Text me your thoughts on the episode.
Imagine if your cultural identity could be a form of resistance. Geetika Bhardwaj, a renowned media personality, is our guest today and she'll share how she's effortlessly preserved and cherished her Indian cultural heritage while living in Canada. This episode is a beautiful blend of shared stories, from cooking to language to festivals, that will remind us of the importance of preserving one's cultural roots in a foreign land.
Bhardwaj’s journey is not just about cultural preservation, but also about resilience and determination. She takes us through her immigration experience, her struggles and triumphs in breaking barriers within the Canadian media industry, and how authenticity played a role in her award-winning shows. She also highlights her lifestyle, her habit of listening, and how she uses her voice to reach out to immigrants through her podcast.
Join us as we traverse Geetika's fascinating life, from her childhood experiences to her pursuit of dreams in a foreign land. This episode is set to inspire, enlighten and reassure you that staying true to oneself can lead to immense success. Get ready to experience the power of gratitude, the magic of authenticity, and the importance of cherishing your cultural roots.
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- Gurasis's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamgurasis/
_________________________________________
To contact Geetika:
- Geetika's Podcast - https://www.geetika.ca
- Geetika's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/geetikabhardwaj?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BB493R9%2BBQcOP6fEd41tEpQ%3D%3D
- Geetika's YT Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@Geetikakicanadiandiary
- Geetika's Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/geetikakicanadiandiarypodcast
- Geetika's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/geetika_ki_canadian_diary
Don't forget to leave a comment or a rating!
Stay tuned for the exciting new episode every Thursday and let's continue knowing each other Beneath The Accent!
Want to share your story? Or know someone I should invite next on the show? DM us or write to us at Hello@mythickaccent.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Gurasis (00:00):
Hi, this is Gurasis Singh and you're listening to My
Thick Accent podcast.
So breaking into the world oftelevision or any media industry
(00:21):
can be an uphill battle,especially when you come from a
foreign country.
The challenges of adapting to anew culture, navigating
different accents andunderstanding local norms can
make it seem like an impossiblefeat.
But today we have the privilegeof welcoming someone who not
only conquered these obstaclesbut also left an indelible mark
(00:42):
in the broadcasting landscape.
A remarkable individual whosejourney in the media industry is
nothing short of awe-inspiring.
Hailing from India, she hadalways dreamt of having her own
show, a platform where she couldaddress societal issues that
often remain unspoken.
Little did she know that herpath would lead her to become
one of the chosen few from anIndia-wide selection by zee news
(01:04):
as a zee news anchor in 1999.
Through her career, her voiceand presence became synonyms
with professionalism andcaptivating storytelling.
As the Hindi proofreader andnarrator of CBC's Gemini
award-winning documentary CanadaA People's History, she
introduced audiences to the richtapestry of Canada's diverse
(01:25):
heritage.
And then, in 2002, she becamethe launching face of Omni2 in
Toronto and was offered toanchor News Magazine show Badai
Ho, which ran for nine years andbecame one of the best talk
shows in ethnic media in Ontario, and her journey extends beyond
that.
Let's learn more from her.
Please welcome Geetika Bhardwaj.
Geetika (01:49):
Thank you so much, Gurasis, that was a very kind
introduction.
Thank you so much.
I'm humbled.
Gurasis (01:54):
Of course! Well, It's an honour to have you on the
podcast.
So I'm going to start by askingyou this question I asked some
of my guests tell me what's thisone cultural aspect or
tradition from your home countrythat you have managed to
preserve and cherish still inCanada?
Geetika (02:09):
Cultural or traditional ?
You said right.
Yeah.
Indian cooking.
All my three boys love it.
They're two, nine and10-year-old, and my husband,
who's actually Jewish.
We have Dal roti.
Dal Chawal and Saag Paneerstraight from home and Achar
(02:32):
with it Tahee Boondi.
These are our top things thatwe eat normally every week.
Gurasis (02:38):
Okay, well, all these things are kind of making me
hungry now.
But yeah, so do you also liketry to do the fusion cooking or
something else, or is it likejust the Indian cooking?
Geetika (02:50):
Yes, we do so.
Boys will celebrate Hindufestivals, but they've been
raised as Jewish kids.
But we do things both at home,like Hindu things and like, for
example, they're going to anevent and then they love wearing
(03:11):
the kurthas.
So they'll do that and theywill so.
In terms of cooking, yes, wewill do fusion cooking close to
Jewish festivals.
We'll do something like that,for example, latkes.
We prepare them for Passoverand we will make I'll give it an
(03:34):
Indian twist with Indian spicesin it.
So it's kind of latkes, slashpotato pancake, but Indian style
.
Okay, so something like that.
Gurasis (03:46):
Okay, and do you make that conscious effort to instill
the Hindi or Punjabi languagein them or no?
Geetika (03:53):
You know, Gurasis, actually during the pandemic I
realized so I was doing allsorts of these little things
like here and there, introducingthem, making them realize that
mama is from India, and so I'lldo little things like other
Hindi stories, hindi words thatmatch up, like, for example,
both Jewish and Hindu cultures.
(04:15):
In our culture we havefestivals that are related to
lights.
Festival of lights, like Diwaliis called festival of lights,
so they will.
So I started something calledIma writes.
So the first word as a mom, myfirst one was taught to say,
(04:37):
instead of mama, I taught him tosay Ima.
Ima is ma in Jewish language, sobut if you actually write the
word, it's E ma, ma beyond that.
So you can hear the mother maword in the word also there.
So so that's why I named it asE ma writes.
I thought I'll start a blog andkind of write about what we do
(05:02):
as a family to keep bothcultures and traditions in the
family.
So, yes, the effort and thewant is to have both things
going on.
So I do, sometimes in summervacation, so I'll give them
myself Hindi classes.
So, they started, like lastsummer they had started writing
their own name, Arjun, in Hindiand [Name] in Hindi, so they
(05:27):
were able to recognize.
But then, as it happens, youknow when the school starts, you
kind of forget things.
But this summer again, I'mpounding it back again.
Go back to Hindi, learn Hindi.
Gurasis (05:39):
Okay okay, okay.
Well, that's great to hear.
That's how I think you're kindof keeping your culture a little
bit alive as well, so that'samazing.
Geetika (05:46):
Yeah, that's the only way.
When we leave our country, wehave to hold on to certain
things that define us as who weare.
For example when I came here,people used to recognize, "oh my
goodness, you're sorry, theseare amazing.
And they always would getconfused.
My producer and my seniormanagers would say he will ask
(06:06):
us where is she from?
Because my show was basicallyin Hindustani and I'm fluent in
Punjabi also, so I was a standbyPunjabi anchor at Zee News also
.
So they would ask her sarees,they look like from Maharashtra,
(06:26):
but some of them look like fromSouth India or Andhra Pradesh
or you know, somewhere close toChandigarh, Delhi.
So where is she from?
And then my Bindi style wouldchange.
So I would sometimes just havea dot, sometimes a dot with a
line, and it would kind of.
So this is what I tell peoplewhen they ask oh, you're from
India.
No, no, no, ask me.
