Making a life for yourself when the whole world is against you seems like something that happens only in the movies. But we often forget that these movies are almost always inspired by reality. Among many such inspirations, one is Arvind Arora, the founder of the YouTube channel A2 Motivation a visionary who never stopped dreaming and working on them. He believed that rather than having a fancy degree knowing what your strength is and honing that skill to perfection and being able to find ways to answer a question rather than knowing the answer all the time will take you a long way forward. Recently, The Talented Indian caught up with him to keep the chain of inspiration going.

Arvind Arora: Life Before Youtube

Coming from a small family in a small city in Rajasthan, life for Arvind Arora wasn’t always easy. In small cities, it so happens that one’s future is more often than not pre-determined, but Arvind Arora decided that he would not let anyone decide the course of his life and set out to make his path on his own. Life wasn’t easy as he faced rejection and was asked to leave many teaching centres because of work politics, but he never stopped believing in himself.

According to him, his parents weren’t supportive of his dreams initially. And when his father told him to go and do what he liked as he would render the fruits of his hard work, he took that advice very seriously. Unlike many parents who shower a lot of love and spoon-feed their children to ensure their success, his father never spoon-fed him. By doing so he ensured that his son learnt how to be accountable for his actions and through that, he supported him by ensuring that he grows up as a self-reliant individual.

As Arvind Arora was a topper in his school his father believed that given his brilliance he should be allowed to study for free. Hence, he refused to pay the school fees and whenever the school authorities would haggle him about the same he just suggested transferring him to another school as he knew the true worth of his son. But obviously, no school agreed on this as that’s how invaluable he was to the institution. According to Arora, he shared a rather weird relationship with his father. Instead of spoiling him like many parents do he gave him the independence to do what he likes and through that, he ended up supporting his son in the long run.

Arvind Arora: Inspiration & Baby Steps Towards YouTube

The one person who inspired Arora the most and continues to be a source of inspiration even today is his wife. Having an age gap wherein she was older than him by five years, they had to go through several ordeals before they could be united but they never gave up on each other and themselves and continuously worked on each other and improved themselves. It was his wife who helped him start his journey on YouTube as she had already started her own and was able to guide him through the entire process. 

(If you’re as curious as me and want to check out Arvind Arora’s wife’s YouTube channel, who by the way has some really creative and easy-to-make cooking ideas to share you can click here. Though she has stopped posting on her channel for a few years now I am sure her easy-to-understand videos will remain forever helpful for anyone who is starting out in cooking as well as for those who want to try out something new.)

After graduating from Swami Keshvanand Institute of Technology, Management & Gramothan, Jaipur, Rajasthan, Arora was all set to be an engineer working in the corporate sector. But before he ventured into that he decided to try out teaching and turns out he truly has a knack for the art of teaching.

Some people have degrees from highly reputed universities but are not great teachers. And some like Arvind Arora don’t hold fancy degrees but yet are amazing teachers. What sets them apart is their way of communicating with others and their delivery. Hence, even today Arvind Arora’s education videos still garner a lot of views on YouTube. (If you’re looking for some motivation or some random facts, make sure to check out Arvind Arora’s channel by clicking here.)

Arvind Arora: The Journey Towards Becoming a Top YouTuber

Initially, Arora started his journey on YouTube with educational videos and later turned to creating motivational and “facts” videos. Just like any other YouTuber, he struggled with the algorithm and the immense competition but what pushed him forward was his attitude to never give up and being open to learning.

He mentioned how he ensured to go through the comments that he received on each of his videos as they guided him as to how to go forward in terms of content creation. When he struggled with the algorithm he didn’t hesitate to ask for help and reached out to YouTube asking for feedback and worked on them. But most importantly, he never stopped putting out content as according to him you should not fear the public’s opinion so much that you stop expressing yourself.

According to him being disciplined helped him a lot in life as it ensured that he remained consistent in his work. Although he agrees that one need not be so rigid in life that they don’t try out new things as you only have one shot at life, he also thinks that there are certain areas in life where one needs to be rigid to achieve something. And that’s where discipline comes into the picture.

According to him, true success is being satisfied with yourself. He agrees that one does need to work towards earning more money at a certain age, but he also agrees that one need not make it their only goal in life. Focusing on yourself and improving yourself physically and mentally is equally important and he has started doing so too. In fact, according to Arora, he would have probably ended up working as a fitness trainer had he not ended up where he is today.

