पहले मुझे सोशल मीडिया, टेक्नोलॉजी और क्रिएटिव फील्ड में क्या कुछ होता है इसका कोई नॉलेज नहीं था , लेकिन फिर मैंने एक रिस्क लिया! सितम्बर 2016 में मैंने अपने छोटे भाई पवन के साथ मिलके आर्टकला की शुरुआत की, उस समय हमारे पास कोई रिसोर्स भी नहीं था, उस वक्त एक स्टूडियो सेटअप करना बहुत बड़ा चैलेंज था , हमारे पास ना तो प्रोफेशनल कैमरा था और ना ही प्रोफेशनल लाइट्स लेकिन फिर भी हमने घर की साधारण सी चीज़ो से जुगाड़ किया और अपना पहला वीडियो बनाके यूट्यूब पे अपलोड किया! हमलोग ने तो सोचा भी नहीं था की कोई इसे देखेगा , उस वक्त बस 5 -10 व्यूज भी बहुत चौंका देने वाला होता था, धीरे -धीरे व्यूज बढ़ते गए और हमलोग लगातार वीडियो बनाते गए , और आज आर्टकला भारत का पहला और दुनिया का दूसरा सबसे बड़ा DIY यूट्यूब चैनल बन चूका है!

आज हमारे पेरेंट्स हम पर बहुत नाज करते है और साथ ही हमे सपोर्ट भी करते है! आज मैं बिना किसी प्रोफेशनल सर्टिफिकेशन कोर्स या कोई बड़े संस्था में गए सारे प्रोफेशनल सॉफ्टवेयर पे काम करती हूँ ! वीडियो एडिटिंग , ग्राफ़िक डिजाइनिंग , सोशल मीडिया पोस्ट्स ,स्टोरीज को क्रिएटिव तरीके में कैसे बनायेगे वो मैं अपने टीम को बताती हूँ! मैंने खुदसे 10 हजार से ज्यादा वीडियो एडिट किये है! आज 2022 में आर्टकला के सोशल मीडिया प्लेटफार्म पे 10 मिलियन से ज्यादा फोल्लोवेर्स है, आज हमारा खुद का अपना प्रोडक्शन हाउस है!

अगर आप जीवन में कुछ नया और क्रिएटिव करना चाहते हो लेकिन आपके पास रिसोर्स नहीं है तो भी आप अपने आस पास के चीज़ो से जुगाड़ करके कुछ नया कर सकते हो, बस अपने और अपने काम पे भरोसा रखे और आगे बढ़ते रहे, फिर आपके लिए कोई भी मंजिल नामुमकिन नहीं होगी! बड़े सपने देखना अच्छी बात है लेकिन उन सपनो को पूरा करना सबसे बड़ी बात है!” - Puja Kumari, Co-founder, Artkala4u

13/09/2022

"Growing up I was pampered a lot and was always protected as I am the youngest daughter of my family. My father is a singer, not a professional one, but his love for music was probably installed in me even before I was born. Ever since I remember I am singing. And that's why I call it my first love.

My parents have always been supportive of whatever I've done till now and in fact, encouraged me to do even more. I was 6 years old when I gave my first stage show ever in Delhi in Bal mahotsava. And I think that was the real start of my journey.

I was highly creative as a kid and wanted to try every creative and artistic thing I came across. Apart from music, I loved painting, and dancing, and was always acting in front of my mirror weaving my own stories. But I never realized my true potential as an actor until I was 9. My mom and sister took me for a singing audition and there they were also auditioning kids for a new local hindi TV show. They thought I'd come for that and they handed over a script to me and told me to prepare it in half an hour.

As I loved acting, I got so excited and my sister helped me prepare for it. Cut to, 2 days later I got a call from them saying I was selected and can come for workshops now. The whole process was so overwhelming and during the workshop, I realized how much I love doing this and where I stand as an actor. And in my dream career list, Acting got added to singing.

My parents left no opportunity that came their way to make my dreams my reality. I participated in many shows as a kid and auditioned for as many films as I could. When I was 11, I walked on the ramp for the first time and my modeling career started too with that. I always enjoyed trying new things and it let me discover things I love doing. But when you do what you love, there are few people who try to pull you down but I never cared about those so I don't even remember today what they said or did. Plus surprisingly, my neighbours were so supportive of all the things I did and funnily encouraged their kids to be like me too. One of them even today convinces their kids to try their hands at acting and leave studies for a while.

There are so many different kinds of people in the world but the stories of relatives and neighbours being the discouraging people all the time still surprise me today because I rarely got a hint of it growing up. However, few people did assume I was bad at studies that's why I wanted a career in singing and acting. This wasn't the case in reality, but who cares? When I look back, out of all the things that happened when I started this journey I'm still on, I can just remember all the good things and people who supported me when I expected completely different reactions. So far, I've done many acting projects out of which some reached film theatres, some reached MTV, some OTT platforms, and singing projects which reached major audio platforms.

I'm still working hard every day to get closer to my dreams and as an artist this journey is never-ending. Unconventional fields are never easy, and to all the girls who want to show the world the artist in you- just remember to keep working hard. The journey is going to be long and in this journey, we don't listen to people who try to pull us down. It is going to affect you in some cases but all these things are necessary to push you closer to your dreams. They think they're pulling you down but in reality, they push you towards your goal with every negative word they say.

I always stand by the lines of a song- चांद बनने के लिए, जुगनू को जलना ही पड़ा। मंजिलों का शौक़ था, घर से निकलना ही पड़ा। This always keeps me going."

- Muskaan SiNha

13/09/2022

Dharna Sheet, a resident of Dhalbhumgarh block of East Singhbhum, was once forced to run a home by working in the factory of others, and now she has established her own business.

Dharana, a member of Mangal Chandi Mahila Mandal, JSLPS SHG earlier used to work with her husband in a mixture factory in Jamshedpur, but the pandemic took away her source of income from her. In this sequence, Dharna took a loan of Rs.1 lakh 30 thousand from his group to start his own mixer factory.

Today Dharana Sheetal along with her husband is producing about 30 quintals of different types of mixtures daily from this mixer factory and selling them in local wholesale shops. Due to this today she is also earning a monthly income of 12-15 thousand rupees.

That's the true spirit of Entrepreneurship from rural India, and an incredibly inspiring story for millions of rural women.