(06:47):
Continue asking me very exactlyfrom India, because just being
India doesn't mean that that'syour definition.
So it's so huge your cuisine,your dress, your festivities,
traditions, your language,dialect, even the way, as I said
, you put your Bindi a dot onyour forehead.
(07:07):
You know, it can vary dependingupon where you're from.
So please ask me where am Ifrom?
Gurasis (07:17):
Yeah, absolutely! So tell me, if not the news anchor
or the show host, or the workthat you do, anything related to
the media and broadcasting,what career you would have
chosen if not these?
Geetika (07:29):
So I always wanted to be, first, as a little girl, a
doctor, Gurasis.
I have never shared.
I'm a very private person.
I'm very introvert, even thoughI have done shows and been on
TV and entered people's housesand talked about issues.
But I personally am a veryprivate person, never actually
(07:50):
talked about it openly.
My parents had a very tensemarriage so every day would be
scary.
So even as the like, forexample as a five year old, on
several occasions I was toldthat in the morning, check on
your mom.
If you think she's not okay,you need to make sure you sneak
out and get to the closesthealth because you have to make
(08:11):
sure your little sister is finetoo.
So every day was a blessing andunpredictable.
So never left my homework doneundone the last minute, always
had my four or five boys closeby and always was on alert.
So I always thought as a littlegirl that if I change
(08:31):
somebody's bad heart into a goodheart, that would change the
scenario, circumstances ofsomething Right.
So I wanted to be a doctor.
But very soon I realized that Iactually can't see the sight of
blood.
So that was a good thing.
I didn't pass out in a surgeryroom.
So that's good.
And then sometime in late 80s weall got CNN into our houses,
(09:00):
right.
So it was early on whentelevision was life, was the
media was getting imploded, withall these international
channels coming to our, not justthe Dhu Darshan happening.
So I noticed Oprah Winfrey.
She was my oh, my goodness, mygoodness, like she talks about
(09:21):
everything on her show.
That was a huge thing for me asa good.
I'm brought up in a veryprogressive city, chandigarh,
but come from a veryconservative family, all
educated people in my family,but very traditional.
So having somebody on TV in myroom talk about issues that we
(09:46):
wouldn't even think of talkingabout, so that was huge for me
and I wanted to have a show ofmy own.
So I'm like, well, forget aboutbeing a doctor.
I cannot do that, but I want to.
Maybe this is a way to talkabout issues, to write about
them, so you create awareness.
This is what this woman seemsto be doing Finding solutions to
(10:07):
problems.
So that was an eye opener forme and I really wanted to be
doing something like that.
So I was one of the youngestwriters for a newsletter that
was being published inChandigarh but being sent all
the way to even Moscow andplaces like that.
So I was the youngest writerand I still remember the heading
(10:28):
of that article in thatnewsletter was Geetika Ki Diary
Ke Panno Se".
Basically means in Englishtranslation from the pages of
Geetika's diary.
So I've always wanted to be awriter or a show host.
But you said, what else?
I never thought about anythingelse other than maybe, a teacher
(10:52):
.
I like being with the kids.
I think sometimes you reliveyour own life when you have 10,
20, 30 kids around you.
You can teach them, you canlisten to them so much and you
can learn from them so much.
It's such a beautiful, I think,profession where you have so
(11:16):
much power in the sense that youcan.
You're basically shaping thesekids.
They're not spending as muchtime with their parents Monday
to Friday as much as you are.
You're so lucky to influenceand shape these 30 or 20 kids,
so that is very fascinating.
I think I probably would havebeen a teacher, nothing else.
Gurasis (11:37):
Well, I can definitely see the teacher in you.
I think that would be a greatprofession for you as well.
Yeah, tell me I want to talk alittle circle back again a
little bit about your childhood.
Tell me how that experience orthat has influenced like since
you are now a mother yourself.
So tell me that how that thingis somehow shaped, the way you
(11:57):
are going to pursue thismotherhood.
Geetika (11:59):
I am still learning.
I don't have all the answers.
I'm still learning.
As I said, they're nine and 10,but my focus is always to say
respect every human being aroundyou.
Always know that a woman, a man, older, younger, everybody has
(12:22):
their own perspective on thesame issue, and how they've been
raised, what their lifeexperiences have been, this all
influences that personality, butit doesn't mean that that's who
that person is, because theyare also learning.
Right, we're all learning.
Gurasis (12:42):
You're all a work in progress.
Geetika (12:44):
We are all work in progress and you can't say oh,
and sometimes it happens, but itseems that you meet somebody
after 10, 15 years and you thinklike, oh, my God, this person's
so changed.
So as long as you have fourpersonality intact, don't lose
on goodness, do good and thendon't worry about how the other
(13:07):
person is reacting, because youcan change the other person.
You can only work on yourself.
This is sometimes.
They are nine and ten andsometimes they tell me mama, you
did this wrong.
Do you know that you shouldprobably apologize?
I said you know what?
This is so funny, that we couldhave said that to our parents.
Even now.
(13:28):
Even now we can't do that, butthis is such a great thing that
if I did something wrong, I canapologize to my little child and
say I'm sorry about it, like,oh, I wish I hadn't done that,
or how would you want me to dothis or say something about this
(13:50):
, and you take their opinionfrom their mind.
It is so amazing.
I love that.
Gurasis (13:55):
Yeah, it is beautiful.
Yeah, tell me, even in terms ofexpressing the emotions, like I
don't think so.
My parents have never said tome that you know the word I love
you.
Yes, they do.
I can see that interactions andeverything, but they never said
it.
But sometimes saying that alsomakes a big difference.
How do you see that?
Geetika (14:14):
Oh, my goodness, totally.
I was actually looking at a TikTok the other day and in that
they were showing that we say itI love you, I love you and buy
things for the kids these daysAll the time we have to tell
them, whereas for our parentsthey're like you know what?
We put you in good schools,we're taking care of you,
washing your laundry, giving youfood.
Isn't that love?
Why do I have to say it inwords?
(14:34):
And then me and my husband werehaving an argument about it, a
discussion kind of, so I'm likeI come from a very different
culture.
So, for example, here, forevery little thing you hear,
thank you.
Yeah.
But in India we do it here.
Thank you.
Yeah.
It's taken for granted.
I, for example, say tons oftimes I've learned it, as I said
(14:55):
, over the last several years Isay thank you for even somebody
picked up the book at home or hedid something like maybe just
put the curtains, the light wastoo strong.
Thank you so much.
We don't do that, so that'sjust a cultural thing, but it
doesn't mean that we are notthankful about it for the
(15:17):
actions that we do around us.
We just don't say we're veryloving people, actually
Absolutely Very warm heartedpeople.
We invite anybody at any time.
This morning only, for example,I was telling my kids that
nobody gives a call or preplans,especially when I was going up.
(15:37):
And even now, when I talk to myfriends back home, very rarely
people plan and you can correctme if I'm wrong.
But people just say you knowwhat?
I was in your neighborhood or Iwas passing by and I wanted to
see you, and if it happens to betea time, we are happy to have
that person in, and then if itis lunchtime, we'll prepare
(16:00):
something extra right away, andit's just in our nature.
