Live with purpose, give with passion

Former senior manager of the British Council Library, Pune, Kajari Mitra, is constantly pushing the envelope. Life, she believes, is for living, learning and giving—this time to underprivileged children, who deserve that extra hand. To that end, the Bhagyashali Bhavishya Shiksha Foundation that she started in April 2023, has connected with the parents of the basti kids, mainly from the tribal Lamani and Wadari tribes to help augment their education through an after-school programme.

But then, the feisty Kajari has always combined her zest for life with deep empathy, and willingness to take the road less taken. This is her journey as a woman and as a professional, and this is how she tells it

You live only once. But if you do it right, once is enough

Kajari Mitra would know. She may have retired from work, but continues to be busier than ever, this time in her avatar as the founder-director of the Bhagyashali Bhavishya Shiksha Foundation that helps tribal kids who live in the basti in her vicinity with an after-school academic programme.

Here’s how that came about. “The area I live in, Pune’s Lohegaon area, is chock-a-block with daily wage workers, mainly from the Lamani and Wadari tribes. They live tough, relentless lives. The Wadaris are stone cutters. Despite the years that pass, their lot never seems to improve,” she expresses. As is the norm with kids from tough circumstances, the dropout rate of the kids, even with the free government schools, is high. Here’s where her NGO makes a difference, teaching English, maths, music and arts. Efforts are made to expose the children to inspiring speakers from different fields. That’s not all. The foundation also helps pay the fees for bright kids to pursue their studies.

It is a busy but rewarding time. Each day is a learning curve. But then, Kajari has always been one for reinventing herself, and giving back.

Her father’s daughter

The daughter of a physicist father and an artistically inclined mother, Kajari enjoyed a free, unfettered childhood, cycling all over Pune. “My late father was an advocate of girls being independent in all aspects. He wanted us to stand on our feet,” she reminisces. “Despite growing up in the 70s and 80s, a relatively conservative time, he was firm about us not marrying before we had completed our master’s at the very least.

At the same time, he was empathetic and kind, a man who gave a helping hand and a patient ear to others. “We learned by observing him. Even today, when someone says I am so like him, I love it,” she smiles.

After completing her B.Sc in Physics from Pune’s Fergusson College, it was time to ponder over what she would like to do next. “While my father was keen on me pursuing physics, I was cut out for something more realistic and connected with every community living,” she says. Thus, she soon completed her master’s in library science from Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey (SNDT) Women's University and joined the IIT Mumbai library. “Dad was pleased that it was a stable government job—but honestly, I wasn’t happy. I wanted more.”

As luck would have it, the BCL Network was all set to conduct a recruitment exam for the British Council Library. She cracked it—and soon joined work—in Pune. This was the proverbial turning point for Kajari because the BCL was doing exciting things that would help hone her skill set in different ways. “From event management that entailed bringing some aspect of the culture of UK to India to establishing a strong network of customer relations to marketing skills, there was much to learn and to do,” she says.

The intelligent and energetic young professional thrived.

"There is a lot to learn—I am a firm believer in reinventing oneself and learning new skills that are transferable and adaptable to different circumstances"

-Kajari Mitra

Motherhood

In some time, she was posted to the Central Indian city of Bhopal. Marriage didn’t work out for her as expected, but Kajari did not let the aftermath of the split discourage her. “I took it in my stride and got on with it,” she says.

Bhopal was a warm and friendly city, but quite the culture shock after having lived in Pune. Nevertheless, here is where she would hit the next milestone in her life-motherhood. As it happened, Bhopal was in the throes of an uneasy time. News of babies being abandoned outside the city’s nursing homes, kept trickling in. Kajari was determined to adopt a child.

The issue was that conservative Bhopal had never heard of such a thing. Several eyebrows were raised. “I was discouraged by many, who argued that I was a young woman, who could easily have biological kids,” she shares. “But I was ready to be a mother, and I was financially settled with my own apartment. I had a strong lawyer, and the judge awarded me custody.”

Adoption proved to be a fine and rewarding decision despite the challenges that inevitably followed.

Her advice to single moms is simple. “It’s great to have a place to call your own, financial security and a strong support system,” she says. “It helped that the BCL has a strong culture of fair practices and employee support. They allowed me to accumulate my leave and take it when I needed it the most,” she shares. “Plus, a five-day work week helped a lot.”

There wasn’t much by way of professional childcare then, so her network of girlfriends contributed in a big way. As did her father, who lived with her, post her mom’s death. “Initially, dad was confounded by the idea of looking after a baby,” she smiles. “I just asked him to read up as much about childcare as he could.

The learning curve steepens

Ever the careerist, despite all that was happening in her personal life, she wanted to study further. The question was, what next? By now, it was the late 90s and a hurricane called the internet, was fast breaking down boundaries and demanding more out of professionals. Kajari needed to keep pace. “Thus, instead of a PhD in Library science I went to Canada to pursue an MBA programme,” she says. The exposure proved invaluable and was a logical progression in her career path. From leadership to best practices in business, Kajari enjoyed six fruitful years in Canada. Her son was growing up and both mother and son enjoyed their time after her class.

However, a health crisis forced her to come back; after all, she was best surrounded by her near and dear ones in that tough time. To compound matters, her boy was only about nine. But, with typical grit and resilience, Kajari got past that hurdle as well.

Soon, it was time to return to work. “I worked for two IB schools before re-joining the BCL again,” she says. “It was a wonderful home coming.

Beyond work

Despite retiring from the BCL, and her now adult son being a busy finance professional, Kajari still believes she has miles to go before she sleeps. “There is a lot to learn—I am a firm believer in reinventing oneself and learning new skills that are transferable and adaptable to different circumstances. That’s how you remain relevant and productive,” she says.

So, whether it’s extensive reading or incubation programmes, she is focused on doing her best for her NGO.

Kajari enjoys a rich and busy existence beyond her career. “I love travel, and my group of girlfriends are dedicated foodies,” she grins. So, be it traipsing across different parts of the country or enjoying a famous Thali, they do it all.

What is the secret of her get-go and motivation? “I find a way to make my dreams come true,” she says simply. “And, when there’s no one to partner me, I go solo.”

In a world that loves to tell women what to do, it’s profound insight—from a woman who has clearly lived life on her terms.