“ You should be fearless in starting life from scratch.” Today’s woman dreamer, Priyadarshini Inman, is passionate about dance, music, and culture; she is the Founder & Artistic Director Nritya Dhwani Cultural Foundation. In her inspiring interview with Women Who Win, she gets candid on her journey with overcoming adversity, and recovering from an abusive marriage. An inspiring woman, she shares her advice to women on starting over with strength and resilience. We are honored to share this story.

1. Tell us your story. You are the Founder & Artistic Director Nritya Dhwani Cultural Foundation. Tell us your story and what inspired your passion for the dance and the arts. 

Dance; Music has always been my passion. I started dancing at the age of four. At the age of 10, I faced the financial fall down of our family as my father became bankrupt. But my mother was a solid and optimistic lady. She always said that ups and downs are part of life. Without tasting sorrow, we cannot understand the sweetness of happiness. During that time, my parents could not afford the fees for extracurricular activities; hence my learning of classical dances and music remained incomplete. However, my schoolteachers helped me financially to somewhat to complete some of those lessons. As time passed, I worked hard to complete my college. Now I am a Digital Marketer and Advertising specialist. I had to live in different places in India due to my Job. A significant change occurred when I was transferred to China and the US. I came to the US in 2015 and landed in Greensboro, North Carolina. During all these years, due to my job profile, and life struggle, I took a break from dance but deep inside, I was missing it. My husband, Hollis Casey Inman, whom I met here, encouraged me to dance again. I started, and soon I got excellent responses from the people of Greensboro, NC. They insisted on teaching their children.

I am from Assam, and we are famous for our folk Dance, "Bihu ."But that is not the ultimate identity of Assam. We have a vibrant culture.  I am a Sattriya Dancer, and I dance Kathak. Sattriya is one of the eight classical dances of India. This is a 550 yr old traditional dance form. It's been 22 yrs. since the dance got recognition as classical dance; however, people hardly know about it, unlike other classical dances. So, I opened the Nritya Dhwani School of Performing Arts in 2018. During the pandemic, my classes took off online. Then I founded Nritya Dhwani Cultural Foundation. We have alike minded people on the Board. The primary reason for this foundation is to keep the mission and vision alive. Through this foundation, we would like to help those children who are good at extracurricular activities but whose parents cannot afford their training. I want to thank our BOD, Chayanika Mohan, Rita Sarmah Kataki, Sangeeta Duorah, Rakhi Borthakur, and Arunjana Das.. all these beautiful ladies who share the same dream as me. 

2. At the age of 26, you walked out of an abusive marriage and decided to be a single mom, starting everything from scratch with courage and determination. What is your advice to women in overcoming fears and adversities, and staying strong? 

I was married to a man who lied to me about his life. He was already married and had a 4&1/2 yr old daughter. When I learned the truth, I was three months pregnant. I made a big mistake: I left a well-established job for that man and became a complete housewife. I gave more than 100% to that marriage. Learning the truth about him, I was broken, but at the same time, my sympathy was for his wife and his daughter. I was feeling sorrier for them. I did not know what to do as I financially depended on him.

I was in a dilemma; he wanted to keep me that way. But our society and law do not accept this kind of marriage. I was going through an identity crisis. I gave him a condition; I told him whether the child is a girl or a boy, upon one year, if he does not decide, then I shall take a decision. He was confident I would not leave that relationship as I was financially dependent on him. He was abusing me not only emotionally but physically. The day I first held my son in my arms, I knew I would do anything for my baby as a mother. I was vulnerable until he was born, but then things completely changed. I made up my mind that I would not let my son with an identity crisis. I will do any job if needed, but I will raise him. So, I walked out of that marriage with dignity without taking a single penny from him. I started everything from scratch. I started a new job in a new place. I was alone with my one-year-old son. In this decision, my parents stood by me. Even my ex-father-in-law supported me. He was a kind man. 

My advice to women who go through similar situations like me is that you never give up yourself entirely and don't feel you are weak. We need to stand up for ourselves; others will not if we don't respect ourselves. You should be fearless in starting life from scratch. If we allow another person to abuse us, it means we are abusing ourselves. Until and unless we don't love ourselves, we cannot love others. "BELIEVE IN YOURSELVES"

3. As the platform for women, how do you define women empowerment? 

I strongly believe in the three 'L's   Learning, Labor, and Leadership are three pillars of empowerment. The day we lift each other, inspire, and support each other to fulfill each other dreams, with the learnings, labor, and leadership, we can call it women empowerment.

4. What is your next big dream? 

To bring our Nritya Dhwani Cultural Foundation to a global level. 

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us! We are excited to have you in our empowered women’s network!