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
Gurasis (16:06):
Welcome everybody at any time.
Yeah, it happened.
Like our uncles and aunts andma'sis and boobies, they'll be
passing by and they'll say oh,we're just passing by, we'll
just stop by, and sometimes youwould be having dinner and
they'll just join us, havedinner with us, you know, or
they'll just pop up at any time.
Geetika (16:21):
Oh my goodness, I don't think to relatives.
We can even say that I was justtalking about people.
Relatives are.
Yes, of course you have to beavailable, but even for, like,
just friends and acquaintances,if they happen to be in your
area, they can laugh on yourdoor.
Gurasis (16:42):
Speaking of childhood and all that, tell me if you
could go back and live, relive,you know one moment from your
childhood in Chandigarh.
Which moment it would be andwhy?
Geetika (16:52):
Oh no, that's a very tough question.
I don't think I want to revisit.
Okay.
It's been a very tough child,but things that I've done I do
cherish them, like I, no matterwhat was going on in the
personal life at home, but Ialways made sure that I am doing
(17:16):
best what I can do.
For example, throughout myschooling I was head prefect,
class leader, always took partin debates, declamations,
extempor, and always got a prize.
That was my way of, I guess,contributing as a person, even
(17:40):
though the atmosphere may bevery chaotic and unpredictable.
But that was my way of movingforward.
The thing I've learned even nowas a new immigrant, can you
imagine like when I came here Iimmigrated in an independent
category as a broadcaster and Iwas doing international news on
(18:03):
Z news, so people in likeeverywhere watched that news
bulletin around the world.
My mom was a research analystand my sister had just one saree
gamma, both Punjabi and Hindi,so she was hoping to become a
playback singer.
So all these, we were at thatpoint in our lives and then we
(18:26):
packed our bags and came here.
My mother came as a researchanalyst.
My sister was a dependent onher at that age and so they came
separately and I followed them.
But the moment we land here wedon't know anybody and we don't
know what job search looks like.
So somebody who had found thehouse for my mom and my sister,
(18:49):
they said, oh, it's outskirts ofToronto, but it was Hamilton.
Not knowing it, hamilton is adifferent city, so to get out of
that and actually to be inToronto would be another journey
, right?
So here we are with researchanalyst and international news
anchor, saree gamma finalist.
(19:12):
And now what do we do?
I worked in mushroom farm.
I was the shortest, petitesecurity guard and I did evening
courses just to add up onto mymedia professional background at
McMaster and kept sending myresumes, no matter what, how bad
(19:34):
it looked on certain days, keptsending my resumes, followed up
multiple number of times, and Iguess that persistence and
timing, I would also say, helped.
So within in less than a yearso in September 2002, yeah, in
less than a year I was ontelevision.
(19:58):
So I think that always movingforward, no matter what, as I've
learned in my life each step,as long as it is moving forward,
how small it is and how slow itis doesn't matter at all,
because eventually you willreach the destination may take
you longer.
(20:19):
I sometimes feel, oh my God, ifI was worldly wise, if I had a
mentor or if I was smart enough,I would have reached that
destination much faster.
But you know what?
I had my own journey.
I was very naive.
I wasn't ready for the industrycalled media.
I've learned things.
(20:41):
I've done stupid mistakes, butyou know what?
That's my journey, that's mylearning experience.
Gurasis (20:50):
Yeah, 100%.
I think everybody's journey isunique to themselves and I think
it happens as per theirexperiences and some things I
think happen in their lifebecause they really have to
learn from it that can benefitin the later years of their life
.
So I think all those ups anddowns and obstacles kind of
prepare you for the bigger thing, which we don't realize in that
moment.
But eventually you'll see thatall that accumulates together
(21:11):
and helps you to really conquerthe next thing.
Geetika (21:14):
You're right and everybody is different.
I am who I am.
I just cannot help not trustingpeople.
Sometimes I lose my commonsense.
I doubt myself.
I'm like, why did I not use mycommon sense?
But that's who I am.
I trust people because I'mthinking if I am good, the other
person in front of me is alsogood.
(21:35):
So sometimes it doesn't workout.
But you know what, just becausethings were not good or people
were not good doesn't mean thatI am going to change myself.
Too bad, sorry, I'm still thesame.
Gurasis (21:51):
Yeah, I think I read this quote also, that never stop
being a good person because ofa bad encounter.
And that stayed with me when Imoved to Canada, because you do
come across all kinds of people,but I think I never lost my
nature just because other personwas not reciprocating the same
thing.
Geetika (22:09):
Yeah, yeah, I tell my boys sometimes they're very
little right now, but sometimesthese things stay in your memory
for long that at boys, yourjourney will be different, but
always look for good people andyour gut feel hopefully will
help you.
And that if somebody is bad,don't react the same, move away
(22:32):
from the situation.
That's the best.
Yeah, absolutely.
You cannot let other thingsimpact you.
You have to.
But again, this is not justhappening to me.
I'm not just learning thisright now.
It's taken me a long time tolearn all of this.
Yeah, yeah.
But it's good to be able toshare with my kids, are people
(22:57):
who are younger than me, orsometimes just friends.
It's good to learn from any butof any age.
Yeah, yeah.
Gurasis (23:06):
You know, this reminds me of this one situation where,
you know, I was coming out ofthe Metro.
It was my very firstpresentation in Canada, like in
my school.
I came out of the Metro andwalking towards my school it was
like a two minute walk and thisis passed a lady and she
shouted at me I hate your turban, like go back to India.
(23:29):
She just shouted at me and Iwas like what just happened?
And I turned back and I lookedat her and I saw her and I was
like there is no way I canexplain her or say her anything
that's going to justify this.
So I don't know, for some reasonthis statement came to my mind
that this lady has some loosescrews, just move on.
(23:51):
Something just kicked in me andI moved on and I don't know
what happened.
That whole situation justfueled me in some way that my
presentation was one of my bestpresentations in the class and I
don't know what just happenedthere.
What was that magic?
What was that?
Something that you know gotinto me and I had the amazing
(24:11):
presentation in the class.
Geetika (24:13):
I am sorry that it happened.
I love the way you're wearingyour turban and grisies.
We are all very amazing people,whatever culture, whatever
tradition we bring.
This is a country of immigrants.
Just a reminder to everybodyit's a land of immigration, land
of immigrants.
But I think what you're sayingis that you did best in that
(24:38):
class was because, probably, youknow, I always think that
criticism sometimes doesn't bumyou out.
Sometimes it helps you.
Yeah, 100%.
That's why I would say give meyour critical feedback.
So it's okay.
Somebody said something, butyou probably thought you know
what I'm going to make myselfshine today 100%.
(25:01):
Right In my presentation.
Yeah, so in a way it was ablessing in disguise.
She probably pushed you tobring the best out of you.
So, and when people react likethat, I always think it is not
about me or what that persondelivered in words to me.
It is actually about them.
Maybe they need help.
It's something they're feelinginsecure about, they're feeling
(25:24):
bad about something, so probablythat person actually needs help
, right.
Gurasis (25:29):
Absolutely, I think.
