Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
– Robert frost
Shuchismita Dutta did the same ,followed a path less travelled by, she chose dance over engineering and the difference between her and me or anyone else of her age is that the number of her achievements is more than the number of years she has lived yet.
Shuchismita Dutta is an upcoming name in the field of Kathak dance. She was initiated inKathak at a tender age of 4 by Late Shri S. K. Sahoo. Then she started her training under Dr. MalavikaMitra and later under the able guidance of the Kathak exponent Smt. Emelee Ghosh (Yamini). She is the youngest recipient of the SatyabrataSarkar Memorial Award, the prestigious award from the Dover Lane Music Conference. She achieved the title SangeetVisharad from BhatkhandeSangeetVidyapith, Lucknow. She is a popular artist on Doordarshan Kendra, recipient of senior scholarship from Ministry of Culture, recipient of Outstanding Talent Award from TTIS and received titles Nritya Jyoti, Nritya Mani, Nritya Visharad and many more.
She has performed in Grand Pushkar Mela, Taj Mahotsav, Naada Neeranjanam, FEEL INDIA FESTIVAL, National Dance Festival, Vishakapatnam, Sanskriti Festival, Yuva Kala Parva by Navaneetham Cultural Trust, Kochi, Golden Jubilee Celebration of Govt., Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Brahmaputra Mahotsav, Assam, Pratibha Utsav by Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre(EZCC), Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India, Kolkata, Kalabharathi National Young Dance Fest, Naveen Kalakar National Dance Olympiad, Bhubaneswar, World Dance Day Celebration, Bangalore, India International Centre, New Delhi, 4th Cuttack Mahotsav International Dance & Music Festival, Orissa and many many more events. The list seems unending. She has travelled extensively all over India and even performed abroad at Seva Utsav, Mymen Singh and at Tejgaon College, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
She has done all this just at an age of 25, when most of us including me are still trying to get stable in our careers. She was excellent in academics too and completed her B.Tech in 2011 from Academy of Technology, Adisaptagram, Hooghly, West Bengal. She has been an all rounder and recipient of Best All round performer from TTIS, blow to the myth that extra-curricular activities bring down your grades in academics. On asking how did she manage to do all this, she says – you should give hundred percent to whatever you do. The newspapers describe her as –
“She is undoubtedly a marvellous young achiever who is sure to inspire all and sundry….a true felicitation of young talent….” -The Statesman (25.5.06)
“A rare match and rarer talent, this star with so many feathers in her cap has a long way to go….” – The Statesman (Voices)
We live in a society where everyone wants to be a doctor, engineer, a bank manager or something that is so called respectable in the views of our neighbours, friends and relatives. The advents in technology and modernization in every aspect has no effect on the hypocrisy of thoughts where non-conventional career options are looked upon as absurd and foolish. Passion and inner pleasure have become worthless in this age where money seems to be above all. But wait! Who says money and passion cannot be together? You just have to recognize your abilities, develop them and use them at right place. As Shuchismita says – We have many opportunities and we pass through many. God gives each one of us many opportunities. But it is up to us how we look into it and grab it.
According to her, the support of family is crucial if you have to live your own way, choose a profession you love. Shuchismita lost her father in 2007, she misses his guidance, but her mother stood with her. She recalls -“We were financially very weak owing to the expenses of treatment of my father and it has been because of my mother only that I could continue to dance even through that crucial time. Due to our financial conditions I had to get into a job in CTS (Cognizant) after studies. I worked for one and half year but I could not devote time to dance so I quitted the job.”
Was your mother happy with your decision? – I asked. She said – “Mom said you do what you think is best but you should manage your time as time is precious.” She has always been with me in my journey of dance but she says I should not get carried away by my achievements and I should be a person to be remembered even if I lived a short life. What I am is because of my mother.”
“So how do you feel about your decision to quit a job in MNC and make dance your career?” – I asked. I am more than happy with my decision. While dancing I feel having all the happiness which I cannot get in anything else. I feel closer to God, the eternity connecting me to my artistic side. It’s just my soul, my body dancing in space in tune with the music. I really don’t know how to explain the magnitude of bliss I enjoy while dancing. I feel myself the happiest person when I dance. But I found that I cannot support my family by taking dance as my career as with dance the happiness I get is unbounded, but the money I get is very limited. That money is spent on train tickets, paying the musicians and the minimal leftover are for the dancer’s efforts. The organizers do not pay well as the condition of classical dance is not good. Everyone is interested in western dance.
There is a need for awareness of our rich Indian culture. Often we find ourselves left with little or no money at the end. Sometimes even we have to pay from our own pockets. So, I have decided to go for a job and also pursue dance as my career. But I will see to it that the job gives me enough time to pursue dance. I cannot let dance go off me. Also I cannot forget the efforts my mother put in for continuing my dance despite having family problems. I have to strive for it.
Shuchismita’s story is certainly an inspiration for those looking for happiness and success simultaneously. In Shuchismita’s words – You should give your best, be it studies or whatever passion you are choosing to make your career. It shouldn’t be the subject but the effort that you put in. You must live the moments and make use of every time in such a way that there shouldn’t be any lamenting or regret. I hope everyone reading it gives a second thought in choosing his/her career.
Wish you luck for your dream, explore new horizons and give your fullest.
This post is a part of our awareness campaign #MyCareerMyChoice. To read more posts from this campaign, please click here.
