I come from a regular, middle class family from the North, but being the youngest of three siblings, I think my parents had become perfect parents by the time I arrived. They understood the big difference between rules and restrictions. My mother is still my best friend and knows everything about me; yes everything. She has stood by me through all my hardships as a friend and not the, “I told you so” kind either. She learnt the importance of independence and ensured that I was not only financially independent but more importantly, an Independent woman with a mind of her own and a kind heart.
I’ve had rough luck with roads! I had eight accidents in a span of five years leaving my body and mind scarred. Very scarred. Two of them were very serious and left me with rods in my leg and a very fractured spine. I recall being abrasive to anyone who asked me about my scars and calling the world unkind; for who would ever have a funny story about an accident that they would like to recall? My husband and soul mate has been in my life for over 13 years now and he constantly reminds me of the kindness in me and pushes the positivity out of me.
We both soon realised that it was travel and travel alone which made me happy. It would make me focus on only things I could DO and forget about my handicaps post the accidents. Like I know I can’t go trekking with the rods in my leg, so I went for shark diving instead and rode an ostrich. I would stay positive and rejuvenated for months after each trip.
I’m a corporate trainer by profession and have worked in the UK, UAE and Australia. But I quit last year to focus on writing about my travel tales and sharing them with anyone who was interested under the pen name, Travelling Boots.
I’ve lately also joined Angela Carson and her team to write as a Luxury Travel Blogger at angelasbangalore.com.
Tell us about any current projects you are involved in
I recently came back from my biggest adventure yet. I travelled solo across Europe for 45 days through 11 countries. I am currently writing about my experiences and sharing the lessons I learnt through this journey.
I only wish to promote the idea of women travelling solo in India. Anywhere, anyhow! I believe it’s us women who change societies. It is the threshold of what we can put up with that becomes our society’s acceptances. I was exposed to the real concept of being or feeling free and independent in my travels. It was in the simple joy of being able to do little things alone without the fear of being harassed that I found my freedom! Watching a movie alone, travel anywhere using any mode of transport, visiting a bar or pub, wearing what I felt like everyday; all without the fear of being groped or assaulted. We Indian women living here haven’t tasted what that feels like. We are so accustomed to accepting what may happen that we simply bend.
I am constantly asked how my husband allows me to travel alone. And I often respond, he is my partner, not my boss or owner. We discuss my travel plans and my passions like two adults, but no one can give me ‘permission’ to lead my own life. We women have become financially independent but I feel we still need to remind ourselves that before we are women and men, we all are humans. And when we look up and seek permissions for how we lead our lives, we have already made someone sit on a pedestal and lead us. That when we don’t react to feeling uncomfortable when we are ogled at on the streets, we are telling the idiots that they can get away with it. No, I don’t say fight everyone, everywhere, all I’m say is respond and voice what you are truly feeling, in a dignified manner. Something I learnt in San Francisco.
What has been your biggest challenge in achieving your success?
I am a graduate of Hotel Management from WGSHA, Manipal. I found my dream job with ITC Hotels as a Sales and Marketing Management Trainee. My first assignment was at the Grand Maratha Mumbai and I was a young, driven and ambitious girl. Within a few months of moving to Mumbai, I had an accident. I almost lost my leg and was in hospital for weeks. When I finally did recover, the doctor’s said I would always walk with a limp.
When I look back now, everything had crashed for me due to some drunk driver, who hit me and ran away. My career in hotels was over, for who would hire someone with a limp?I was 22, scarred, jobless and had a visible disability. It was a battle every day. Watching my family see me lie helpless, and yet they cheered me and I needed to assure them I was ok.
I had to learn how to walk again but the whole charade repeated itself only few years later when my car’s tyre burst on the Mumbai Pune highway and broke my spine. This was so much worse with complete bed rest for months.
It’s sad that when we have accidents in India. Everyone focuses on our bodies and little attention is paid to our minds. Our minds are stronger than our bodies. Yes I had to restart my career twice. Yes the recovery and the healing process was painful like hell. And yes these accidents changed me because overcoming what had happened and what I had lost was not easy.
But here is what helped me. I lived one day at a time. I forgot how world saw me and kept reminding myself of how strong I was. We usually have no idea of how strong we really are. I picked new directions in my career twice. And I can say with some pride today that the doctors were wrong. I not only lost my limp but you should see me dance my Salsa (haha!) I live each day with all my life because I value the simple privileges of an able body. I ensure each day is a celebration of my success of being able to walk and talk today with my dignity and a strong mind.
What has been your greatest achievement personally?
I had become a very timid girl after my accidents. Being in the car alone would make me squirm. It’s been a long journey with many baby steps. From having the courage to drive myself, to now being able to go shark-diving, or ride an ostrich or managing anywhere across the globe on my own.
My 45 days across Europe has been my greatest personal achievement so far. I won’t lie, of course it was amazing and it was better than anyone could ever dream of, but it was hard. I was bruised and blistered carrying my suitcase (I can’t do backpacks because of my spine). I slept outside the toilet of a train. I dragged my suitcase up four fights of strairs when there were no lifts. I didn’t eat for over 20 hours. I got lost so many times and I was unwell, but in all these situations, I found beautiful people. I have been a receiver of multiple random acts of kindness which restored my faith in humanity. It made me realise people are still people and no country is as bad as the flashy news channels show them to be.
If you weren’t doing what you do now, what would you be doing?
Honestly, I’m doing so many things now that I quit my corporate job that it’s hard for me to say. I’m writing as a travel blogger for Travelling Boots. I’ve joined Angelasbangalore.com as a Luxury Travel Blogger. I work as a volunteer to Uthaan NGO and I’m still training as a freelancer. But if I had to choose another profession, I think I would have loved to be a journalist.
Who has been your biggest inspiration?
Any person who has questioned the status quo can inspire me. Anyone who does what they want with passion and for their passion inspires me.
When even one person respond to me after reading my blog I feel inspired to write more. When some people critique it, I feel inspired to write even better. What can I say? I’m easily inspired! It’s a very happy way of life, finding inspiration in the small things and the opportunities life throws at us everyday.
What does the future hold for you?
I’d like to keep writing of course. There is just such a lot of world to see. South America is next on the list. I want to be there for about two months, attend the carnival and even train at a dance school for a while. I want to explore Machupichhu and be lost in the beats of the football fans.After will be the Northern Lights of Alaska.
I don’t know what will happen and what surprises are in store for me in the future, but I do hope God gives me the wisdom and kindness to see each day through with grace and dignity.
About Smriti Shankar
Smriti Shankar is a 34 year-old, married, solo traveller who has travelled across 29 countries. She started writing as Travelling Boots in July 2014. Smriti originally started the blog as she had so many experiences to share while she travelled alone that she did not want to forget them. Her stories soon began to inspire people and her pure zest for life and living by her own rules brought her blogs attention.
Smriti is a Hotel Management Graduate from WGSHA, Manipal, but moved into training following a road accident. Since then she has earned respect in the training world and has worked across the UK, UAE and Australia on various assignments. Last year Smriti started writing about her travel tales in her blog called Travelling Boots. She also volunteers for Uthaan NGO.
This article was provided by WeAreTheCity Delhi Committee Member Ashish Bhardwaj.