At that moment I didn't reallyknow how to process it and maybe
it got translated into thepresentation, but I think now I
can gauge, you know, whether toreally take this personally or
just bounce it off.
It's absolutely okay.
Okay, I think we should talkmore about you now, more about
(25:49):
your journey in Canada.
Before that, I would like to goback once again in India, where
you got selected.
You were one of the top 11candidates for the Zee news.
You were also trained for thewhole experience, right Before
you actually was sent live.
I want to tell a little bitabout that training phase and
how that experience was like.
Geetika (26:09):
Oh, that was a wonderful experience, not fully
utilized, as I said, it was not,I think, prepared for it.
But you know, when you say youhave to be prepared when the
opportunity arrived.
I've been thinking about it.
I want to be on television to ahost of my own and this.
So we heard my mother heardthat I just finished my masters.
(26:32):
I was at a stage in life whereI didn't know what will happen
next.
That's another story, anotherepisode for you guys.
So I thought I heard my momheard that Zee was looking for
VJs anchors and faces for theZee cinema and they were
(26:53):
actually close to last rounds ofselection but they were doing
their last interviews inChandigarh.
So she said why don't you applyand try entering?
So I sent my resume and mypicture and I was called.
That's what happened and I wasmyself surprised.
(27:14):
But yeah, I was selected and Ithink I was.
If I don't recall it wrong, Iwas the only one selected for
both Zee cinema and Delhi fornews anchor ship.
So I always wanted to be ananchor, have a show of my own.
So I declined going to Bombayand I said yes to Noida training
(27:36):
.
So it was an amazing training.
We were taught how to look onscreen, how to dress, how to sit
properly, how to deliver speech, what to say, what not to say
when you're on television, howto do your makeup, how to write
(27:56):
down your questions discreetlyon screen, how to do research
for your topic.
This was all taught.
This is on job training, so wewould spend some time of the day
in newsroom where all the otherexperienced people would be
working and you get to see themlive in action.
This was an opportunity.
(28:17):
I think that doesn't come toeverybody.
Right, you dream of going onnational television, but it
doesn't happen to everybody.
So I am very grateful for thatopportunity for Zee chairperson
and the management team Alwaysgrateful about that.
Gurasis (28:35):
But why do you say that it would have made a better use
of the opportunity?
Why would you say that?
Geetika (28:41):
I think if I had a mentor, for example, I knew
exactly how to take this stepfurther up.
Right, that would have been anamazing thing, Just like.
That's what we always I alwayssay that when you have a
destination in mind, then youcan actually carve out some of
(29:01):
your steps.
You may need help sometimes tomaneuver, but you need to have a
destination so you can takedifferent paths, whichever way
comes easy to you or you thinkthat is the fastest or the best
way that you're out, but if youknow where you're going, it
(29:22):
becomes much more clear.
Gurasis (29:25):
Tell me, is there like a story or a feedback that you
received from a viewer of thatnews show?
Or maybe like what peopleactually recognizing you on the
street?
What's that happening?
Geetika (29:36):
So not in, I'm not sure about that back home, but yes
for sure it's been.
Everybody who sees me on streetor in a store and they come up
to me and say are you from TV,from the Daya?
Really, you look so different.
(29:59):
Because you know, televisionactually accentuates your
personality.
You look taller, bigger, right.
And then they see me in person,without makeup and anything,
and they're like oh my God,you're so petite, same girl.
So it's funny.
Sometimes I can get away withthis, saying no, no, don't worry
, I just resemble her.
So that's funny as well.
(30:20):
But talking about India, that,to be honest, I actually don't
have clear memory of my shoppingtrips in India.
Was I recognized?
Sure, I was, but it's adifferent environment there,
right?
For example, there when wewould go and do some shopping
because you're being escorted asa news anchor you're the
national news anchor, right?
(30:42):
So you being escorted, there'sa car and somebody is escorted.
You to go to a solid store?
Yeah, nobody cares.
I'm going for grocery shoppingtoo, yeah, any grocery store.
So it's different.
Gurasis (30:57):
So that's like one of the differences you just shared.
Are there anything else, anyother differences that you would
like to share with us?
Geetika (31:03):
I remember in India, when I got the job on Zee news,
I came back the first time, backto Chandigarh, Somebody told my
mom oh my God, Githika can justput on a press on her scooter
right, and then nobody will stopher, you know.
And then just put somethinglike Zee news on your house,
Nobody will say anything.
She's a big shot.
You don't hassle a reporter orsomebody from that high profile.
(31:28):
So when you come here and wewere laughing at it that I've
come here as an internationalnews anchor, look what I'm doing
Mushroom farming Nobody cares.
Yeah.
Sometimes we go from high levelpositions and we come back, come
, come to this country, thinkingof things that we just imagine
or read right, and we think, oh,life is beautiful, it's just a
(31:52):
rose bush there.
But sometimes it doesn't worklike that In reality.
All immigrants, I think, havetheir own story to tell, but one
thing that I think we, allimmigrants in Canada, have, is
persistence.
We are dreamers.
We are very hopeful people.
We do not give up.
(32:12):
We are not give-upers.
So that's one thing that Ithink binds all of us together.
We also complain less becausewe know we are the ones who have
to make it work for ourselves,so we just look for something
that will work right.
Positivity, so that's anotherthing I notice you are an
(32:36):
example of that.
Gurasis (32:38):
Oh yeah, thank you.
Thank you for saying that.
I think it's like a variety ofpeople.
I've seen a few people that whodon't really like appreciate
this opportunity that they havegot to come to Canada.
And then there are people whoactually make the full use of it
and I think we really have tolearn from the one who actually
made the use of it.
And sometimes I've seen peoplecomplaining at the things where
(32:58):
they knew what they were signingup to.
I feel like like, for example,coming to Canada, they knew that
they were going to do theirchores themselves, they knew
that they were going to cook forthemselves.
They knew that life is not allroses there.
So I think they just forgetthat they had to change their
mindset a little bit to actuallysucceed in this new world.
Geetika (33:17):
Sometimes it happens, yeah, even back home or wherever
you are.
Yeah.
And if you dream or think andyou don't get it, I think mind
and our nature as a human beingis, we feel dejected and it's
like, oh, it's not working, I'mgoing to give up, because giving
up is much easier.
Right.
Yeah, but to be telling yourselfthat, no, I'm going to make it
(33:38):
work.
It needs hard work.
It needs strong will, strengthin you.
It's just about you.
You have to fight that battleAbsolutely.
You have to do it on your own.
For example, even coming backon, I'm trying to start my own
podcast and do stories becauseI've been in hibernation as a
(34:02):
mom for many years now.
It's a step that I had toreally feel within me and think
do I really want to do it?
It's not going to be easy.
Nobody's launching me this time, it's going to be just me doing
on the camera and behind camerawork.
(34:23):
So I had to really feel andpush myself.
So if you don't do that,nothing's going to be easy.
Gurasis (34:35):
So let me take you back to 2001 again.
That was the time when youlanded in Canada, tell me.
I remember I read somewherethat you said that your
educational background andprofessional experience had no
meaning to the potentialemployers here.
That was the first time youheard about the term no Canadian
experience.
That was like the gap on yourresume.
