VRINDA DUGAR, ART BY VRINDA

Here’s introducing a spirited young lady who started her journey as an entrepreneur while still studying. Meet Vrinda Dugar, Owner and Director of Art by Vrinda.  Only 19 when she held her first solo exhibition and 23 when she founded her venture, Vrinda who was born in Kolkata, raised in Bangalore and currently lives in Jaipur, is a self-taught freelance artist and designer (both textile and apparel design).

Vrinda confesses that she “breathes” art and design and credits converting it into an entrepreneurial venture to her Marwari genes. Always a top-notch student, Vrinda’s parents were eager to see her pursue her doctorate in English Literature and were absolutely stunned when she announced that she wanted to quit academics to pursue her calling. Faced with disapproval and opposition, Vrinda felt completely alone especially when her parents refused to speak to her for a whole month. Being an only child, made it an even more lonesome time for her but Vrinda prevailed.

The initial days were filled with distrusting and discouraging voices constantly telling her to find a regular 9-5 job or get married. Her work was described as trash and people were sure she would never make a success of her venture. Vrinda calls it “the most exhausting time in my life”, but being the strong-willed girl that she is, she refused to let go of her dreams and did not buckle under pressure. She kept telling herself that she would someday, prove everyone wrong and she did.

Today, Vrinda has the full support of her family and a thriving business that is flooded with exciting projects. Now that she is older and wiser, I asked her what she would like to tell students wanting to go down the same path as her and she gives a sensible reply, “It is important to get a strong foundation via education, and equally important to not let go of your dreams. You will succeed, but it takes patience, patience and lots of patience.”