• MRS. SUDESHNA BANDYOPADHYAY

MRS. SUDESHNA BANDYOPADHYAY

 

Congratulations MRS. SUDESHNA BANDYOPADHYAY from New Delhi for being selected as a finalist of Mrs India International Queen 2022! Let’s know more about her. We interviewed Mrs. Sudeshna and here are her amazing answers:

 

Name: Sudeshna Bandyopadhyay

Profession: IT Professional in Infosys and Ex-Army officer

Qualification: B.Tech (Civil Engineering ) Business management from MDI, Gurgaon

Location: New Delhi

Strengths: Courageous, Intuitive, positive attitude and good sense of humour

Weakness: Overthinking, Short-temper, Stubborn

Likes: I love to travel and explore different culture and cuisines.

I like to spend time with friends and my family. I like to read self-help books. I like to watch romantic and comedy movies. I also like good films with a strong social message. I like to shop. Window shopping is my favorite pass time.

Dislikes: I dislike dishonest and manipulative people. I dislike procrastination, I don’t like messy and disorganized space or home. I am a cleanliness freak. I strongly dislike gossiping about others.

 

Tell us about your family:

 

My family comprises of my husband, Col Rupvinder Singh who is an Army officer and my 17-year-old daughter, Ishmeher Kaur studying in Class XII in Udaipur. I have a single sibling, Sauvik Bandyopadyay, my brother who is working in Chicago, USA and married to a dentist. My parents are settled in Kolkata after my father is retired from Indian Army.

 

Quotes that keep you going, motivates you:

 

  • “When the going gets tough, the toughget going.”- This quote has helped me since my teenage years to accept and face tough situations in my life. Difficulties in life give you opportunity to be the best version of yourself and helps you to grow in ways you never thought you could.

 

  • “The woods are dark, lovely and deep. But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.”(Robert Frost)- I believe in life learning is ongoing process . There is so little time and so much to do and achieve. In every phase of my life, I like to learn, explore and unlearn things and keep moving to newer opportunities.

 

Achievements/ Anything you are proud of yourself:

 

I have served in Indian Army for 20 long years where I have served across length and breadth of the country. During 2001 when my unit was deployed in one of the biggest operations called “OP PARAKRAM” I led small teams building bridges and helipads and led convoys. I was very young and faced many challenges being only lady officer among 1500 men, but I am proud of the fact that I completed my training and disposed all my responsibilities in those trying circumstances.

 

I have always been a sincere, hardworking a good student. I was always among top three student in my class. I was silver medalist in my graduation. I was a student of Physics Major in my graduation.

 

I did my civil engineering while serving in Army. Army gives you opportunity to study Engineering while working from College of Military Engineering, Pune. I completed my Engineering with a home and a baby to look after. My husband was posted to J&K that time and I had managed my duties as mother, officer and a student all by myself. I am proud of the fact that I passed out with first class result in engineering degree.

 

What is Women Empowerment according to you?

 

I believe women are very powerful and intuitive human beings. They need equal opportunities and support system as men to carve a niche and achieve real equality in societies. An empowered women can decide and follow her life path without being judged. Women today is breaking all kinds of shackles and stereotypes to prove themselves in every area, empowered women know how to voice her opinion and take a stand. They help and support other women. Empowering women is also an indispensable tool for development and productivity of whole families and communities and improved prospects for next generation.

 

Empowerment for me means promote education, training and professional development for women. Women’s health and safety is another important area. Maternal health, mental health and gender-based violence are some of the core issues where countries need to work a lot. When women are living safe, fulfilled and productive lives, they can reach full potential and can raise happier and healthier children. They can help fuel sustainable economies and benefit societies.

 

Message for the society:

 

In Gita Lord Krishna says “Don’t think of the result at all, just do what you are doing with your totality and get lost into it, loose the doer in the doing”-that’s a very powerful life mantra for me. Life should be lived with passion and zeal. One must not stop learning and growing. around us. Let’s love each other, help each other, support each other and let’s not belittle anyone. The world is full of so much negativity, jealousy, hatred,let’s not add on to it. Let’s do little things with joy and love.  Happiness lies within and we should be happy in every circumstance and seek happiness from everything we do.