(34:56):
Then I also read this oneanecdote where you walked to a
local news station in a Sari.
Tell me about that wholeexperience and what happened
next.
Geetika (35:07):
So when we came it was October.
When I came it was October 2001.
And I remember very clearlywhen you bring your currency
from India and convert it intoCanadian dollars it doesn't look
very good.
I don't know what happens thesedays, but 20 years back it
didn't look very good.
So, which means that you haveto start thinking about paying
(35:33):
your bills right away.
Very first week I remember veryclearly that I didn't know how
to dress up for a job interview.
I obviously I was internationalnews anchor, so I had a
beautiful collection of sarisand I wore my sari and walked,
which was luckily very close by10 minute walk to the news
(35:55):
channel there.
So I walked and gave my resume,introduced myself to the
receptionist and gave my resumeand said the letter and the
couple letter has been addressedto the news director.
But I had done my research oncomputer the same week Only
after coming to Canada.
They were very kind because theresume must have looked like
(36:15):
wow, international news anchor,what is she doing here, right?
So they were very kind andinvited me for an interview.
So I remember very few days backactually, I was reminding and I
was, we were talking with theperson and I reminded that he
actually asked me the newsdirector, do you know what's on
(36:36):
the left side of the street andwhat's on the right side of the
street?
And I did not know.
But I was so keen on presentingmyself and saying that you know
what, you guys shoulddefinitely hire me as a reporter
.
Like I was so strong about thatthat I knew that I wanted to be
a reporter.
So because I have a lot ofexperience.
(36:59):
So he said but if you don'tknow what's on the left side or
the right side, how will you goand do any news coverage?
Well, first of all, you're veryfresh.
Why don't you settle down andsee how it is and then we'll
circle back and talk about it?
So I thought, okay, and, but Ikept updating.
I was not also going to seeashamed or embarrassed or maybe
(37:25):
this was my naiveness, that Iwas not scared or embarrassed to
update what I am doing now.
So I actually wrote him after afew days.
No, obviously I thank, but Ikept him updated on this is what
I'm doing right now.
I am doing a security guardposition, also taking media
consultancy course at the localuniversity, but that I am still
(37:48):
looking for a position and I amreading the map.
So I did that job too.
So I was reading the Mac, I wasgetting familiar with the
streets around, reading thenewspaper every day, local news.
So I am thinking maybe thepersistence and that may have
(38:12):
been a factor that he finallyintroduced me.
But I also sent the same weekso this is the funny part that I
was also sending my resumes towherever I thought around that
area and news channels werelooking for anchors or any entry
level position.
I would keep sending my resumesof the same week that I got a
(38:33):
call from him saying that youknow what?
I think I can refer you tosomebody.
I don't have anything for you,but I think I'm going to refer
you.
The same week I got a call fromCFMT.
In those days Omni channel wascalled CFMT.
I got a call saying we wouldlike to interview you.
I also got referred, but I wentfor the interview and again I
(38:56):
was so confident in what Iwanted to do and present myself
so eloquently like I, this iswhat I plan to do, this is what
I want to do and I'm veryprepared for it.
I was interviewed and I wastold that we were actually
auditioning for BollywoodBoulevard and it was an English
language news magazine show,entertainment show.
So all the news is comingstraight from Bombay and the
(39:19):
show.
I don't know if you're familiarwith that.
So it's an entertainment newsshow.
But the stories are coming allthe way from Bombay and wherever
, from India, and they talkabout that, have local artists
and talk about it.
So I was not selected.
I was very happy, to be honest.
(39:39):
But the managers, they seemedimpressed.
They said we'll keep you inmind.
I didn't lose hope.
I was sad but I didn't losehope.
But I was also happy that Iwasn't doing that show.
But I came back because I hadit in my mind that I wanted to
do a Hindi language newsmagazine show.
I was very certain.
(40:02):
I was very certain about it.
So within few weeks I gotanother call from them saying
we're doing the CBC Gemini award, winning 32 part series in
different languages I thinkeight languages.
They did and that would you beavailable to proofread it and
narrate it?
So proofreading meant that itwas typed by somebody else.
(40:24):
I had to proofread that and youcan imagine 30 to one hour long
episodes.
How much work was that?
So I thought so I had to redomost of the episodes, but
because I didn't have thetechnical skill set to type it
on computer, I hand wrote 32episodes.
(40:47):
I still have the copies of them.
So one hour long, 32 episodes,they're all hand written in
Hindi.
So when they said, are you done?
And I was the first one out ofall the languages I said yes,
I'm done.
So I took it.
So they were literallyscrolling the page and saying,
(41:09):
did you handwrite it?
So I'm like, yeah, this is myhandwriting.
I did it.
So that was pretty impressive,I think.
So I nabbed it and it was alsothe first translated version
that was put on air.
It was finished, I think, inless than two months and that
(41:30):
was my first hello to Canadianshere and it was an amazing, the
most wonderful experience of mybroadcasting career ever.
I loved it.
What way could have been thebest way to learn more about the
country that I had immigrated?
Yeah.
(41:50):
It's beautiful.
I would stay in the editingbooth non-stop.
I did not need any washroombreaks, water breaks or food
breaks.
I think my editors were like,okay, get her out, this is too
much.
Gurasis (42:04):
How long did it take to rate those 32 episodes?
Geetika (42:07):
So I think we recorded it in less than two months.
Gurasis (42:11):
Wow, but it's a long time.
Geetika (42:14):
And I was traveling from Hamilton to Toronto every
day, Monday to Friday and thenyeah, so it was beautiful.
I will never forget thatexperience.
It was lovely and so thankfulto Omni for that opportunity and
I completely fell in love withCanada.
It was so beautiful.
Gurasis (42:35):
I'm sure there must be things that you narrated that
you had no idea about, becausesometimes there are some things
in the history you were like, ohmy God, is this where this
comes from, or this is what hashappened.
Geetika (42:45):
It was all new to me.
I had not read about Canada indetail.
Who reads about Canada as asubject back home?
So we all want to immigrate to,but we don't have this kind of
information available orresearch.
So one thing that I thinkalways amazed people at the
(43:06):
station was who were part of thedocumentary translation work
was that I would check the name,because they're French names,
right, I cannot pronounce them,right, obviously I'm not a
French speaking person.
So I would always check thename and then deliver it.
And they always would say, evenwhile doing my Bidhi Ho show,
(43:29):
why do you have to make a show?
Why are you calling the embassyor the council office to check
this name or listening to itsomewhere else?
Because this is so you said.
Do you remember anything thatyou were taught while on job
training?
So because you're doing a newsnewscast, you can't say wrong
names.
One thing I learned definitelylearned to pronounce the other
(43:53):
person's name.
I don't feel ashamed when peoplecall me Geeta Jitika.
It's like I prefer to not letthem keep doing that.
It's better to correct itpolitely so that you don't.
It's a good idea to correctright.
They don't know how the name ispronounced, so I always did
(44:18):
that and that was, I think, onething that everybody noted that
how come the names are alwayspronounced right.
Even to my boys I say make surewhen the other person is
getting introduced, because yourname is not a foreign name,
it's Arjun.
