Sarita Raghuvanshi is an Indian Master of Ceremonies (MC/Anchor), Image Consultant and Author.
She has anchored 900+ events in 15+ countries since 2007 for reputed companies like Mercedes-Benz, Honda Power Products, Infosys, Volvo, Asian Paints, Tech Mahindra etc. In March 2016, she was invited to give a TEDx talk at Xavier’s College, Mumbai, thereby, she became the first Indian female Emcee to give a TEDx talk.
Sarita Raghuvanshi has authored the novel “C + Plus Doctor Thepla”. It was released in September 2016 at Ahmedabad, India by their Mayor Mr. Gautam Shah. It is a fictional book in English language that intends to promote and boost the start-up culture of India. A video, highlighting the storyline of the novel, starring a puppet, was officially released on YouTube in June 2016. By this, the novel created a record of being the first Indian novel with a puppet promotional video and was given the record certificate award by the Limca Book of Records. In February 2017, Sarita Raghuvanshi pursued her Image Consultancy course from the Academy of Image Mastery, Singapore and became India’s youngest Image Consultant.
Her career is an inspiration for us all and today we talk to her in detail.
You have anchored 900+ events in 15+ countries. Wow! How has been the journey and what were the challenges you faced in it?
So far so good (she says with a smile). My parents wanted me to become an Engineer, and I did become one! However, public speaking always interested me and I wanted to do something with it. Coming from a traditional Marwari family, where everyone talks of traditional businesses, anchoring was a different ball game altogether for them to understand! When I had hosted my first event in 2007, I was under a constant pressure of “Log Kya Kahenge?” Anchoring wasn’t perceived to be a ‘good’ career by people around me. After the first event back then, several people from the audience came up to me and showered their praises. This experience was enough to boost my confidence to face the society around me! And there has been no looking back since then! But well, managing my parents and family in the initial days of my journey was quite a task. Last year, when they watched my TEDx video and read the newspaper articles about it, they hosted a feast at home for family and friends. That experience is beyond words:)
Which has been the most memorable event and why?
For me, every event is memorable for I get to meet new people, learn about different companies and moreover, improve my skills. However, one event is special to me and that was in 2016. I had got the opportunity to host an event for the United Nations. It was the first time that the UN had selected an Indian to host their global event. This was thrilling, and memorable:) It was the GEM-TECH Awards 2016 at Bangkok, Thailand, organized by the United Nations Women. The event saw the presence of many distinguished personalities including Tupouto’a’ Ulukalala, the Crown Prince of Tonga, Mr. Houlin Zhao, ITU Secretary General and other dignitaries from the UN and IT Moguls. In this event, the UN felicitated women from various parts of the globe for their outstanding contribution to the female gender upliftment. From the unknown parts of Africa to the metro cities of the western world, there were inspiring women from everywhere who had done a lot for the society. While knowing more about them during the event, I weeped at once, and thanked God for blessing me for all that he has given. This event made me realize that we should be thankful for what we have, and always help out the needy around us, at the least!
If you weren’t doing what you do now, what would you be doing?
The whole purpose of my family to make me an Engineer was to get me join our family businesses of manufacturing and real estate development. When I became an Engineer, they took it as an achievement (but I kind of disappointed them!) So well, if not anchoring, I would have been in one of those cabins of our factory and would have tried to put two bits of Engineering into real practice. But that would have been too boring though!
What was the motivation to write the novel? Also, tell us about the Limca Record it has created
When I decided to take up anchoring as a full time career, my family and society wasn’t comfortable with it. However, I was adamant and knew that once I will make it, everyone will support me. I could take this daring step, but not everyone in our country can go against the “Log Kya Kahenge” pressure. I know of friends who were brilliant artists in college but now are doing unwilling corporate jobs. I always wanted to do something which ensured that the ‘puppet’ in all of us does not succumb to societal pressures. This book makes you live the struggles of an average Indian student while pursuing his start-up dream and how he goes against the ‘Manjoo Mausi’ of our neighbourhood. To make the point effective, a ‘puppet’ video was made (watch at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsxB_WLNqAk) and released on YouTube. It created a buzz over the internet. The Limca Book of Records recognized it as the ‘First Novel with a Puppet Promotional Video’ and appreciated its mission.
So you are the youngest Image Consultant of India. Brilliant! How did you get into it?
Of the many ‘must-do’ things on my list, this was on my top priority. I wanted to become an Image Consultant and take ahead my passion of image branding and people development. I believe that this field is unexplored in our country. While first impression may not be the last one, it certainly is a lasting one. Hence, I feel things will change with time and I hope I can contribute to this change in its primitive days. I pursued my Image Consultancy course from the prestigious Academy of Image Mastery, Singapore.
Who has been your biggest inspiration?
Oprah Winfrey! Since a young age, she faced a lot of hardships but never gave up. Sexually abused at 9; ran away from home at 13; pregnant at 14; Beauty queen at 17; abused drugs in her 20s; first black American woman on National T.V. in America and Millionaire at 32. Says it all?
Your message to our readers.
As Oprah Winfrey says “The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams”. I think I have started living it, you too should 🙂
