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8 years into exploring Odisha: India’s best kept secret

Jul
2021
29
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No matter how stressful we might be, we can just walk into nature to get ourselves healed.

At the age of 5 when I accompanied my grandmothers to offer Puja at Lord Jagannath’s temple in Puri, little did I know that after 16 years I will get an opportunity to come back again to Odisha for my higher studies. As a native from Bihar raised in Kolkata, it was for the first time when I got a chance to experience the culture, people and vibe of a state well known as India’s best kept secret. My journey started from Dhenkanal, a princely state in Odisha where my alma mater, Indian Institute of Mass Communication is located. Meeting the simple, god loving, honest and religious people was a heart-warming experience. I loved every corner of this quaint town nestled in a natural landscape. Visiting the nearby temples and tourist attraction spots every weekend after a grilling week of studying was a religious affair. Needless to say, it became a meditative experience.

It seemed 10 months passed in a blink and I was posted in TOI Jaipur as an intern, but somehow, destiny again brought me back to Odisha as I got my first job as a Reporter in Odisha’s fortnightly magazine My Citylinks in the capital city Bhubaneswar. From 2012 to 2019 I worked as an executive reporter, blogger, visiting faculty at NIFT, voice over artist, senior copy writer and an author. It was during this period, I was blessed with friends like family, a rewarding career and an opportunity to work with top notch multinational organizations.

I travelled as it gave me respite from the monotonous work routine. The majestic waterfall of Koilighughar in Jharsuguda, Saptasajya in Dhenkanal and Khandadhar in Sundargarh helped me in connecting with my inner self and reminding the fact that no matter how stressful we might be, we can just walk into nature to get ourselves healed.

More than my Odia friends, the gupchupwala bhaina, the paribawala as well as the autowala bhaina ensured that I pick up the classical language pretty fast. And every time I spoke to them in my non-Odia accent, a beaming smile spread across their face and it was a rewarding feeling. Over the years I witnessed the devastating cyclones like Phailin, Hudhud, Titli and Fani that directly affected the state and I was amazed to learn from the resilience of common people and the disaster management preparedness of the State.

Today, not only India but even the United Nations has lauded the mettle of Odisha for effective management of disaster. Despite facing such natural calamities, I have witnessed the state standing tall, becoming stronger and resilient and carrying on with their daily lives. I can proudly say that my 8 years of stay in Odisha has transformed me into a strong-willed woman with infinite faith in almighty and an indomitable spirit to face any adversities in life. Today, while working for a slow & sustainable Australian fashion brand Ecoloom Pty Ltd, I am still connected to Odisha as I work with Odia artisans who weave natural fabrics and make handmade utility items.

As I look back, I feel I can go on writing about several anecdotes that will not be enough to elaborate my gratitude to the state and its people. I feel every place I have visited here has given me a family to whom I can return to at any point in my life. I plan to come once a year to visit the Lord of Lords at his abode in Puri and pray to be able to give back to the state with the best of my capacities in the days to come. Till then Jai Jagannath!

Khusboo Kr. Singh is co-founder of Ecoloom Pty Ltd., an Australian sustainable fashion brand. She has stayed in Odisha for 8 years during the initial phase of her career

29 Jul 2021
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By Khusboo Kr. Singh

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