It's like everybody should knowhow to pronounce.
(44:40):
That it's a good thing to dofor the other person.
Exactly.
They feel good when you've takentime to know their name.
So that was one thing that Ilearned.
And good research.
Just don't go jump up on thetopic just because you are
talking about it.
It's good to do some research,always helpful.
(45:02):
Then I took an offer to be acommunication advisor in a
political office.
That worked.
It was interesting.
It was another learningexperience because now I was on
the other side of the fenceright, Not just covering a
minister or bureaucrats orpolitical people and questioning
(45:24):
them, but now I was on theother side thinking that, oh,
what looks like easy is not easy.
There's a lot of research thatgoes into one policy.
Absolutely.
The tons of people who areworried about if this goes wrong
.
What will happen If this goesright?
What will happen?
What needs to be done Right?
(45:47):
So when we comment on politicalleaders this is one thing that I
learned during my experiencethere when we comment on leaders
, first thing is go vote, thenyou can say some.
If you have not gone out tovote, do not say anything.
First point, then you don'thave the right to say anything
If you haven't exercised votingright.
(46:08):
Secondly, I always think whenwe are having our own families
four or five people or seven or12 people we have arguments.
We don't all have the sameperspective or thinking on the
same subject.
We differ, we will make mistakes, but when somebody is managing
(46:31):
a province, a district, country,you can't just blame them all
the time.
There has to be a balance.
You also have to see what washappening during their term.
What all did they do?
Weigh it.
Just because we have an opinionon someone, we can't just throw
(46:51):
our opinion on that, and it'snot an easy job to be a
politician of any level.
I just did a podcast on threelevels of government where I
actually asked a sitting memberthat when people walk into your
office?
Do they even understand whatresponsibilities fall into which
category and who is responsiblefor?
(47:12):
them, for example Because, forme, you are the elected person.
You better know I have aproblem, find a solution.
For us it's like, yeah, I havea problem, find a solution.
Because, just like what we doat our home, we'll say to the
senior member in our house thatyou know what?
I have a problem, find asolution.
(47:32):
Or why don't you have asolution?
It's a very normal way toapproach, but every
responsibility falls intodifferent category and there's
always a way to find a solution.
I just believe that there'salways a solution for every
problem.
It may be difficult,non-convenient all the time, and
(47:54):
maybe it's not the way thatfeels right to you or very easy
for you.
It may hurt your ego,self-importance, but there's
always a way to make it work.
Gurasis (48:06):
I feel like whenever a problem is created, it's created
because it has a solutionAlways.
You just have to find andnavigate to it.
Geetika (48:13):
Yeah, I don't like people who just kind of blame
the leader or whoever, becauseit's almost it feels to me like
a family member who hasn't doneanything but will blame somebody
who is doing.
Gurasis (48:25):
Because it's easy to do that, because it's easy to
blame.
Geetika (48:29):
So if you're not going to participate or if you're not
going to do anything, then maybedon't find faults in people who
are actually doing, becausealso another thing to remember
aggressive.
When you do work, you will makemistakes.
That is how, that's the natureof doing work right, because if
you don't walk, how will youfall?
(48:49):
Yeah, 100% yeah if you're justsitting and complaining of the
other person walking and fallingbecause that other person is
walking.
Gurasis (48:58):
At least the person is trying.
Geetika (48:59):
Yeah.
So I just feel like we live inanother democracy here.
So I think if you want to havea comment on something, then you
know what?
Go and get involved with yourlocal writing associations.
And this is a message foreverybody young people,
immigrants, some families,seniors, go and participate.
Gurasis (49:22):
So I think I also want to talk a little bit more about
Batha'i Ho and I want to give alittle bit of background again
to the listeners you know.
So you became the launchingface of Omni2 in Toronto and was
offered to anchor News Magazineshow Batha'i Ho, which ran for
nine years, and I think hostinga successful show for nine years
is not a small deal.
(49:44):
Then also, like I was tellingearlier that it became one of
the best talk shows in ethnicmedia in Ontario.
I want to tell us the inceptionof that idea.
How did that come up?
So I also found a few of theclips.
I was able to find them somehowon YouTube and, by the way, you
were looking beautiful in allof those and you have
(50:06):
interviewed, I think, the peoplefrom various domains you know.
There were authors, there waseven organizers.
I also saw like a few of theIndian chefs who visited Canada
and everybody you know who hascontributed to the cultural
fabric of Canada.
So tell us more about that showand that whole journey.
Geetika (50:25):
You know, as Gurasis.
As I said, my idea to thehiring committee was at Omni2.
It was like I want to be ableto do a show where I can say
hello and be my authentic self.
I can't do a show and just beput up in a studio just because
you're bringing stories for meto air and I just want to say it
on camera and good, look, lookgood.
(50:46):
But my whole thing was you knowwhat?
I'm already not having a greattime.
My credentials from back overare not being recognized at all.
So if I'm going to go back tomy broadcasting career, then
this is how I want to do it.
I want to be myself.
I just cannot be myself.
(51:09):
So, being able to write myscript in Hindi, have a saying,
choosing stories, interviewingpeople, being able to wear the
dress that I love the most mycotton saris I miss wearing them
, putting on a bindi and beingable to portray myself.
(51:35):
I did not.
There was nobody saying, okay,you can't say this thing,
because this is this doesn'tlook right.
We have a script for you,that's what you're gonna follow.
I was given a lot offlexibility in because I think
they trusted me and I really,really appreciate the team
members there for trusting methat I was generally myself, and
(52:03):
for that I think it was one ofthe reasons.
I think people would say, okay,you know what?
This is somebody we would justmeet on street, right, this is
not somebody that doesn't looklike us.
She's talking the way we misslistening to things because
we've been here for so long andshe's fresh from India.
(52:24):
The diction is so fresh and sheseems to be representing all of
India.
As.
I said my saris would confusepeople.
Sometimes my saris wouldconfuse people.
My bindi style would confusepeople.
My language was not just onedialect, like only from
Chandigarh only or from DelhiHindi or no, maharashtrian Hindi
.
(52:44):
It was like it was kind of, as Isaid, the word Hindustani is
true, I think when people wroteback that she speaks pure
Hindustani, so we can't figureout where she's from.
So whoever would come in thestudio, if there's a Bengali
guest, they would think thatthey're talking to me because
they think I'm probably fromBengal or a Maharashtrian guest.
They're thinking probably she'sfrom Maharashtra or Punjabi.
(53:07):
Are you Punjabi, githika?
So it kind of helped me, Ithink, because I looked like
them from wherever, whicheverpart of India they were coming
from.
So that must have been acontributing factor for
everybody liking me, I guess.
Gurasis (53:24):
Yeah, I mean, I'm sure about that.
Whereas seeing those videoswhen the music kicks in and then
it pans towards you, the camera, and then you do the
introduction, for some reason Ithink I haven't seen it before,
right, ever.
For some reason, when I saw it,it just made me feel so proud.
I was so proud to just see youspeaking the Hindi language.
(53:46):
I can't fathom the fact that itwas, you know, broadcasted on a
Canadian television.
People were looking at it,people were seeing it.
