Being The Change
MARWAR India|November-December 2017

Change and progress go hand in hand. Meet Chhavi Rajawat, who gave up the comforts of the city and an alluring corporate career to be the harbinger of change. MARWAR finds out more about this dedicated sarpanch and her plans and vision for her beloved village in Rajasthan and its people.

Aanchal Kataria
Being The Change

IN A COUNTRY WHERE WOMEN FACE A LOT OF limitations and resistance in all spheres of functioning and are relegated to merely an ornamental role, Chhavi Rajawat has surely come a long way. An alumni of Rishi Valley and Mayo College Girls’ School, she graduated from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, and pursued a business management degree in marketing from Pune. She ditched her corporate career and a cushy job with one of the country’s biggest telecom firms in 2010 to become the sarpanch of her ancestral village, Soda, located in the Tonk district of the desert state of Rajasthan.

The beginning

Rajawat recalls her vacations at Soda as filled with fun and frolic. Away at her boarding school, she looked forward to her vacations. Soda was hence always her home and the villagers were like one big extended family. She shared a strong emotional connect with them, especially with the village elders who pampered her.

However, her original career aspirations were different and she had never thought of taking up governance or entering politics. Rajawat shares, “The decision to make me the sarpanch was that of the villagers. I was in the corporate sector and in the phase of transitioning into taking over my family-run hotel in Jaipur. I had also started a horse-riding academy in Jaipur in 2009, to promote the sport and fulfil my dream of owning horses.”

Destiny had other plans for her.The villagers implored her to take charge, with many turning up at her home in Jaipur to convince her. The Soda seat was reserved for women in 2010 and she also could see that there had not been much development in the village since her grandfather, a retired brigadier, had served as the sarpanch around two decades ago. In March 2010, Rajawat was elected as the youngest sarpanch with an MBA degree in the country.

Traversing the course

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November-December 2017 من MARWAR India.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November-December 2017 من MARWAR India.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من MARWAR INDIA مشاهدة الكل
A WARRIOR on Many Fronts...
MARWAR India

A WARRIOR on Many Fronts...

From becoming the first woman from the Marwari community to join the Indian Army to emerging as the pioneer woman paratrooper from the Indian Army Dental Corps, Dr. Captain Reeta Rajkishor Biyani also known as Ritu Biyani, has had a journey of courage and resilience.

time-read
6 mins  |
May - June 2024
IN THE EYE OF THE TIGER
MARWAR India

IN THE EYE OF THE TIGER

Seasoned adventurers embark on a safari through Ranthambore National Park, a prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, ancient 400-year-old banyan trees and the grand Ranthambore Fort serve as a picturesque backdrop for encounters with the park's iconic inhabitant: The Majestic Tiger.

time-read
3 mins  |
May - June 2024
Where Royalty Resis
MARWAR India

Where Royalty Resis

Gatore Ki Chhatriyaan-the ornate, domeshaped cenotaphs in Jaipur-never stop fascinating the discerning traveller.

time-read
2 mins  |
May - June 2024
Where Love Begins
MARWAR India

Where Love Begins

Mothers are a beacon of love, strength and wisdom. They are our biggest role models. And special occasions are a chance to reflect on the unending love and sacrifices made by our mothers. As an ode to Mother's Day that falls in May, we get a cross-section of celebrities from the design industry to share their thoughts on their mothers.

time-read
2 mins  |
May - June 2024
Postcards from Rajasthan
MARWAR India

Postcards from Rajasthan

With fashion labels capturing the captivating beauty of traditional weaves, we explore the portrayal of the exquisite Rajasthani Banjaran rhapsody.

time-read
2 mins  |
May - June 2024
The Lawver Who Loves Cooking
MARWAR India

The Lawver Who Loves Cooking

In her book Bapu’s Curries: Culinary Journey of a Father, Shreeparna Khaitan takes us through the culinary journey of her father Umesh Khaitan and his passion for cooking. Flip through the pages for an excerpt from the book and authentic recipes straight from a Marwari household.

time-read
6 mins  |
May - June 2024
Hold, Sip & Enjoy Your Cuppa
MARWAR India

Hold, Sip & Enjoy Your Cuppa

A tete-a-tete with Mishthi Aggarwal, Founder-CEO, 93 Degrees Coffee Roasters, the fourth generation of the Bikanervala legacy, and the only woman specialty coffee roaster in India.

time-read
3 mins  |
May - June 2024
50 YEARS OF SPREADING Happiness
MARWAR India

50 YEARS OF SPREADING Happiness

With the business conglomerate Emami marking its golden jubilee in 2024, MARWAR India explores its successful journey that started back in 1974 in the humble lanes of Burra Bazaar in Kolkata. The only business group in India run by two partner families unrelated by blood, the brand is rooted yet global in its appeal. Over to Aditya Agarwal and Manish Goenka, Promoter-Directors, Emami Group, on celebrating five decades in the industry.

time-read
8 mins  |
May - June 2024
A Powerhouse from The East
MARWAR India

A Powerhouse from The East

Cosmic Birla Group is a tale of vision, entrepreneurship, and commitment to excellence.

time-read
3 mins  |
May - June 2024
A WARRIOR on Many Fronts...
MARWAR India

A WARRIOR on Many Fronts...

From becoming the first woman from the Marwari community to join the Indian Army Dental Corps to emerging as the pioneer woman paratrooper, Dr. Captain Reeta Rajkishor Biyani also known as Ritu Biyani, has had a journey of courage and resilience.

time-read
6 mins  |
May - June 2024