#PeopleOfDonatekart: Meet Sanjay Rajput
“When I was younger, I would spend all my time sitting with my dad in his shop. We would talk for hours together and he would share stories with me. I was his best friend and he was mine. He isn’t like other parents. My dad always believed that it’s important to treat children with respect and not shelter them from everything. He wanted my brother and me to learn, grow, and know the realities of life. Which is why he never hid anything from me. I spent every minute of my childhood with my father.
Family has been an important part of who I am. I’ve heard fascinating stories of my ancestors — about how we’re a warrior clan from Bundelkhand, about the floods, the plague and what not. My great grandfather was the first person in our family to get a government job. He started working for the Nizam, and since then, almost everyone in my family has done the same. Many of them couldn’t finish their studies due to financial reasons, and work became their life. It was almost like my path was written for me even before I knew what I wanted to do.
Luckily, my parents were extremely supportive. I finished my Engineering and started working at a company. But that’s when I discovered my passion — theatre! It was an unlikely choice. I had never thought of anything related to acting before that. I was offered the role of a gay man, and everyone was surprised when I didn’t hesitate to audition. All I knew is that I wanted to do justice to the role. But soon they said my energy and voice fit that of the main character, and before I knew it, I was playing a kabaadi wala and that was how I came to be known on stage. It was a great hit! But I realised plays are hard work. Being in character, learning your lines… you need to be present, you need to give it your all. I don’t want to take it for granted. Next time I do a play, it will be when I can do full justice to the character.
Theatre helped me meet so many wonderful people, and helped me see so many different sides to myself. It taught me that having a personal connection with people is the most important thing. And I’m glad to have that here at Donatekart. Our Tech team is like a family — we look out for each other, we work together and there’s great team spirit. What more can you ask for?
Nowadays I don’t get to spend that much time with my father, even though we’re in the same house. But over the weekends I often sit with him and talk to him about everything under the sun — whether it’s relevant or not. I just want him to know that while I might have grown up, he’s still my best friend.”
- Sanjay Rajput, Senior Software Developer
