Roopa Pahwa
Image, Etiquette & Style Consultant Social Entrepreneur
India
Born as the great granddaughter of a feisty freedom fighter ‘Baba Kharak Singh Ji – The Uncrowned King of the Sikhs’ it was natural to have that indomitable zeal to be the best version of myself. My hometown Kolkata enriched my cultural perceptions; my alma mater Loreto House inculcated the virtues of diligence academic excellence and voluntary service. My parents had been my perfect mentors who led by example. My father an Income Tax Commissioner was a perfect gentleman who made sure I imbibed the social skills and etiquette befitting any genteel ambiance. I was always in awe of my mother, a fitness buff at a time when it wasn’t such a vogue with women.
The year 1985 brought me to the city of Ludhiana when I got married into an affluent business family. From Kolkata to Ludhiana was akin to a cultural shock! But my earnest efforts to espouse the new role endeared me to my in-law family. My biggest confidant was my grand father-in-law. Passionate about fitness, in the year 2005, opened ‘Addiction Studio’ and continued my learning and training programs from institutes in London. Balancing my wellness goals with home turf with two teenage boys was very demanding.
I have always been a keen observer of people’s personality traits and mannerisms. This fostered my passion to bring about a paradigm shift in the people’s perception of personality development. I started the ‘International School of Etiquette (ISOE) affiliated with Manhattan, New york in the year 2007, a peerless grooming institute, which offers training programs, workshops for corporate honchos, executives, professionals, homemakers, bride to be, children.
I travelled overseas to bring in new programs and have to my credit certifications from global trainers as I believe knowledge has no boundaries:
– The Etiquette School of New York (Ms Patricia Fitzpatrick) for the Social Makeover Program.
– Image & Style (Gloria Starr, International, Dubai).
– International Business Etiquette, Dining & Professional Image by Ms. Tamiko Zablith, London, United Kingdom.
– Closet Organizer by the International Association of Professions Career College (IAP Career College).
– Life Coach Certificate Course by the International Association of Professions Career College (IAP Career College).
“Adversity tests the brave”. I was confronted with a lot of challenges in my life. I had a terrible car accident in 2006. A fatal fall in 2016, completely changed my fitness regime which I was so passionate about. Once again I had to face the biggest ordeal in my life in the 2018 with life threatening medical condition. I battled one condition after another March 2018, Again June 2018, Oct 2019 with sheer perseverance till March 2020. These years made my nerves like steel. As Cayla Mills quotes that you never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have. I too had no choice but to face the dreadful condition, with all my will power for the sake of my children and family.
But being an eternal optimist, the experience renewed my zest for life and I came out with a stronger determination after undergoing multiple surgeries. I believe inspired women are empowered women and can become a force to reckon with. In the year 2017 WOW – Women of Will, a platform to revolutionizing to raise the concept of women power and camaraderie. In WOW, I’m a proverbial friend, philosopher and guide to every member and together we address various evils and inequalities plaguing the society.
I have absolute faith in the Almighty! I believe “Do not quit. You’ll end up right back from where you first began. And when you first began, you were desperate to be where you are right now.” Keep Going!