Roots, Roads, and the Journey Between

 

There is something about small towns — their slow mornings, predictable routines, and unpolished streets — that quietly nurture the biggest dreams. Maybe it’s the lack of noise that gives space for imagination. Maybe it’s the struggle that teaches resilience before we even understand the word.

I grew up in one such town.
Life was simple, sometimes too simple, yet filled with lessons I didn’t realise I was learning.

One of my earliest memories is of our family of four travelling on a second-hand scooter. I would stand in front because there simply wasn’t enough space. Every time we hit a bump, I would be thrown forward, my knees crashing into the metal carrier. It hurt, but at that age, pain was normal — just another part of the day. What stayed with me was not the discomfort but the quiet dignity with which my parents navigated life. We didn’t have much, but we had determination, discipline, and dreams far bigger than our means.

Years later, when I began working across different parts of India, I realised how deeply those “small-town moments” had shaped me.

Delhi taught me speed — how to think fast, work smart, and survive in a city that never stops.
Karnataka taught me grace and humility — a softer, calmer way of moving through the world.
Jharkhand, with its lush greenery, offered a slow peace I didn’t know I needed until I experienced it.
Pune gave me independence, opportunity, and something rare: the comfort of safety. It became a place where life felt full and manageable at the same time.

But it’s Bihar I return to in my mind when I think of identity.

Yes, Bihar still struggles with infrastructure. But infrastructure doesn’t define a place. People do. Values do. Dreams do.
Bihar gave me my first sense of aspiration. It taught me that the size of your town doesn’t decide the size of your future.

Struggle doesn’t diminish you — it deepens you.
It enhances the flavour of success, making every step forward feel richer, more meaningful. People who start with everything rarely understand the beauty of earning things one layer at a time.

Today, as I look back at the places I’ve lived, the cultures I’ve experienced, and the roads I’ve travelled, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude. My journey has not been linear or easy, but it has been honest, diverse, and deeply shaping.

Small towns created my foundation.
The world added its layers.
And together, they made me who I am.