Rashmi Rekha Das
Every year the most coveted beauty pageants that are held witness the participation of scores of lovely ladies. The winners not only win accolades in their city and country but also global acclaim. Most contestants are heard making lofty promises of working for the underprivileged. Many say they want to donate money for charity or get involved in educating impoverished children, but few actually fulfill their commitments. Although some beauty queens have had a record of public service, there are few who are passionately involved. Kalpasa Ankita Shaw, a beauty queen, works for improving the lives of underprivileged children. In a candid conversation with Orissa POST, the gorgeous lady talks about her stint in the glamour industry and her motivation to get involved in social service.
Kalpasa brought laurels to the state after her portrait found a place at the Australian Art Gallery in March this year. Besides, her portrait also was installed at Bhubaneswar Art Gallery. Although she is a known face in the glamour world, Kalpasa did not want to pursue a career in modelling.
Asked why she didn’t choose to pursue modelling, Kalpasa said: “I am emotionally attached to orphans and needy children. What I feel is that slum children and orphans happen to be the most deprived. Children growing up in slums and orphanages experience a childhood that often defies the imagination of both the ‘innocent childhood’ proponents and the ‘universal childhood’ advocates. When earning a livelihood becomes a primary matter of concern for children, education inevitably takes the backseat. Keeping this in mind, I launched the voluntary organisation Ankita Shaw Foundation to work at providing education to deprived children.”
Winner of many beauty pageants like Miss Balasore in 2012, Miss Perfect in 2012, Miss Photogenic India in 2013, Kalpasa had several movie offers coming her way. But she did not accept any. Asked why she rejected those offers, the beauty queen replied: “I am from a conservative family. But that was not the real reason. I was least interested in the glamour world. I was never interested to make a career in films. My aim was, and still is, to bring a smile on the faces of those children whose childhood are slipping away working at hotels and their eternally gloomy kitchens in sweltering heat. My heart aches when I see children toiling at factories and shops when they could have played and danced without a care in the world. Besides, there are some children deprived of formal education due to financial problems or lack of study material. I wanted to help them achieve their dreams.”
Kalpasa has been inspired by her parents who used to take her to orphanages on her birthdays when she was a kid. “I developed a close rapport with the children and, in the process, came to feel their pain. From childhood, I had made up my mind to work for the welfare of children. My mother has inspired me a lot. Without the help of my mother, I could not have achieved success in my endeavours.”
Born to lawyer RN Shaw and teacher Rasmi Dash, Kalpasa’s aim is to set up a school for children, especially orphans and the differently-abled. “They are really talented but what they need is exposure. I want to create a platform for them so that they establish their own social identity,” she said.
“I am just an average girl with average concerns. Life will take its toll on all of us: We get injured and we get old. It is really sad to try to run away from these harsh realities of life. Looks are not everything and I don’t look beautiful all the time. God has given me plenty of reasons to smile and I want to spread it through social service,” said Kalpasa who runs an old age home, a cricket team, and a dance academy.
Queried as to what was the best compliment she had received in life, Kalpasa replied: “A child at an orphanage told me my emotional warmth outshines my beauty. I was overjoyed.”
In a nutshell
Favourite food: Any homemade food
Favourite hangout destination: Any tranquil place
Hobbies: Writing, dancing and singing
Inspiration: Mother
Favourite pastime: Sleeping (alone), maintaining a personal diary
Message: Life is a stage and we are all actors. Therefore, play your part and play it best.
Beauty secret: Washing the face six to seven times a day with cold water
Feathers in her cap
- Chhatra Gaurav Award
- Moments Prativa Award
- Youth Icon Award
- Chitra Darpan Award as best social worker
- Samaya Ra Chakra Award
- Aji Kali Best Social Worker Award
- Bipada Ra Bandhu Best Icon Award
- Aji News (Best Young Icon) Award
- Best Chhatra Samaj Sebi Award
