Balancing Professional Life and Passion | Dr. Tejaswini Manogna | TEDxAIIMSRaipur

Summary

Dr. Tejaswini Manogna shares her inspiring journey from a humble middle-class family to a passionate doctor, dancer, and activist. Despite societal norms and setbacks, she pursued her dreams in medicine, arts, and pageantry, ultimately finding balance and success through hard work, perseverance, and her commitment to service.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Dr. Tejaswini Manogna is a passionate doctor who believes medicine is a calling towards service, not just a profession.
• 🏆 She was inspired by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam's words on the combination of art and medicine creating a good human being.
• 💃 Dr. Tejaswini is a Bharatanatyam dancer who has performed extensively and used her art to connect with prominent personalities.
• 🏅 Her journey involved balancing her academic pursuits with her passion for dance and service, even facing societal pressures and expectations.
• 🎓 Despite challenges, she excelled in her studies, secured good grades, and was among the top students in her medical school.
• 🌍 She participated in the Miss India pageant with a vision to be a voice for women and youth, aiming to use the platform for social causes.
• 👑 Despite facing rejections and setbacks in her pageant journey, she remained determined and eventually won the Miss Earth India title.
• 🌳 As an eco-activist, she used her international platform to promote environmental consciousness, such as representing the fight against plastic pollution.
• 🏥 After her pageant success, she chose to return to her medical profession, focusing on serving her nation through healthcare.
• 🧘‍♀️ Yoga played a significant role in her life, helping her maintain balance and peace amidst her diverse and challenging pursuits.

Q & A

Who is Dr. Tejaswini Manogna?

Dr. Tejaswini Manogna is a postgraduate medical student, Bharatnatyam dancer, eco-activist, philanthropist, and former pageant contestant who participated in various international beauty pageants.

What motivated Dr. Tejaswini to pursue a career in medicine?

Dr. Tejaswini was motivated to pursue a career in medicine because she viewed it not just as a profession but as a calling towards service of the nation and humanity.

How did Dr. Tejaswini's interaction with Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam influence her?

Dr. Tejaswini's interaction with Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam inspired her to combine art and medicine, as he mentioned that when art and medicine join together, they create a good human being.

Describe Dr. Tejaswini's background and family support.

Dr. Tejaswini comes from a humble middle-class family that valued discipline, respect for elders, and hard work. Her parents gave her the freedom to follow her passion and supported her in her endeavors.

What were some of the challenges Dr. Tejaswini faced during her journey?

Dr. Tejaswini faced numerous challenges, including societal pressure, rejections, balancing academics with extracurricular activities, and financial constraints. She also faced challenges in pageants where she was initially rejected and had to prove her abilities.

What achievements did Dr. Tejaswini accomplish in her NCC journey?

In her NCC journey, Dr. Tejaswini was named All India's Best Cadet among 1.3 million cadets, received the Prime Minister's Medal, and represented India in the SAARC Nations where she received a medal from the Sri Lankan President and Prime Minister.

How did Dr. Tejaswini balance her passion for dance with her medical studies?

Dr. Tejaswini balanced her passion for dance with her medical studies by managing her time effectively. She participated in cultural activities and competitions while maintaining good academic performance, proving that balancing both was possible.

What was the turning point in Dr. Tejaswini's participation in beauty pageants?

The turning point was when Dr. Tejaswini participated in Miss Earth India and won the crown, despite facing previous rejections and challenges. This victory validated her efforts and dedication to her vision.

What setbacks did Dr. Tejaswini encounter during her international pageant journey?

During her international pageant journey, Dr. Tejaswini faced setbacks such as missing luggage, broken props, and financial constraints. Despite these challenges, she adapted creatively and won a gold medal for India by performing on a steel dustbin.

What does Dr. Tejaswini consider to be the true definition of success?

Dr. Tejaswini considers the true definition of success to be the ability to pick oneself up after setbacks and failures. For her, success is not about winning crowns or competitions but about resilience and perseverance.

What activities help Dr. Tejaswini maintain balance and peace in her life?