 

Another area of my interest is sustainable development. By the year 2050, it is estimated that our global population will likely reach by 9 billion people. Many of the challenges facing humankind such as climate change, water scarcity, inequality and hunger can only be resolved by promoting sustainable development-a commitment to social progress, environmental balance and economic growth. As a part of new sustainable development roadmap, the UN approved the 2030 agenda, which contains the Goals, a call to action to protect and guarantee the global wellbeing of the people.

 

These common goals require involvement of individuals, businesses, administrations, and countries around the world. We all should endeavor in our ways to work towards it too at all levels to make the planet a better place. First make changes in our lifestyles and help our government to achieve the goals. Save energy, eat less meat, use renewable alternatives, Use Renewable energy, grow your own produce, donate unused items, Recycle and Reuse.

 

 

How will you give back to society after becoming a Queen?

 

A beauty queen has a far-reaching impact and a platform to make meaningful contributions in relevant causes. The true essence of being a beauty queen is to inspire others and being beautiful not only on the outside but also on the inside. There are certain causes which is very close to my heart.  I am presently associated with a Delhi based NGO- “HamareSapne” which is run by my friend GeetKhera. The NGO works towards providing free education to poor and needy girls. We provide free books, stationary and writing materials to about 50 girl children. The NGO also organizes food and blanket distribution and various other charity activities across Delhi-NCR. I help my friend in organizing these events and also financially assist her in raising funds.

 

I am also working for a Kolkata based NGO called CANCER FIGHT FOUNDATION. The NGO led by Mrs Sushmita is striving constantly to bring smile on the faces of the very poor and helpless cancer patients at some of the city hospitals in Kolkata. Their focus is directed towards the children suffering from Colon cancer and offers them basic care, counselling, and medical assistance.

 

Having worked in leadership role in Indian Army I will continue to inspire young girls to join Defence services and emphasis on self defense and independence in my capacity as a beauty queen. A queen has many responsibilities. Apart from personal goal of establishing myself as a brand and working in the field of beauty and fashion, the cause of educating young girls will be one of my topmost priority as I believe that “women are not victims, we are makers of peace and drivers of progress “. I will continue to work more effectively for the cancer foundation in my hometown Kolkata and endeavor to raise more funds and awareness.

 

Why have you participated in Mrs India International Queen?

 

I remember vividly when Sushmita Sen and Aishwarya Rai won the Miss Universe and Miss world titles in 1994 and 1995, they inspired a whole generation of young girls to pursue their dream of becoming a beauty. I was a young kid in school when I witnessed this crazy phenomenon when every girl wanted to be Sush or Aish. I remember I made a slam book dedicating the women achievers including Sushmita and Aishwarya all around the world, tracing their journey and writing inspiring quotes quoted by them. This slam is still my precious possession. So, the dream of winning a beauty pageant was always deeply engraved in me. As I grew, I began to understand that as a beauty queen there is so much you can do with your life and there are so many young girls who idolize you.

 

When I came across the organization of Mrs India International Queen I was instantly drawn to the motto “Be Strong, Be confident, Be you!!!” I felt this a right platform to showcase my talent and enhance my personality and public persona. This is the age of personal branding. It is imperative you present yourself and with the proliferation of social media and gig economy, it has become essential for everyone to embrace personal branding. I dream of seeing myself a successful fashion and beauty blogger and entrepreneur five years from now. Also, the pageant is a platform having ample opportunities and international exposure for all the married ladies across the globe. I also intend to work for many social causes and support NGOs I am personally associated with to make small and effective changes in our society.

 

The pageant would also teach me self-discipline, motivation to excel, improve physically and mentally.

 

I am also very excited to meet new people and make new friends. The journey of becoming Mrs India International Queen will be very fruitful and memorable.