Everyone is born with an inimitable talent that defines them. Your unique talent is specific to you and will help you discover a career that is best suited to your liking. A talent is a skill set or activity that comes to you with ease. The secret ingredient that fast-tracks your success is the natural-born talent that distinguishes you from others in the crowd. There are a lot of people surrounding us who are gifted with god’s special talent which a layman does not possess.
27-year-old Hitanshi Vyas, from Bhavnagar, Gujarat can speak and sing reversely in English, Gujarati, Hindi, and Sanskrit. She can reverse any word, sentence, or song within a fraction of a second. While her mother, Rekha Vyas started a unique venture named Shivam Creations which makes Educational Puppets for preschool kids to learn and creatively gain knowledge. The mother daughter duo shared their experience in a conversation with Asian Voice.
- Hitanshi, how do you come to know that you have the talent to sing and speak reversely in 4 different languages?
When I was of 7 years, I used to talk to people in a reverse way and when they didn't understand what I said, I laughed at them. So, my parents stopped me from doing so, as someone might have felt insulted. After a year, I was watching a show wherein a lady was singing songs in reverse. I immediately told my dad that even I can do this. My dad asked me to sing songs in different languages and from that moment my parents realised that I am born with a special talent, by the grace of God.
- Do you need to practice regularly?
I can do the reverse speaking in any of the 4 languages instantly. As such, there is no practice required for me.
In 2010, I left it to prioritise my education, and after a break of 10 years, I restarted in 2020. But the 10 years break has not affected my talent.
- How do you cope with work, studies, and personal life?
As I am also studying for Chartered Accountancy (CA) degree and working with an accountancy firm simultaneously, it becomes difficult for me to manage everything. Besides this, in my free time, I am an active member of two NGOs where we work for the betterment of society.
- What would be your message to all the mothers and daughters?
Being a single girl child for my parents, mom and dad continuously motivate me to showcase my special talent. I would tell all the mothers and daughters across the world to work hard to achieve their dreams and do something unique and innovative that makes you and your family feel proud.
- Rekha, what inspired you to start a unique venture and make educational puppets?
It was around 2001 when I learned to make soft toys from a workshop. So, I thought of doing something unique. After a lot of thinking, my mother-in-law and uncle who are in the educational sector advised me to do something creative with the concept of puppets.
Today I am making 270+ different varieties of puppets, including characters of Indian Gods and Goddesses, and national heroes.
- How do you make the puppets? Do they deliver any kind of messages?
We make hand-stitched educational puppets like birds, animals, fruits, vegetables, flowers, stories and rhymes for pre-school and primary school children with complete washable material. Sometimes we use machine to give them a finishing touch.
The main aim behind this was to help children learn new concepts creatively. The puppets are prepared by mainly women, so we are also empowering women in one way.
- How has your journey been so far in running the business as a woman?
In the earlier stage, I faced many problems as I was a housemaker and we lived in a joint family with so many responsibilities. My daughter was 5-year-old, so I had to take care of her as well.
In 2003 I suffered from heavy bronchitis. After fighting it for almost 5 years without giving a pause to the puppet world, I was again fit and healthy as before.