Afterword

Arora’s parting words and message to young dreamers everywhere is to keep experimenting in life. According to him, you have just got around 70 years on Earth, do you really want to spend it holed up in an office? He hopes that dreamers keep their dreams alive and experiment with different careers in their lives as well as learn different skills to live a very enriching life. Coming from nothing to building his own company and channel by never giving up on himself Arvind Arora continues to be a source of inspiration. And with these parting words, he starts the chain of inspiration by inspiring this one interviewer.

Poetry has always been a powerful medium, capable of touching the deepest chords of our hearts. It holds the magical power to not only articulate emotions but also entertain and deeply move us. Rakesh Tiwari, a multifaceted poet, author and storyteller, embarks on a mission to unwrap the intricate tapestry of life through his captivating poetic performances. His journey began with the simple act of rhyming, but he soon recognized the profound potential of his craft to create impactful poetry that could be performed and shared with the world.

His poetry mirrors life’s diverse and intricate flavours, each composition offering a distinct essence that resonates with a spectrum of audiences. 

One of his well-known works is “Veg Biriyani” which playfully delves into the bond between vegetarians and beloved biriyani. His words advocate celebrating India’s diverse traditions, cultures and tastes while emphasizing the importance of respecting each other’s choices to foster unity.

Another well-known one is “Zindagi” which gives us a humorous take on the modern-day obsession with brands, exposure, internet culture, and social media. Tiwari highlights the superficiality of the current generation’s pursuits, where every moment is curated for online display, adorned with hashtags, and evaluated by the number of likes and comments.

Rakesh Twiari draws inspiration from a variety of sources, but it was the qawwali shows that his mother lovingly watched that plated the seeds of rhythm in him. His poetic journey began with exploring rhymes, which eventually became an artistry of words and emotions. It was the passing of his father that prompted him to pen down his first mature poem “ Mann Ka Mail”, a change from the usual love poems he penned in college.

Some of his more melancholic poetry is “Bachpan”, which serves as a heartfelt tribute to the innocence and carefreeness of childhood. Tiwari remembers his school days, scolding from his parents, and pure friendships that defined this phase of life.

“Amma Ki Atachi” tenderly reflects the emotional farewell to a mother. He pays homage to the cherished memories and ordinary things that held immense sentimental value. Tiwari’s poetry flows naturally from the depths of his feelings, being a potent medium for self-expression.

Rakesh Tiwari aspires to be a poet of the people, aiming to break down the barriers of elitism within the realm of art. His poetry has been a source of solace and companionship to many, with people expressing their gratitude for the solace and support they have found through his poetry. He encourages young artists to not shy away from the monotony that often accompanies life’s journey. Emphasizing the importance of perseverance and faith.

Though he has dedicated 11 years of his life working in a call centre, Rakesh’s unwavering belief was that his poetry would eventually pave the way for the realization of his dream-a life as a freelancer. His journey radiates the enduring power of faith and the unwavering pursuit of one’s passion. In the darkest tunnels of life, the light of hope always shines through, and Rakesh Tiwari’s story stands as a testament to this profound truth.

It is hard enough to make it out on the internet while coming from a privileged background. Just imagine how much harder it would be for someone coming from a not-so-privileged background. In the 5G era of ever-changing content, to be at the top of your game especially when you’re content deals with history is supremely hard. Yet there are a few historians and lovers of history who have made it pretty big on the internet for their credible content informing audiences worldwide about the side of history that’s not much talked about. Among them, one such well-known Indian history influencer on YouTube and Instagram is Keerthika Govindhasamy, popularly known as Keerthi History or keerthihistory. I recently had the opportunity to get to know her better and I am sure by the end of this interaction you’ll be as inspired as I was.

Keerthika Govindhasamy: Early Life & Upbringing

Coming from a humble background, in rural Tamil Nadu, life wasn’t always easy for Keerthika Govindhasamy. Although she is a well-known Indian history YouTuber and influencer on Instagram, it may come as a surprise that she wasn’t always the most studious student in her class. According to her, she may not be very studious but she was still the topper of her class. The reason behind this could be because her learning method was very different and more permanent than the traditional popular learning method adopted by many Indian students which is rote learning. 