Practicing yoga and engaging in philanthropic activities help Dr. Tejaswini maintain balance and peace. She trains others in yoga, runs a yoga show on TV, and enjoys motivating students and participating in eco-activism.

What advice does Dr. Tejaswini give to others who aspire to achieve their dreams?

Dr. Tejaswini advises others to dream big, have a vision, plan, work hard, and accept failures as part of the journey. She emphasizes the importance of resilience and the ability to overcome challenges to achieve one's goals.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Journey of a Passionate Doctor and Artist

Dr. Tejaswini Manogna opens her TEDx talk by expressing her joy at being at the prestigious platform, despite the grueling schedule of a doctor. She emphasizes that medicine is not just a profession but a calling to serve humanity. Her journey began with a humble middle-class family that instilled in her the values of discipline, respect, and hard work. She pursued her passion for dance, becoming a Bharatanatyam dancer and traveling extensively, which led her to meet eminent personalities. Her parents' support was crucial in her growth, allowing her to follow her dreams and become a motivating factor for others.

05:00

🏆 Overcoming Challenges in NCC and Medical School

Dr. Tejaswini shares her determination to serve her nation, initially through the National Cadet Corps (NCC). Despite initial rejection, she worked tirelessly and eventually became the 'All India's Best Cadet', earning the Prime Minister's medal and the President's appreciation. Her passion for medicine led her to balance her NCC commitments with her studies, eventually securing a place in a top medical college. She faced skepticism from her college about balancing both her academic and extracurricular pursuits but proved them wrong by excelling in both. Her medical school journey was marked by academic success and participation in various activities, demonstrating her ability to balance her profession and passion.

10:01

👑 Pursuing Pageantry and Philanthropy

Dr. Tejaswini's journey took an unexpected turn when she decided to participate in beauty pageants, starting with Miss Universe India. Despite facing rejections and challenges, she remained committed to her vision of using the platform to advocate for women and youth. Her participation in Miss Earth India led to a significant moment where she had to choose between participating in a pageant finale and speaking at a prestigious school. She managed to do both, winning the Miss Earth India crown and delivering a speech in Missouri. Her international pageant experience was filled with challenges, but she overcame them, showcasing her resilience and determination.

15:03

🌈 Embracing Life's Rainbow of Colors

In her final paragraph, Dr. Tejaswini reflects on her journey, highlighting the importance of resilience and the ability to pick oneself up after setbacks. She draws a parallel between life and a prism, where dispersions lead to a rainbow of colors, symbolizing the diverse experiences that enrich one's life. She emphasizes the importance of dreaming big, having a vision, planning, executing, and overcoming failures. Her gratitude extends to both those who supported and criticized her, acknowledging their role in shaping her journey. She concludes by reiterating her commitment to serving her nation, both as a doctor and an advocate.

Keywords

💡Medicine

Medicine refers to the science and practice of diagnosing, treating, and preventing disease. In the script, Dr. Tejaswini Manogna emphasizes that medicine is not just a profession but a calling towards service, highlighting her dedication to the field and her commitment to serving humanity.

💡Service

Service in this context refers to the act of helping or doing work for others, especially in a selfless manner. Dr. Manogna describes her commitment to serving the nation and humanity through her work in medicine and her various philanthropic activities, illustrating her dedication to making a positive impact.

💡Art and Medicine

Art and Medicine together symbolize the fusion of creativity and scientific knowledge to create well-rounded, empathetic individuals. Dr. Manogna shares an anecdote about Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam's belief that combining art and medicine fosters good human beings, reflecting her own journey of integrating her passion for dance with her medical career.

💡Bharatanatyam

Bharatanatyam is a classical Indian dance form known for its grace and intricate footwork. Dr. Manogna's extensive training and performances in Bharatanatyam have been a significant part of her life, helping her connect with eminent personalities and shaping her journey from a young girl with big dreams to a successful individual.

💡NCC

NCC stands for National Cadet Corps, an organization that aims to develop discipline and leadership qualities among young students. Dr. Manogna's involvement in NCC, including her achievement as the all-India best cadet and marching on Rajpath, demonstrates her dedication to nation-building and her ability to overcome challenges.

