#PeopleOfDonatekart: Meet Arunima Bhattacharya
“I grew up amidst a lot of art, music, and cinema. I trained in Bharatanatyam for 14 years, spent my days watching old Hindi movies with my father, and listened to Mukesh and Mohammed Rafi’s soulful songs play in the background during our evening chai….I hold all of this very dear to my heart. And whether it’s Sholay or Madhumati, I can watch these movies over and over again even today. You could say I’m a little bit of an old soul.
I was a first bencher through school and college. I enjoyed studying and you would often find me in a salwar kameez because I loved wearing them. But I know I was considered ‘uncool’ by many people because I didn’t fit their idea of a ‘fun’ person. Which is why when I look back, I realize that I found myself most at home on the JNU campus — an inclusive and secular environment where I met different people from across the country with so many new ideologies. In several ways, my time at JNU shaped me as a person.
But I was never one to celebrate my achievements. Even when I topped my MPhil interview for political science, and everyone else around me was congratulating me, I was making excuses — maybe there weren’t many people at the interview? Maybe they’ve made a mistake? I kept telling myself that I didn’t deserve it.
It was only later that I realized that a lot of this came from my anxiety — something that I carry with me even today. But this doesn’t stop me from fighting for the things I believe in — whether it’s gender equality or animal rights, I’ve always been someone who’s outspoken. As a woman, I’ve had to fight many battles and been in many uncomfortable situations, but I can proudly say that I’ve stood up for myself every single time. Anxiety or not.
My whole life changed recently when I decided to adopt my two cats, Lucy and Lucas. They are the center of my universe. They’ve made me happier, less anxious and more patient. I’ve had to rush Lucas to the vet many times because of his epilepsy and watching him suffer breaks my heart. Being a pet parent can be hard sometimes, but I don’t ever regret it. They’ve taught me resilience and love. I want to help more animals like them, and working at Donatekart allows me to do just that.
Today I’ve learnt that it’s important to celebrate one’s victories, no matter how small. And it’s even more important to be comfortable with who you are. I read a lot of books, I wear a lot of sarees and I’m happiest spending time with my cats. Regardless of what people’s definition of ‘cool’ is, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
- Arunima Bhattacharya, Editor