Rather than memorizing anything and everything presented in front of her, she prefers to understand the basic concept first as it helps her retain the new information for a longer time. Apart from this, she also prefers learning by remembering a text as a story and it was this learning method and love for stories that made her develop a strong affinity towards history. 

Being raised in a conservative family like hers, she was denied many freedoms that the male members of her family enjoyed, such as pursuing a higher education degree like post-graduation. But unlike the rest of her family, her parents were a little more progressive and allowed her to go to college for her undergraduate degree. Yet life wasn’t always simple for Keerthika Govindhasamy as her parents wanted her to do a medical degree so that she could have an easy life over one in archaeology. 

At that time in her local region, a lot of misconceptions prevailed around archaeology as a subject such as it is related to sex education. Plus the added fact that not many colleges offered it as a subject in Tamil Nadu also played a role in Keerthika Govindhasamy’s family strongly opposing it. But her love for the subject made her pursue a degree in history as it was as close to archaeology as she could get.   

Keerthika Govindhasamy: The Influencer

Starting her journey on social media was not something that Keerthika Govindhasamy had initially planned. But after trying out many different career options and trying to see what fits right, somehow social media just clicked with her. She always had a knack for social media and mixed with her interest in history everything just fell in place. And as luck would have it when she started her journey on social media many people were showing interest in Indian history. But at the same time, many false information was also being spread. To ensure that other people also start appreciating her love for the subject more with accurate data, she started her YouTube channel Keerthi History her Instagram page keerthihistory and other social media pages on Facebook and Twitter.

Success didn’t come easy to her but when it did it came in tenfolds. After 7-8 months of consistent posting, one of her videos got viral and soon enough all of her videos started getting a lot of views. And overnight she gained thousands of followers. But regardless of how much success came her way she never let it get to her head as she is a strict believer in staying humble (and I can certainly vouch for it based on our interaction).

Naming Abhi and Niyu and Ranveer Allahbadia (BeerBiceps) as her inspiration she went on to explain how they reignited her spark for her first love, i.e., history. She adds that it was a particular podcast that Ranveer Allahbadia hosted with historian Anica Mann as his guest that truly charmed and motivated her. 

As someone with as huge a following as hers, it’s only a matter of time before the dark side of the internet makes an appearance, i.e., hate and negative criticism. Govindhasamy shared how many of these haters have categorised her as a BJP supporter as she spreads knowledge on Indian history and part of it deals with Hinduism. When in reality all she wishes to do with creating her videos is to preserve a part of our culture. Her way to deal with all of them is to: Ignore and keep strutting forward.

A Message to Young Dreamers

As she tries to make her parents proud and provide for them by hustling every day, she imparts a small piece of advice for all the young dreamers out there; according to her, it’s going to be hard and not at all easy at the start, especially if you don’t come from a privileged background. You have got to work hard in the initial stages at the very least. Once you’ve built your brand you can hire more people and can take a small break. Do whatever you feel is right but be consistent and keep working hard and you will get there.

The classical dance form of Kathak is an ancient art form, dating back to the 4th century BC. It reclines on the timelessness of its poise, gratuity to storytelling, discipline and the marvel of music. If Indian culture and its heritage resembles a complex and intricate tapestry, perhaps Kathak, in it, is the dominant streak of the scarlet thread which runs around with its blooming aura – that is how significant Kathak has been, both to the people and the country’s civilisation. Dr. Rajkumar Ketkar ji, the 75-year-old Kathak dancer and teacher, has given 60 years of his life to Kathak. In an exclusive interview with Dr. Ketkar Ji, we sat and listened to his musings on this immersive art form, which has extended itself potentially from its ancient origin to the dynamic contemporary period. 

The Guru-Shishya Parampara: The Beginnings of Dr. Rajkumar Ketkar Ji

Dr. Rajkumar Ketkar Ji, born in the year 1948, shared how at the age of fifteen, he stood mesmerised at Pandit Gopi Krishna Maharaj Ji’s Kathak performance at Bedekar Mahavidyalaya. The performance so profusely moved him that he couldn’t help but fall for it. This was the very beginning of Kathak in his life, which would be accompanied by various other art forms of music and dance in his later years. Pandit Natraj Gopi Krishna Ji is a renowned Kathak Dancer. He has choreographed several dances for the Hindi cinemas and performed not just in India but across the world. Dr. Ketkar ji is currently one of his senior most ganda bandhit disciple. As his first and only inspiration, Gopi Krishna’s rangmanch (stage) ignited an eternal spark within him, making him firm in his decision of wanting to learn and perform in the same way as him.