💡Pageants

Pageants refer to competitions, often including beauty contests, that evaluate participants on various criteria. Dr. Manogna's participation in Miss Universe India and Miss Earth India highlights her desire to be a voice for women and youth, using the platform to advocate for issues such as environmental conservation and women's empowerment.

💡Failures and Rejections

Failures and Rejections are the setbacks one faces in life. Dr. Manogna discusses the numerous rejections she encountered in her journey, emphasizing that success is defined by the ability to pick oneself up and persevere after falling, thus highlighting the importance of resilience.

💡Balance

Balance refers to the ability to manage multiple responsibilities and passions effectively. Dr. Manogna illustrates her ability to balance her medical studies, dance career, and pageant participation, showing that it is possible to excel in diverse fields through proper planning and hard work.

💡Philanthropy

Philanthropy is the desire to promote the welfare of others, typically through charitable donations and activities. Dr. Manogna engages in various philanthropic efforts, such as eco-activism and motivational speaking, to inspire and help others, reflecting her commitment to giving back to society.

💡Prism

Prism is used metaphorically to describe how different experiences and challenges can lead to a spectrum of opportunities and growth. Dr. Manogna uses the prism to symbolize how life's diversions and dispersions result in a rainbow of colors, representing the various facets of her journey and the possibilities that arise from overcoming obstacles.

Highlights

Dr. Tejaswini Manogna's speech at a TEDx event at the prestigious Institute of Medicine.

She emphasizes that medicine is not just a profession but a calling towards service.

Dr. Manogna shares her journey from a young girl with big dreams to a passionate individual dedicated to serving her nation.

She discusses her interaction with Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and his influence on her belief that art and medicine can create a good human being.

Dr. Manogna's story unfolds from being a young dancer to an empathetic human being and a doctor.

She hails from a humble middle-class family that supported her freedom and passion.

Her parents instilled in her the values of discipline, respect for elders, and a value-based life.

Dr. Manogna's mother sacrificed her job in the U.S. to support her daughter's dreams and aspirations.

She describes her journey of participating in Bharatanatyam dance competitions and winning numerous accolades.

Dr. Manogna's passion for nation-building led her to join the NCC and eventually win the Prime Minister's medal.

She faced societal challenges and expectations but persevered to achieve her goals.

Dr. Manogna shares her experience of balancing her medical studies with her passion for dance and other activities.

She talks about her decision to participate in Miss India and the challenges she faced in convincing her family.

Dr. Manogna's journey in the pageant world, including her participation in Miss Universe India and Miss Earth India.

She discusses the importance of having a vision and working hard towards achieving it, despite setbacks and rejections.

Dr. Manogna's belief that success is about picking oneself up after falling, not just about winning.

She emphasizes the role of yoga in keeping her balanced and focused throughout her journey.

Dr. Manogna's commitment to her profession as a doctor and her dedication to serving her nation.

She concludes by expressing her gratitude for the opportunity to share her story and her dedication to the service of the nation.

Transcripts

Namaste I'm extremely happy to be

standing on this prestigious stead tedx

platform to address this August

Gathering of doctors in this magnanimous

Institute of Ames riper

I'm Dr tejaswini manogna I landed here

straight after six alternate Days of

Night duties each lasting for 36 hours

running around the wards you know in

care of small babies and navigating my

schedules and negotiating my leaves with

great difficulty and standing here today

and I'm so glad that I'm here today

I'm sure I'm sure you all can relate to

the you know struggles of a young

postgraduate student but I'm I'm really

happy that uh you know I've taken a

conscious choice that was my conscious

choice that I wanted to be in medicine

because medicine is not just a

profession it's a calling it's a calling

towards service service of the nation

and service of humanity at Large

I was fortunate enough that once Dr apj

Abdul Kalam sir he happened to come to

my college and you know I got this

opportunity where I could uh interact

with him and I could perform in front of

him and during his speech once Dr

Columbia said art and Medicine when they

join together they create a good human

being

I am here today to unfold my story of

how of how I joined my art and Medicine

my story of prism of ideas

from being a little girl little girl

with Big Dreams to becoming a youngster

with a burning passion that I want to do

something for my nation and becoming the

all India's best kid

graceful young dancer you know traveling

extensively and Performing across the

globe

[Applause]

