Meet Pooja Biswas - The Island Girl who is Spreading Smiles
Port Blair, Oct. 24: As the Government of India led by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi focuses to make the nation fit, through its ‘Fit India’ Campaign, healthy living and fitness as on today seems to be becoming a new trend in the nation. Whether its Yoga or Zumba, Crossfit training or Gym, Walking, Running or Cycling, people are looking for options that suit their personality to stay healthy.
While fitness and health is the focus of Indians today, Andaman & Nicobar Islands which has been producing ace sportspersons in various fields is equally marching ahead. Many upgraded gyms and fitness training centres have come up of late in the islands, replacing the age old traditional gymnasiums, thus luring young and old to be a part of the ‘Fit India’ movement.
There are pros and cons of every action and the fitness industry is not spared too. In the name of fitness and healthy living, opportunists have cropped up, who tend to play with the health of people by posing to be trainers, thus misguiding people and extracting exorbitant money. Instances have also come to light, wherein people even in Government sector have been doing illegal businesses in the name of training. Yet, there remains to a ray of hope, with people like Pooja Biswas who are determined to take the trend forward in the right earnest, in spite of all constraints.
Pooja, a girl hailing from remote Rangat in the Middle Andaman is the talk of the town. A sportsperson herself, she had been a part of the Sports Authority of India and has won medals for the islands in the field of Rowing. Pooja had secured 2 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze before she met with an ill-fated accident that forced her to discontinue the sport.
Years after the accident, as Pooja had started her family, she realized that there is a void in her life, which kept haunting her. Moreover, her health too was getting deteriorated which pushed her into depression. She had to take several treatments and undergo surgeries in the mainland hospitals in order to survive. It was at this crucial point of time, an inner voice beckoned her to return to the field where her heart and mind belongs. Thus came the turning point in Pooja’s life, which made her what she is today.
Pooja decided to get trained as a Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer. Out of the savings she remained with, she took an admission in one of the country’s most reputed ‘Gold Gym’ in Gujarat. By then she had also realized her potential of being a dancer and later mastered the art of Zumba apart from her training as Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer.
After completing her course, Pooja tried her luck in the islands with the government sector, but to her dismay her potential was not realized. Not giving up this time, she approached the RGT School, which is being managed by Retd. Director of Sports, A&N Administration, Shri Joy Kumar Roy. Roy had known Pooja as a young Rowing enthusiast during his time with the Administration and readily offered her a space to conduct Fitness Trainings. Gradually with a smile on her face and confidence within, Pooja Biswas started winning hearts as she spread smiles across.
As on date, Pooja has trained hundreds of ladies in Zumba, Aerobics and Gym. She was also been invited by the A&N Police and the Andaman & Nicobar Command for conducting training sessions.
“I have suffered a major setback in my life. But that’s destiny”, said Pooja in an interview with Andaman Chronicle. Problems are a part of life, which we need to accept. They can only make you stronger to lead the journey called life in a better way, she said adding that her dream is to spread smiles across the islands.
She gives the credit of what she is today to her Coach, Shri Yesudasan of Sports Authority of India who had been her guardian angel in her career as a rower and even after when she was at her lowest in life.
With genuine people like Pooja Biswas taking Andaman’s fitness industry with a storm, it can be expected that the Andaman & Nicobar Administration realizes the potential of islands’ sportspersons and make them brand ambassadors to carry forward PM Modi’s ‘Fit India’ Campaign in the islands.