As a teenage boy, he took the first step towards Kathak through the dance teacher at his school. He suggested that he perform a traditional Kathak set on the stage to gauge his potential to embrace the dance and inspire the audience. Performing a Saraswati Vandana, Ketkar ji shared that on the stage, he tried to perform the same way he remembered from Gopi Krishna Ji’s performance. The dance came naturally to Ketkar ji, and the audience echoed loud applauses at his performance. 

After his first stage performance, he sought Pandit Gopi Krishna Maharaj Ji to request him to be his teacher. He visited his house, whereupon, later, he also got introduced to several other gurus, excelling in other art forms. Dr. Rajkumar Ji had the opportunity to meet Pandit Lachhu Maharaj Ji, Kathak dancer of the Lucknow Gharana, who offered him to learn thumri. He mentions how in earlier times, one had to go to different gurus to learn different art forms, unlike today, when usually a single guru is adept in multiple art forms. A few years later, on the advice of his friend, Ketkar ji trained under Pandit Mohanrao Kallianpurkar Ji of the Jaipur Gharana, who was a teacher at National Centre for performing Arts. This way, he was lucky enough to learn from three gurus, excelling in all the three gharanas of Kathak. The conversation with Dr. Ketkar Ji becomes all the more significant since he narrates from a time period from which not many artists live amongst us today. 

Amidst the conversations around his several Gurus, he emphasises on the Guru-Shishya Parampara, a bond, and a relationship thus built which is based on devotion, enlightenment, discipline and respect. The knowledge and skill imparted by the gurus is indispensable and it is of core value. One of the core essence of Guru-Shishya Parampara is Ganda Bandhan.

The Three Gharanas of Kathak: Inspirations and Aspirations 

Dr. Rajkumar Ketkar ji, at the very beginning of the conversation, mentions the ancient divination of classical dances. Derived from the four vedas: Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda, classical dances like the Kathak are the oldest forms of art in India. Its elements of rasa (emotions), Laya (rhythm), Abhinaya (acting), and body movements have been carefully detailed in the Natyashastra, which again establishes the divinity of classical dances, and how it’s founded on traditional ancient scriptures which have been followed for generations.

While talking about his inspiration, Ketkar ji dwelled on the learnings from Gopi Krishna Maharaj. Natraj Gopi Krishna Ji was an exponent of the Benares Gharana. Under his tutelage, Dr. Rajkumar ji learnt the Benares Gharana style of Kathak, along with collecting stories and histories of the dance form. Forwarding the history, Ketkar ji addressed the challenges and changes that Kathak faced since the many ages.

Lucknow, as we might not know, was previously known as Lakshmanpur or Lakhanpur, where Kathak was commonly called “Lakshmanpur ka Nritya.” Originally, Kathak, in Lakshmanpur, had its roots in the temples of northern India, therefore, being predominantly a devotional dance form. With the arrival of the Mughals, Kathak was transformed into a dance for entertainment, incorporating elements of the Persian and Islamic cultures like ghazals. The Mandir Parampara was replaced. Daasis/Courtesans performed Thumri and not the shastriya nritya.

There was also a shift from Kathak being now performed as a group dance rather than solo. Dr. Rajkumar Ketkar Ji especially emphasises on this intervention in Kathak. He says that one doesn’t simply have to learn the dance steps. The learning and understanding of the different granthas of the Natyashastra is equally essential. This means that other elements like music, the rhythmic vocals, the tabla, along with the presentation, the clothing, are equally important. 

So when discussing the Mughal interventions in Kathak, the topic of the western influence on Kathak emerged. With social media and the internet, different cultures have become more visible than before. The fusion and influence of different dances is bound to collaborate and collide with each other. Dr. Rajkumar Ketkar ji’s thoughts on this were simple and direct. He acknowledges that new technology like projectors, smoke machines, lights and sounds, etc. are big innovations and contributions of the west in enhancing the dance production. He also takes his time to appreciate Madame Menaka’s contribution in promoting the Indian classical dance across Europe in the 1930s. Menaka’s troupe performed some 175 shows, which placed India’s cultural heritage in the centre.