and and to being an empathetic human

being who wants to do so you know being

a doctor being an eco-activist a

philanthropist and what not and of

course to becoming a young woman who

wants to be the voice of a lot of women

you know walking the ramp confidently as

Miss Earth India to getting back to

hospital as a responsible doctor

so my journey starts like this so I

belong to a really really simple family

a humble middle class family where we

all love sitting down on the floor and

sharing one meal together every day and

you know my parents you know I might not

have had the luxury of having an own

house or owning a lot of facilities that

all of us usually have but they gave me

the luxury of Freedom my parents let me

follow my passion they gave me wings and

they never stopped me I think that is

the treasure that they have given me

that is the property that they have

given me that you know they have given

me the property of discipline they have

given me the property of you know being

you know respecting your elders and a

value-based life and working hard for

your goals setting your goals I think

these are the properties that I imbibed

from my parents and these are the

properties that I am giving to my next

Generations in the form of my talks and

I'm extremely happy about that

so I became a motivating factor to

youngsters across the country and my

journey started like you know

um my mom she was actually working in

U.S she happened to give up her job you

know because she thought she had to

justify as a mother and uh because of

that like she came back and then she

started taking me to classes and

competitions and you know we used to go

in Auto rickshaws where she used to

plait my hair we used to eat in my lunch

box and then changing from one bus to

the other and you know going to

competitions and at late in the night at

11 o'clock 12 o'clock I used to give my

uh you know come back from performances

and wake up 5 a.m in the morning and

again go to tuitions my journey was

something like this and during the

process you know the society was not

really accept of what my mom was doing

they thought you know why you're doing

this all for a girl child you know you

don't really have to do all of that and

uh but me as you know as her daughter

who wanted to justify the effort that

she has putting you know know she's been

putting in me I really worked hard into

whatever she got me into I enjoy doing

that and I slowly started getting some

prizes some medals some certificates and

some scholarships and soon I started

developing you know to the extent of

giving 3 000 performances across the

globe and uh being a bharatnatium dancer

I've traveled extensively and I met a

lot of eminent personalities I had a

close connection with them I had I got

the opportunity to see how these people

have come up in their lives

so you know that was a beautiful Journey

where my brother through my

bharatanatyam after that I had this

passion for nation building I had this

passion for uniform I wanted to wear the

uniform and uh you know I thought as a

young girl who was studying in eighth

standard I thought I could be useful for

the nation in terms of National

Emergency and I really wanted to be in

service so I got into NCC and after six

months of you know extra effort you know

I was actually you know rejected at that

point that small heart of mine was

really broken and I really wanted to go

back and I Rose Like a Phoenix and then

you know I worked hard for 18 18 hours a

day for six months with early morning of

rifle drill rifle shooting and group

discussions in extempores and facing the

interviews with the director General and

commanding the boys contingent and

finally I marched the rajpath and I got

the all India's best credit among 13

getting the prime minister's medal

and the president's appreciation and

later on I happen to like represent

India in the Stark Nations where I got

the SAR country's medal from the Sri

Lankan president and prime minister back

then

and again you know in this journey

people thought I was not even the size

of a rifle but you know I made it to the

becoming the all India's best credit

among 13 lakh people back then and soon

after I finished my journey into NCC

next came the next challenge that uh

during that time I was in my 11th grade

next thing I had to do was my you know I

was in by PC I had to give my exam for

medicine clear mcet and get into

medicine

and during that time the college where I

was studying thought you cannot balance

both of it you either do this or that

and it wasn't really supportive of them

so you know I had my my home became my

college I happened to sit in the home

and then my mom tried to manage some

tuitions and then I actually like got a

good grade and then I got into you know

my State's best to samanya Medical

College and I finally got into medicine

and um

once I once I got into medicine people

thought people told me that hey you've

done a lot of things so far but once

you've got into medicine I don't think

this is possible you know that's when

the journey started like any others in

school I actually worked out for 18

hours a day I got good grades and I was

amongst the Toppers in my class but at

the same time when people got time to

chill that's when I used to go and

