A Painful Heart Beats for the Marginalized

Have you ever wonder why some people become social entrepreneurs?

Well, for some individuals, including myself, we are provoked to make a difference having been exposed to several social, economic and political problems of society.  For some others, they have role models or parents who are social entrepreneurs themselves that they too are influenced to be a changemaker.

What’s more? There also exists a group of individuals who become social entrepreneurs having experienced some kind of trauma or held deeply transformative experiences at an early age. 

For instance, Kalpna Saroj, a successful social entrepreneur of in India has some roads named after the company, Kamani Tubes and attained several awards. Behind her success, there is a compelling social story.

Photo: Thomas Caswell

In India, there is a caste system which ranked its citizens as shown on the right. Kalpna Saroj, is born into the lower castes and identified as the untouchables – outcasts who are generally considered too impure to be ranked as human beings. For this reason, she confronted discrimination and struggled with countless adversaries. She is often bullied in school and was one of the victims of forced marriage at 12 years old.

Despite having grown up in a troubled family environment and experienced trauma, Kalpna Saroj nevertheless has the ability to reframe these challenges into opportunities for growth. Against all odds, she fought social pressures to escape from marriage. Not afraid of hardship, she worked as a seamstress earning less than a dollar a month initially. Recognized for her perseverance, competence and diligence, her reputation eventually led her to a CEO position of a multi-million dollar metal engineering company, Kamani Tubes today. 

Photo: Kalpna Saroj’s Official Website

Experienced a painful or tragic situation personally, Kalpna Saroj employs many from all castes and different walks of life, wanting to give them hope of a better life. She mentioned, “If you give your heart and soul to your job and never give up, things can happen for you." From what she pointed out, we realize that she carries a social entrepreneurial mindset that sees the possibilities rather than the problems created by change. In any case that she encounters obstacles in her current business, we can be assured that she will stay committed to her social cause and continue providing for an “undeserved population” she feels so invested for. 

For social entrepreneurs like Kalpna Saroj, owing to their painful histories, they carry an extraordinary burden on their shoulders that they would not turn away from any situations easily. 

References

Haindl, S. (2012). Kalpna Saroj: One of the few women social entrepreneurs in India. Retrieved June 15, 2012, from http://www.justmeans.com/Kalpna-Saroj-One-of-Few-Women-Social-Entrepreneurs-in-India/54332.html