It was something, something wasthere in me.
I was like, oh my God, I was soproud to just see what was just
right there.
Oh, thank you.
But also, once again, like youknow, githika.
(54:07):
Once again, like nine years,that's huge.
Tell me, what do you believe?
What are the key factors thatcontributed to the show's
popularity and sustained successthroughout these years?
Geetika (54:18):
So I think, as I said, the show was basically about
everyday life, everyday people.
Yeah.
Stories that were successful,stories that were struggling,
stories that were failing.
We did not make up anything.
(54:38):
It was.
We would actually just walkinto people's homes and give a
call and say, would you beinterested and let us cover your
story?
And people who are veryauthentic.
I think what I see is, as I said, when you are being honest and
trusting, sometimes the otherperson feels that you know what
(54:59):
they can be also honest and justbe themselves.
So I think it was a show wherenothing seemed like pre-done and
directed or scripted.
It was just how people work.
So that I think that was theessence of that show and I'm
(55:21):
sure me being honest and mebeing just myself may have also
helped it.
But yeah, the show was a verycasual show and most times, for
example, like there's, we wouldhave a story fixed and then say,
(55:43):
okay, this is the time slot,we're coming, but I'm going
without makeup, with my cameraperson, just entering somebody's
house and chatting.
So what people generally, Ithink misses sharing their story
, the way they think and talkabout to themselves about it.
Yeah.
(56:04):
Right.
Sometimes that authenticity iswhat kind of becomes the setting
point.
Yeah, beautiful thing of thatwhole talk For the non-Indians.
Gurasis (56:15):
the word with IHOME means congratulations.
Yes.
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Now let's get back to theepisode.
(57:21):
So tell me if any of ourlisteners who would like to get
into the similar industry, whatcan they do or what would be
their next steps if any of themwants to get into it.
Geetika (57:33):
I think the best.
They're such great universitieshere in Ontario.
Ryerson is great.
They have an amazing program.
I was one of the scholarshiprecipients of Ryerson's
accelerated program on comms andmedia and I think there were
seven candidates across Canadaand I was one of them.
(57:55):
So we were given one weektraining and workshops and
seminars.
It was an amazing experienceand I realized, my goodness,
kids and students who are goingthrough the actual program at
Ryerson is such lucky fellows.
So there's such great programsat Seneca, our local
universities and colleges.
(58:16):
York has programs.
As long as you know as I alwayssay, the destination, what you
exactly want to do, the pathbecomes much easier then and
then always keep your eyes open.
Nobody told me this.
I also didn't have great, Ithink, people to look at.
But in this field where I waslooking but I think, look for
(58:38):
mentors and don't care to ask,there's something here that I
didn't have back home in Indiaor I don't know if it is still
there or happening there now ordoesn't happen Job shadow.
You know, right, grisys, youkind of just ask somebody to be
(58:58):
with them for a day or a weekand see what happens before you
decide, right, getting into thatfield.
That's an amazing thing.
Job shadow.
I love that, but you canactually be with that person and
see what they do.
Yeah, so do that.
That's one thing I think allstudents after their 12th,
(59:19):
graduation or grade nine herethey can volunteer and don't
quote me on that.
But I think there's such greatopportunities as students in
this country that we get and weshould utilize that, because
back home we didn't have thesethings, like in grade seven,
grade nine, how could you go andjob shadow, volunteer somewhere
(59:40):
?
Nobody talked about that.
So here there's amazingopportunities for you to just go
and even check out the fieldthat you want to get into.
Gurasis (59:51):
Yeah, absolutely.
That sounds really interesting,though, and I like that.
The shadowing part I think thisis also not the same, but still
in the same category, where youreach out to people and do that
information interviews, just tolearn about their day-to-day
life, or just to learn about thejob that they are doing, or
just see that.
Is that really something youthink you?
Geetika (01:00:12):
are cut for?
I think yes, exactly, yeah.
So also, if you want to dojournalism, I think a reading is
something that you have to have.
You need to have interest inreading and read about
everything, anything around you.
It's never going to harm you.
You'll only learn, If not injournalism, then in some other
field, just as a person also.
(01:00:34):
So there's so much happeningand these days the information
is right on your screen.
You can Google search anythingand it will pop up on your
screen.
So the world in some ways is soeasy.
So do that reading, research,Ask questions.
Don't be embarrassed or shy toask questions.
(01:00:55):
No question is ever stupid.
Ask, that's half of us.
Half of us don't do thingsbecause we didn't have the guts
or we didn't feel comfortableasking that question.
It's like, oh my goodness, ifonly I had asked that question.
I would know what to do now andalways find opportunities.
(01:01:15):
Wherever you live, See what ishappening around you, where.
When you go in person, that'sanother way to learn things.
When you interact with peoplesocial interaction is another
way.
So, as a journalist, you needto be able to go and interact
with anybody and the more youknow about more people, more
(01:01:37):
traditions, cultures andcountries and languages, the
more easier your journey as ajournalist will be, and more
exciting, in fact.
Gurasis (01:01:48):
So, geetika, before we get into the final segment of
the podcast, I wanted to alsoshare with our listeners about
your podcast, which is Geetika'sCanadian Diary.
Tell us where they can find itand what it is about.
Geetika (01:01:59):
Gurusis geetikaca.
If people go and checkgeetikaca, they will see all the
platforms and they can checkout our new episodes.
As I said, it's all inconception stages.
I'm also a mommy here, so whichmeans my full-time job is
generally with the two wonderfulgrowing human beings at home.
(01:02:21):
But so this is baby steps thatI'm trying to take back and I'm
thinking I hope I can dosomething important in terms of
bringing the issues out, andfollowers and people who have
liked me several years backdoing the show will appreciate
the topics that we will bebringing and talking about.
(01:02:45):
So my main focus is talk aboutimmigrants who have trouble,
although I always say the younggeneration that is coming
nowadays is much more smarter,they are much more educated,
they have already done theirresearch, so they're way ahead
(01:03:09):
of lots of immigrants when wecame 20, 30 years back.
So they just have to go toGithikaca and all our platforms
are listed there and they can goand listen to my new podcast on
(01:03:32):
YouTube and Podbean andFacebook.
But, as I said, it's very earlyto be promoting it.
But thank you for bringing itup, gurusis, I'm hoping people
will send me suggestions,feedback.
I am looking for people'sfeedback and suggestions and
(01:03:52):
topics, and feel free to connectwith me.
It is Githika Kikhanedian Dairiat gmailcom.
Send me your ideas, would lovethat.
Gurasis (01:04:02):
Well, I don't know what you're saying.
It's initial stages.
I think you are putting theears of your experience into
that podcast.
I have listened to the firstfew episodes and I enjoyed them,
and I think I'm looking forwardto them more and to all my
listeners.
The links to listen to thepodcast and connect with Githika
can be found in the show notes.
(01:04:22):
So now we're in the finalsegment of the podcast.
I call it Beneath the Accent.
I'm going to ask a couple ofquestions.
You can answer them in one wordor a sentence, or however you
feel like.
The idea is just to know moreabout you, so ready, yeah,
what's this one habit youadopted that has changed your
(01:04:43):
life?