participate in a lot of activities for

example I went to Ames you know Ames in

Delhi pulse uh so all my Coco batchmates

like they came there to enjoy but I

actually went to Ames and participated

and won some medals so in that way like

I went internationally and then I got

Student of the Year and a lot of

accomplishments even during my medical

school and finally like my medical

school professors believed that hey we

are actually proud of you and we know

you could balance both of it you know

the trick was about balance balancing

your profession and passion and soon

after my medical school that's when I

realized that hey I think I want to go

and participate in Miss India because uh

during my childhood I always heard that

you know I was born when sushmita sen

was crowned and I had the features of

Aishwarya Rai so that somehow instilled

the spark in me that I always wanted to

participate in Miss India somehow so me

being a traditional girl from a quite

traditional family it was very hard to

convince my family people that I'm going

to participate in a pageant like this

all of them told me that you know all

these pageant winners they speak on

stage but you know I don't think they

would actually Implement any of the

service activities that they're actually

speaking on stage so I had to prove my

family members wrong that you know I

said I have a vision why I'm

participating in my pageants I want to

be the voice of women I want to be the

voice of Youth I want to be on the

platforms like UNICEF and who and

propagate for the Youth of my country

and finally my family people were

convinced where I started to participate

in Miss Universe India initially

and me being some a proper traditional

girl you know not very tall as the

models and not as beautiful skin and all

but still I managed to be the top five

of Miss Universe India I was so close to

winning the crown I was supposed to win

the crown but some things are prefix so

you have to you know adjust with that

and I was told that you know when I was

low at that point that I could make to

the crown I was told that hey I think

you deserve you know you deserve bigger

things in life I went back to the

pageant again I next time I went back I

was rejected by my co-participant who

was you know light in the local rounds I

went back again but then the organizers

started to tell me that you know what

you should win a filmfare award and then

come back and only then we will let you

participate I was like why me like you

know participation is my basic right why

am I denied of my basic right I asked my

mom like why me like why is this

happening to me and then she told me you

know maybe God has better plans for you

and at that point I actually gave up on

my passion journey and I started to

study for neat and without my mom's

notice I just applied online for this

pageant called Miss Earth India and I

got a call from them as soon as I got a

call from them uh and I booked my

tickets I was ready to travel and my mom

was like no this time we are not going

I'm not letting you break down again so

we are not going so I wasted my tickets

I didn't travel but still you know there

was this one friend of mine who came up

and say is this what you were working

for in the last two years no you have to

go for it and then I convinced my mom

and then we happened to travel to Delhi

and at that point uh you know in that

one week of pageant on the same day as

my finale I had this opportunity to go

to this uh a wonderful School in

Missouri the Saint George's school you

know where eminent personalities usually

come and you know address this Gathering

there it was on the same day which was

August 31st 2019. I wanted to do both

you know I didn't have the guarantee

that you know what if I don't make it to

the crown this time I might miss this

opportunity of going to send judges what

if I go to Saint George's I might not be

able to come back to participate in my

pageant so I had to make a choice you

know with full night of rehearsals going

on at four o'clock I told them hey I

have an exam in Hyderabad can I please

go and come back and then I happened to

go to Missouri I happened to actually

give a speech there I happened to come

back to Delhi at 4 pm to 5 PM and I

participated in my finale and I made it

to the crown that was the best day in my

life

you know it was worth taking a risk that

I could do both of it and then comes in

the next 15 days my International

pageant 15 days is really less for an

international pageant okay I had loads

of luggage and then the moment I got

into the airport the you know airport

that always told me that you can't carry

so much of luggage you'll have to pay 80

000 extra which was much beyond the

ticket ticket price so I could not

really carry my luggage I left half of

the luggage here and then I went to

Philippines I've given my best

throughout every each day that I

participated there and every day was a

challenge for me number one that I

didn't have all my luggage number two

when it came to one of these uh you know

a competition where I had to represent

the country's outfit I chose to present

an outfit where I I Pro portrayed the 18

hands of goddess Durga and I showed

mahishasura mardini in the form of

killing pollution you know instead of

holding ahead and killing it like that I

