Gamharia/Jamshedpur: Aashi Kumari belongs to a family of four, residing in the Gamharia block under Seraikela-Kharsawan district of the Kolhan region. Her father runs a general store and mother is a homemaker. Barely making ends meet, getting formal education and following one’s passion is a distant dream for this family of four.
Since childhood, Aashi has had a knack for dancing, but she had no means to pursue her talent. The abject poverty amplified by the recent pandemic, made matters worse for Aashi and her family. “Our daughter is a talented dancer, and we always wanted her to nurture it, but financial conditions made it difficult for us even to consider putting her through college. The pandemic made our situation worse. Aashi was keen on doing something more than what she could ever achieve here”, says her mother, Yashoda.
After her class X board exams, Aashi’s dance tutor recommended her to pursue dancing as a possible career opportunity. That is when Aashi’s parents found out about the Super 30 initiative, enabled by Tata Steel Long Products, and decided to enrol her in this program. The Super 30 initiative – operational in the Seraikela-Kharsawan district- focusses on empowering young girls with holistic support in art, craft, dance, music, sports, and other co-curriculum, essential for one’s growth to open up various doors of success.
Aashi’s talent was recognized under the Super 30 initiative, and she is now honing her passion at the Delhi Kathak Kendra. Beaming with pride, Aashi’s parents, Yashoda Devi and Suman Prasad said, “We want her to get to a stage in her life where everyone calls us Aashi’s parents. We would be happy if we are recognised by her name and achievements”.
Aashi’s family has found a new life to live vicariously through the recognition of their daughter’s dream of taking dance to the next level. Aashi’s parents, Yashoda and Suman recently had the opportunity to visit the capital city of New Delhi, to meet their daughter and watch her thrive at something she loves to do since childhood.