My Science School

How did you start creating African dolls?

When I was five years old, I fell and cracked my knee bone. Later I was diagnosed with a brittle bone disease, wherein my bones are fragile and prone to fractures. Since I became very weak, I had to stop schooling and shift to homeschooling. I started feeling isolated and deserted. I couldn't get the kind of education that my friends had. I locked myself up inside my house in fear of creating any more damage to my body. My mental health went downhill. Observing all this, my brother got me a computer and introduced me to origami and craftwork. He taught me how to look up videos on the Internet, and also bought me a few art supplies to practise. I began creating and selling paper wall hangings, and as I was progressing. I stumbled upon videos about African dolls. In the beginning, I didn't put much effort into it and was doing it as a hobby. I-placed a few dolls I made around the house and was appreciated by a lot of people. So I gave around 10 dolls to a book expo to see if people would buy them, and to my surprise, the dolls were sold out in the first two days! This boosted my enthusiasm.

When did you get your big break?

One of my neighbours I wanted to decorate her house with African dolls. But she wanted them to be in pairs. She also kindled this idea in me, which was to sell duo dolls. This idea attracted a lot more buyers. And when all this was happening, I started getting the support of mass media. Then I started getting orders from around the country. This eventually led me to start my own business, QueenBee.

How did the idea of creating decorations from newspapers come into being?

Primarily, the newspaper is something you get everywhere at a very low price. In the beginning, I was unaware of the products being used to make craftwork as shown in the videos. Once I started making art with newspapers as a hobby, it eventually became a part of my identity.

You mentioned that you weren't able to get the kind of schooling the rest of your friends did. How were you motivated?

Society has been conditioned to look down upon those who have less knowledge. And since I couldn't get proper schooling in the beginning, I feared society might go hard on me. But my mother and my aunts were very particular that I get proper education. I received a lot of advice to attain great heights in education. This stimulated a spark in me, and that is when I started motivating myself to push harder and study more.

Do you get any negative criticism for your work?

If there are people who support you a lot, then there are always a few people who are going to try to bring you down. People don't normally understand that I had a different childhood compared to most others. There are a few people who tell me to focus on more productive activities. Then there are a few people who jokingly ask me if what I do pays me money in five-digits. One thing I learnt is that in life, we should master the art of identifying and eliminating negative and destructive criticism. It will give us peace and help us move forward in our journey.

What are your plans for the future?

My goal is to make people buy my dolls just like how they buy Barbie, bobblehead dolls, etc. I want to make sustainable fashion the new trend in our society.

Picture Credit : Google

When and how did your art journey begin?

I have been creating artwork since I was a kid, and my parents realised that I possessed this talent. Soon they admitted me to an art school, and my creative journey started. I participated in various competitions and exhibitions. My mom motivated me. Once she asked me to draw something I saw around me. I created a beautiful townscape, and she was amazed by it. She ignited a fire in me at that age, which is still burning.

You contribute to Scrollstack. Tell us about that.

With ScrollStack, it is possible for a storyteller or a writer in India to reach fans in London or even U.S. publishers. It is a platform for sharing your content and getting recognised for it. I am really happy to be a part of this. You see, there are various issues that contributors write about from culture and politics to education and gender. I usually write on art and culture, and I believe I am able to inspire young minds and aspiring artists through that.

You have been recognised by the World Literary Forum for Peace and Human Rights. How does that feel?

It is quite obvious to feel proud because this is an honour conferred to a few only. This was conferred on me because I have tried to create as much awareness as possible through my artwork by sharing them on various platforms. They are based on nature and various burning issues such as gender equality and youth activism.

You received Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2021 from our Prime Minister. How was that moment?

It was like a dream since it is India's highest civilian honour for people below 18. You can call it children's Bharat Ratna. My formative assessment was going on when I received an email from the Ministry of Women and Child Development that I was going to be given the award, so it was my best new year’s gift. I was excited and really happy. I also received an opportunity to interact with the Prime Minister, which was amazing. I was really humbled to have had this opportunity. He emphasised on personality development and self-discipline, appreciated our work, and gave us advice on being rooted and never giving up. He is an inspiration for all of us and I was really honoured to be a part of that virtual conference.

Tell us about your journey as a writer.

I write as a hobby. I do it when I have time. As I mentioned earlier, I write on topics related to art. I like to share whatever I know because I feel sharing increases your knowledge. I am still a beginner and have many more milestones to achieve.

Do you agree that internships help you improve your skills?

Internships give you an open platform to try and test your abilities and skills. It provides you with numerous opportunities to find where you stand, what you need to work upon, and the things you are good at. There are many things you can gain such as additional skills, education, mentorship, etc. Unfortunately, today, passing examinations with high scores and getting a degree alone do not help with a job. In my case, I got to know what my strengths and weaknesses are, and because of these internships. I was able to effectively practise what I do the best. With an internship, you will be able to gain real-life exposure and determine if you are in the right field. You can learn how to apply the knowledge you have acquired during an internship to your future workspaces

Who is your inspiration?

My inspiration is Raja Ravi Varma My other inspiration is my mom because she was the first one to ignite that fire in me, and has always supported me and been with me at every stage of my life.

If there is something you want to change in society, what it would be?

Placing social equity at a higher position than equality. It's easy to think that equality and equity mean the same thing. However, there are crucial differences between the two. Equality means that all segments of society have the same level of support and opportunity. Whereas equity refers to the fact that different people have varying needs of support and assistance. The goal of equity is to help achieve fairness in treatment and outcomes. There should be an equitable distribution of resources and opportunities, and equality in the case of race, caste, religion, etc.

Picture Credit : Google