However, we should not bear the influences of Western dance on the Indian classical dances. As mentioned before, the parampara, the traditions of the classical dances, distinguish them as pristine, graceful, and authentic. Western influence on Kathak will reduce the dance form to mere entertainment. He mentions how there is a stark difference between the outfits of Western and Indian dances, and while we might not think it crucial, the attire and the get up are integral to the dance performance. Unlike western dances, classical dances are a holistic production, in which music, instruments like the tabla and the pakhawaj, all are tied together in one, and can’t function with the absence of the other. 

Learning all the three styles of Kathak, Dr. Rajkumar Ketkar ji says that what pushes his enthusiasm for the dance form is the desire to incorporate new elements without tampering the traditional quintessential of the dance form. Some of these ‘new’ performances have been when he performed a ballet in Marathi of the play, Dushyant Shakuntalam, in which he danced in the role of Dushyant. Other performances have been the ‘Asht Nayika’ directed by Lachhu Maharaj Ji, or ‘Radhe Piya Pyaari’ in which Ketkar ji played Krishna alongside Guru Padma didi Sharma, who played Radha.

Present and the Past: Bringing Kathak To The Audience

Over the years, Ketkar ji learned other dance forms as well. Every year, especially on the occasion of 15th August, he teaches and choreographs many dance performances. A lot of these are folk dances and Bollywood dance styles. However, in these choreographies, Ketkar ji incorporates Kathak. The devotional dance performances, like Shiva Vandana or Saraswati Vandana are then brought to the forefront. With such creative inputs and diversity of dance forms introduced on stages, he of course, received humble and positive appraisals from the audience and event holders alike, which motivates him to continue this feat. This way he combines the ancient and the contemporary, and keeps the classics alive. 

Earlier the major focus was mainly on the practical part of dance and he faced many difficulties to learn theories while pursuing his graduation from Akhila Bhartiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal. Which is when he was introduced by a friend to Dr Shweni Pandya Ji and Pt. Tirathram Azad Ji who helped him to excel in his theoretical knowledge in Kathak. Further, to spread awareness of theoretical knowledge of Kathak he promoted books written by many known dance gurus to his disciples. Through this he was able to share his voice on Kathak dance – as it is not just practical art form but also entails equal weightage on Shastra Paksha i.e theory.

Dr. Rajkumar Ketkar Ji’s Message to the Aspiring Artists

Dr. Rajkumar Ji recalls how in his childhood he always had a penchant for dance. This might have also come from his mother, who used to occasionally sing. His friends and relatives used to mock him for wanting to learn dance. This mockery, of course, suggested that ‘dance’ wasn’t necessarily seen as a worthy profession and its inherent art wasn’t appreciated for. However, years later, the same friends stood astounded in front of him, deeply awed at his stature now. With a doctorate in Kathak from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal, his known ones could only bow down at the level of the ‘Shastra Paksh’ he has since learnt and adopted. 

Dr. Ketkar ji himself wasn’t necessarily shown support for pursuing dance and so he understands how difficult it is to survive in a society that would force you to pick practical career paths than the unconventional ones. When asked what would be some tips of advice he’d like to give to the aspiring artists, he first mentioned that one’s approach towards one’s art should be honest. One must understand ‘art’ in its true form. For him, Kathak hasn’t been merely about entertainment. The history and calling of Kathak testifies it to be greater than just a show-and-perform. He specifically asks the aspiring classical dancers to engage in ‘upaasna.’ Understand the art, and art will understand you.

Secondly, if you truly want to pursue your art, then there’s no second option. He believes that if you display passion and honesty for your art form, then you will definitely convince your parents for their support. Lastly, he also appeals to the younger generation to take up the classical arts of India, to study the shastras, the Sanskrit language, and keep the traditional art forms alive.

