Monalisa Patsani, OP
BHUBANESWAR: In a patriarchal society it is but natural that professions are assigned according to specific gender roles. Therefore, certain professions are reserved exclusively for men. However, 21year-old Champabati Maharana has broken the glass ceiling by choosing a different profession. Champabati is probably the first lady in the state who opted for the rather unrewarding profession of a mechanic. She is working with Trupti Royal Enfield AutoWorld since 2015 and has now developed the requisite experience to repair all kinds of problems related to Royal Enfield bikes. She has become so popular that customers who visit the shop seek her assistance as they have faith
in her and believe that their proud possession is in safe hands. When Champabati joined the profession she had no knowledge of bike repairing. Sharing her experience with Orissa POST, Champabati said: “Initially when I started doing repairing work I had no idea about bike parts. In the beginning, I mostly used to wash bikes and bring tea for other workers. But gradually I started learning small repair works. It took me around one year to grasp everything about bikes.” Champabati was pursuing History honours from Jatni College when she started working as a mechanic. Asked how she developed interest in mechanical work, Champabati replied: “When I was a graduate student my family happened to be in dire financial straits.
I wanted to earn for my family; so when one of my distant cousins asked me to work in a garage I immediately said ‘yes’ as I was interested in the profession.” A resident of Gobindpur near
Jatni, Champabati today is the sole bread earner in her family. Her father was a farmer and used to work in others’ farmlands. Her elder brother is a farmer and younger brother a student.
Initially, the shop owners were reluctant to let her do repair work. “Being a girl, people thought that I would not be able to do good repairing work due to which nobody allowed me to do the job. But gradually when they saw my work they slowly developed faith in me. Today I repair all kinds of mechanical glitches and customers are happy with my work. I repair around five to six bikes every day and earn around`6000 a month. Champabati is also a football player and has taken part in various district and state level tournaments. She has also participated in a national level shooting ball tournament held in Rajasthan and Haryana. “Apart from being a mechanic, I play football. Every morning I go to Jatni Sports Academy to practice football from 6-8 am,”
she said. “I am sportive in spirit and was active in various sports activities in school and college. I have been a champion in every activity. Apart from football, I am also good in running, long jump and high jump. I have also received formal training in mountaineering during a national adventure camp held in Manali,” she added. Champabati aspires to be a sports person and wants to represent India in various international events. “If I get an opportunity, I want to represent my country. My dream is to be recognised as a sports person,” she said. Champabati is an inspiration for many people who think that girls can’t do certain sorts of jobs. “We should take everything as a challenge. There is nothing that we can’t do,” averred Champabati.
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