Brinda Didi Motivates Girls to Never Stop Speaking Up

The Didi Program at Setidevi School in Talku, organized by the Rukmini Foundation, served as an inspirational and educational platform for students in grades 7 to 10. Led by guest speaker Brinda Bhattacharya, the program aimed to motivate students to focus on their studies, set meaningful goals, and persevere through challenges. Drawing from her personal experiences of overcoming adversity, Brinda captivated the audience of 55 students, teachers, staff, and, and U.S. Board member Miss Tina Gleisner with her journey of resilience, self-discovery, and success. This program exemplifies how relatable storytelling, and mentorship can inspire young minds to navigate their struggles, embrace their potential, and pursue their aspirations with determination.

Brinda Didi introduces herself by asking questions

When introduced as the guest “Didi,” Brinda Bhattacharya immediately engaged the students by asking them to guess her profession. Responses variedly guessed she was a motivational speaker, which seemed logical, as guest speakers at Didi programs often share inspiring stories of overcoming challenges and achieving success. Others thought she might be a teacher or a nurse.

This simple exercise captured the students’ attention, setting the tone for her presentation. Brinda gradually revealed her background, sharing that she was born and raised in Kathmandu to Indian parents of Bengali ethnicity. Fluent in four languages—Nepali, English, Hindi, and Bengali—Brinda explained how her love for languages has enabled her to connect with people from diverse backgrounds.

Growing up 

Brinda shared fond memories of her childhood, including her love for Kathak, a classical Indian dance form, dressing up, and exploring new places. However, her carefree childhood gave way to confusion during adolescence. In sixth grade, she began noticing changes in herself and her peers, leading to feelings of uncertainty and frustration. At home, she was treated as a child, but at school, she observed her classmates behaving differently. Lacking guidance about adolescence and menstruation, she felt isolated.

Brinda also faced discrimination based on her skin-complexion, nationality, and gender, which prompted her to speak out against such biases. She often argued with her mother about restrictive traditions, such as menstruation taboos, advocating for a balance between respect for beliefs and modern understanding. These challenges left her feeling confused, sad, and angry, which affected her academic performance.

After sharing her struggles, Brinda offered students important advice on managing emotions such as sadness, fear, and anger. She emphasized:

• The importance of speaking up.
• Finding a support system for trusted friends and family.
• Being open to listening to others.
• Staying informed about their rights.
• Expressing emotions, including anger or sadness, is a healthy way to clear the mind.

Family life and Educational Journey

Engaging with the students, Brinda asked the students if they had ever failed an exam. She then shared her own experiences of failure. Despite being a top student until grade 5, family conflicts affected her studies, leading to her failing math in grade 7. Brinda hid her report card from her mother, who discovered it later and reacted harshly. This incident taught Brinda the value of honesty and strengthened her relationship with her mother.

When Brinda was 17, her father left the family. Her mother, a financially independent teacher, ensured Brinda continued her education despite their domestic challenges. Although she failed physics in grade 12, a supportive teacher encouraged her to persevere, helping her achieve an impressive 88% in her next examination.

Brinda emphasized to students that failures are part of life but should not define them. She encouraged teachers to guide students who may lack academic support at home, just as her teacher had done for her.

Brinda, now a successful professional with a master’s degree from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, shared how her imperfect family life resonated with many students whose parents work long hours or are absent entirely.

Facing Rejections

Brinda also discussed her struggles with rejection. After being denied admission to several Indian universities for her bachelor’s degree, she was finally accepted at St. Xavier’s College in Kathmandu to study social work, her lifelong passion. She turned her earlier rejections into motivation to excel.

She later applied to the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai for her master’s degree, where her perseverance paid off. Brinda not only secured admission but excelled academically, earning a Gold Medal for her fieldwork and a Silver Medal for her overall performance. She was also recognized as the Best International Student for her research and fieldwork.

Upon returning to Nepal, Brinda joined Thames College in Kathmandu as a teacher and became involved in various social work activities.

Highlights of her social work

Brinda shared photographs of her social work, including:

• Organizing a two-day confidence-building event for shy students in Sindhupalchowk.
• Conducting burn awareness sessions in Biratnagar, where burn cases were increasing.
• Working with Astitwa Nepal to support burn victims.
• Raising awareness about gender-based violence and conducting programs in schools in the Pharping area.

Brinda concluded her presentation with valuable life lessons, defining success as “making a positive difference in someone’s life.” She urged students to work hard, prioritize mental health, and seek financial independence. Through her inspiring journey, Brinda left the students with a powerful message: resilience, determination, and a supportive community can help them overcome any challenge.

Q and A Session

Brinda encouraged the audience to ask questions and comments about her presentation.

Alisha Balami (Student) asked ‘’ Why did you choose Social Work ?’’ 

Brinda answered the reason behind her choice.  When she was in 7th grade, she went on a school field trip to the zoo, where she met children from an orphanage called Rakshya Nepal. She shared chocolates with the children, their smiles made her very happy. Seeing her love for children, one of the Didis from the orphanage suggested that she might be interested in social work. Studying social work would allow her to earn a living while helping others. At that moment, she realized that she could choose social work as her field of study that allows her to help people in need.

Sanjita Balami (mentor, Glow Club)

“I could not control my tears when Brinda Didi shared her story.  When she said that she failed her 12th grade Physics, it felt like it was my story.  I was pressured to join Science studies which I was not comfortable with. I learned that we can be successful when we choose to study what we are interested in.”

Akriti Basnet (student) shared that the program was very informative. “We got valuable knowledge about social work. We also learned to speak up against discrimination.”

Umesh Balami (Student): I find this program very motivating. We learned how to tackle emotions. I learned that we must listen to others.

Principal Gajendra K.C. thanked Brinda Didi for such an informative and inspiring program. Our students get to hear from you that hard work is the key to success. He said, “I call you Didi, today, although you are like my daughter’s age. I am very impressed with your work in different areas helping the most vulnerable people. Thank you for sharing your story and motivating our students.

Brinda thanked the school principals, teachers and the Rukmini Foundation for inviting them to the Didi program. She was very happy to share her story for the first time. She said, “I will feel myself successful if my story helps motivate even one or two students.” 

Tina Gleisner

Speaking with the principal, Tina said, “Visiting your School was amazing. I enjoyed the Didi presentation and understood a lot. Watching the students’ enthusiasm is inspiring and I hope to visit again. Thank You very much for making me feel welcome as a member of the Rukmini Foundation.”