In a world where everyone is busy with becoming first, it is hard to find someone who slows down on purpose. Someone who marches to the beat of their own drums. Someone who knows the true value of working on themselves. People like these are often considered odd and the society often tries to persuade them to join the rat race. For society, these rare anomalies create inferiority among the rest. And hence society crushes them without realising that these rare anomalies are truly gems that make life worth living. They add beauty to life inspiring and invigorating us to march ahead. These rare gems are none other than artists of this world. And one such rare gem is up-and-coming singer Akanksha Grover.

Akanksha Grover: Her Journey

Born in Faridabad, Akanksha’s interest in music was sparked when she started attending Satsangs and Kirtans with her mother. There she would watch her mother sing and soon enough music started feeling like home to her. But for young Akanksha, the real fire for music began to burn brightly inside her once her brother started getting formally trained in music. At the tender age of 3-4 years, she was enamoured by the power of music and first started learning by observing her brother getting trained. Later on, when his brother decided to stop his musical training, she requested her parents to let her continue. And that’s how her lifelong bond with music started.

Blessed with parents who understood the true value of art, Akanksha had a great support system growing up. But that doesn’t mean life was devoid of any hurdles for this talented singer. Choosing to stick to Ghazals over commercialised genres of singing, means it won’t be that easy for her to make a name for her in this cut-throat ever-changing Indian music scene. So having a financial burden is not uncommon for her. Yet she never loses her determination for her soul lies in singing. 

Following her parents’ advice she decided to give the normal 9-5 job as a music teacher at a school a shot. But she soon realised that was not the life for her. And she literally ran for the hills! She refused to bend to the whims of society and continued her riyaz (practice) and improved herself day by day. Her diagnosis of Celiac disease, the covid lockdown followed by a depressive state only reinforced her decision to run for the hills. The hills rejuvenated her and gave us the melodious Akanksha Grover we know today.

From Panicking To Thriving On Stage

Given that Akanksha is not a big people person, her state of pure anxiety before going live on stage is highly relatable to many of us. But just like Meena from the movie “Sing” all Grover needs is to start singing and then the world around her vanishes into oblivion. All that exists is her voice, the musical notes and the beautiful lyrics that surround her. 

Quoting Smt. Shashwati Mandal (who is also her guru), Kishori Amonkar, Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar, Shobha Gurtu, Prithvi Gandharv and Pratibha Singh Baghel as her musical inspiration, just highlights her golden taste in music. Being a Ghazal singer it is hard to break out in the modern musical scene of India. And that’s where the growing popularity of Baithaks and social media comes to the rescue.

Baithaks: A Charm of Old India

Thanking social media enormously for her success, Akanksha is not one to shy away from showing gratitude to social media for helping her grow so much. Baithaks, or mehfils, are formal venues where indoor recreational activities are entertained. These activities can range from singing to reciting poetries to dancing. They were a huge part of the Indian culture. They were popular for letting the artist take centre stage as listeners conversed among themselves and enjoyed art at its finest. Over time these soon became a part of history. But are now getting revived with emerging Ghazal singers hosting them for their fans. Akanksha Grover and others are at the forefront of this revival.

In order to make today’s audience understand the charm of baithaks and mehfils, Akanksha does her best by fusing both traditions with modernity. By using certain Western instruments in her baithaks now and then followed by an explanation behind the meaning of her song, she ensures her audience feels her music as much as she does when she sings it. By far her memorable baithak has to be the one in Mumbai that she recently hosted. The lovely songs requested by the audience just stole her heart.

A Message For Aspiring Artists & A Remedy For Bad Days

As a free bird who just wishes to sing to her heart’s content, and not compete or get dragged into the rat race, some days can be hard for Akanksha Grover. And that’s when all she does is drive around while blasting her favourite music. This inspires her to record something great like the piece she is listening to. It may not work for everybody but you will only know when you try it!

As a lover of music, there is nothing more disheartening for Grover than to watch young talented artists just copy the work of previous artists. She hopes that today’s artists will take the time to learn the musical notes and svaras. And listen to those old brilliant compositions but produce something of their own for the audience. Her message to aspiring artists is that she hopes they don’t get demotivated by others’ success and focus on themselves as that’s when they truly start improving and things start happening for them.

As Akanksha tirelessly works towards composing; Ghazals and Nazams some by brilliant shayars and some of her original work she prays that she never has to stop singing, for singing is her safe haven in this bustling world.