threw a plastic packet like that and

started killing it to represent you know

the power of a goddess you know killing

the plastic pollution and then the next

round was my talent round in my talent

round I usually dance in a mud pot and

after I went there I realized that my

pot was broken I had no choice you know

I giving up was never an option for me

what I did was I went to I went back to

my room I found a Dustbin a steel

Dustbin thankfully I decorated with

flowers and I danced on it and I got a

gold medal for India by dancing on a

Dustbin

and then intelligence round intelligence

round I topped it you know I got the

best and I was People's Choice like I

was the global People's Choice Award

winner people loved me for what I am

every competition was seen live

everywhere and when it was about the

finale I I was sure that you know I was

in the top four I was making it there

you know winning the international

ground and coming back but boom that was

it that was a business deal at the end

and then I came back with no crown and

then I was so heartbroken I was like

okay what am I doing next in my life

like what next I had this question

people started asking me I had this

question to my own self like you know

what am I going to do next the only

answer that I gave I started asking

myself and I thought that you know I

want to do best to my nation and to

myself and that's what I want to do that

I wanted to get back to my profession of

being a doctor

there started the journey again all new

you know starting from neet examination

again sitting down and preparing for

neat and then making it to post

graduation and finally coming into my

dream branch of Pediatrics that I'm

doing right now what was expected out of

after pageants was movies put in

contrary to that I choose to get back to

my profession and justify myself as a

doctor

because I wanted to be in service of my

nation in real terms and you know as I

said I'm going through the struggles of

you know being a postgraduate right now

with all my activities lying it's with

you know negotiating mind leaves too you

know it's really hard to make time for

all of this right now

so out of all my journey what I realized

is that you know setbacks rejections

I've seen so many rejections like

rejections will be a part of your life

and what is success success for me is

never about winning a crown or winning

any pageant or winning any competition

success for me was definitely about

picking up myself the next time again

after I fell down that was success to me

success definition

every time you fall the way you pick

yourself up is Success you know just

like a prism that's the topic of the

aims tripod with uh now you know this

year a white light goes into the prism

and then a diversion happens and then

that direction gives you a rainbow of

colors just like that you know life

definitely throws you down and gives you

a lot of diversion dispersions you know

and that gives you a rainbow of colors

in your life and which will actually

help you realize the capabilities that

you know the possibilities that can

happen in your life right

and throughout this journey I think what

kept me balanced what kept me peaceful

was my activities like you know while

studying now right now and it was my

yoga I'm a trained yoga practitioner and

I trained people in yoga uh and I've

been training police academies and I've

been training and my yoga show runs on

daily in the TV so it is that yoga which

kept me balanced and cool throughout the

process you know out of what all I've

raised in my life and uh of course like

you know it's that activities like I'm

not really a party person like I I enjoy

going to schools and like seeing these

kids smile so a lot of philanthropic

activities like being an eco-activist

and then you know going to a lot of

schools and colleges motivating them and

telling them like you know how I could

achieve this much in a given span of

time and what you can do to achieve you

know in the given time you know it's the

the capsule is just simple that firstly

you need to have you need to dream big

once you dream big you need to have a

vision once you have have a vision you

need to plan yourself and once you plan

yourself you need to start executing

that plan and you need to work hard

towards that plan and you need to know

that failures will be a part of your

journey but how you move ahead

overcoming those failures is what

defines you and what gives the

definition of a life to you

so I'm extremely grateful at this point

you know

this point that I'm able to stand in

front of you all and talk like this you

know Ames is a beautiful institution

everybody dreams of studying here to be

able to stand in front of you all and to

be able to address you all I'm extremely

grateful for all of that I'm extremely

grateful for people who've been part of

my life who've given me a Pat and the

people who have criticized me also

because all of them have been part you

know have played an equal part you know

in making me today and uh thank you so

much for this amazing opportunity and I

am tejaswini manogna and I'm sure that I

am for the service of the nation and I

dedicate myself to the Nations across

today on this stage thank you so much

for giving me this wonderful opportunity

[Applause]

thank you