Listening.
Have you recently bought thatyou now regret?
Oh no.
Geetika (01:04:48):
I don't think so.
I'm a minimalist.
I don't buy too much.
Gurasis (01:04:52):
Okay, so what's next on your bucket list?
Geetika (01:04:55):
Make sure my podcast reaches lots of immigrants, lots
of Saudisians and lots ofpeople.
Gurasis (01:05:03):
Well, it surely will.
So who's your go-to person whenyou feel stuck?
Geetika (01:05:08):
I go to books a lot when I'm feel stuck.
Okay.
I always feel books are suchgreat teachers and I always find
somebody else's experiencematching.
And then I see what did they do?
Because, as I said to youAgressis, I didn't have.
It was a tough childhood, so Ialways had to look for things
(01:05:33):
that were positive, so they werealways my books.
Gurasis (01:05:39):
So are there any movies that you like to watch over and
over again?
Geetika (01:05:43):
Dilwale Dulhania leh jayenge All-time favorite.
Gurasis (01:05:46):
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
Geetika (01:05:48):
I work in a hospital setting and I bridge the
language gap between patientsand doctor teams.
I wish I had a magic wand whenI see kids, young children,
towards the end of their life.
I always feel there should besomething that doesn't let that
(01:06:13):
happen.
Gurasis (01:06:15):
If you could create one law that everybody has to
follow, what would it be?
Geetika (01:06:19):
Oh, my goodness, I could have a list of Okay, then
two again, I think.
Honesty, because if you are, bylaw, have to be honest, who
will do less mistakes on purposeor hurt other people or do
wrong things because you knowwhat.
You will have to agree to whatyou did because you by law have
(01:06:44):
to be honest about it, so youwill not do wrong things.
Gurasis (01:06:47):
If you could eat one dish for the rest of your life,
what would it be?
Rasmalayi, okay, so describeCanada in one word or a sentence
.
Geetika (01:06:58):
I think I would define Canada as a dream, your dream,
where you have to work towardsit and it will come true with
persistence, honesty again inyour dream and your work and
never giving up.
I feel it is a place where youcan dream and also achieve.
(01:07:20):
In some places you can dreambut you can't achieve because of
so many other factors.
But here I feel, generally thestories of your dreams will come
true.
Gurasis (01:07:32):
Love that.
I love that answer.
So, finally, if you could leaveme with one piece of advice,
what would it be?
Geetika (01:07:40):
I don't know what it would be Gurasis, a young man
doing so well and an initiativethat is already, I think, making
you a better person every day.
Because you are hearing from somany people about their life
journeys, I think, sometimesjust exactly what you're doing
(01:08:02):
actually, just looking aroundand learning.
Sometimes you don't even haveto speak a word to learn, you
just have to look around andtake it all in.
And if you can take it all inand piece together the things
and put good things in your ownlife journey, in your own steps,
I think your life will be verydifferent, but you're already
(01:08:24):
doing it.
Gurasis (01:08:25):
I love that answer.
Thank you for saying that andthank you, Geetika, for being on
the podcast.
It was a pleasure speaking toyou.
Thank you so much for addingvalue to my listeners.
Thank you.
Geetika (01:08:35):
You're welcome.
Thank you so much for having meGurasis.
Gurasis (01:08:38):
Hey listener, thank you for making it to the end.
I highly, highly appreciate youlistening to the podcast.
Subscribe to the podcast if youhaven't as yet, and please
share with your friends oranybody you think would like it.
And, like I always say, weencourage you to follow your
heart but also ask.
On Instagram, the handle is@mythickaccent.
You can also leave us a reviewor write to us at hello@
(01:09:02):
mythickaccent.
com.
So stay tuned and let'scontinue knowing each other
beneath the accent.
Hi, this is Gurasis Singh and you're listening to My
Thick Accent podcast.
So breaking into the world oftelevision or any media industry
(00:21):
can be an uphill battle,especially when you come from a
foreign country.
The challenges of adapting to anew culture, navigating
different accents andunderstanding local norms can
make it seem like an impossiblefeat.
But today we have the privilegeof welcoming someone who not
only conquered these obstaclesbut also left an indelible mark
(00:42):
in the broadcasting landscape.
A remarkable individual whosejourney in the media industry is
nothing short of awe-inspiring.
Hailing from India, she hadalways dreamt of having her own
show, a platform where she couldaddress societal issues that
often remain unspoken.
Little did she know that herpath would lead her to become
one of the chosen few from anIndia-wide selection by zee news
(01:04):
as a zee news anchor in 1999.
Through her career, her voiceand presence became synonyms
with professionalism andcaptivating storytelling.
As the Hindi proofreader andnarrator of CBC's Gemini
award-winning documentary CanadaA People's History, she
introduced audiences to the richtapestry of Canada's diverse
(01:25):
heritage.
And then, in 2002, she becamethe launching face of Omni2 in
Toronto and was offered toanchor News Magazine show Badai
Ho, which ran for nine years andbecame one of the best talk
shows in ethnic media in Ontario, and her journey extends beyond
that.
Let's learn more from her.
Please welcome Geetika Bhardwaj.
Geetika (01:49):
Thank you so much, Gurasis, that was a very kind
introduction.
Thank you so much.
I'm humbled.
Gurasis (01:54):
Of course! Well, It's an honour to have you on the
podcast.
So I'm going to start by askingyou this question I asked some
of my guests tell me what's thisone cultural aspect or
tradition from your home countrythat you have managed to
preserve and cherish still inCanada?
Geetika (02:09):
Cultural or traditional ?
You said right.
Yeah.
Indian cooking.
All my three boys love it.
They're two, nine and10-year-old, and my husband,
who's actually Jewish.
We have Dal roti.
Dal Chawal and Saag Paneerstraight from home and Achar
(02:32):
with it Tahee Boondi.
These are our top things thatwe eat normally every week.
Gurasis (02:38):
Okay, well, all these things are kind of making me
hungry now.
But yeah, so do you also liketry to do the fusion cooking or
something else, or is it likejust the Indian cooking?
Geetika (02:50):
Yes, we do so.
Boys will celebrate Hindufestivals, but they've been
raised as Jewish kids.
But we do things both at home,like Hindu things and like, for
example, they're going to anevent and then they love wearing
(03:11):
the kurthas.
So they'll do that and theywill so.
In terms of cooking, yes, wewill do fusion cooking close to
Jewish festivals.
We'll do something like that,for example, latkes.
We prepare them for Passoverand we will make I'll give it an
(03:34):
Indian twist with Indian spicesin it.
So it's kind of latkes, slashpotato pancake, but Indian style
.
Okay, so something like that.
Gurasis (03:46):
Okay, and do you make that conscious effort to instill
the Hindi or Punjabi languagein them or no?
Geetika (03:53):
You know, Gurasis, actually during the pandemic I
realized so I was doing allsorts of these little things
like here and there, introducingthem, making them realize that
mama is from India, and so I'lldo little things like other
Hindi stories, hindi words thatmatch up, like, for example,
both Jewish and Hindu cultures.
(04:15):
In our culture we havefestivals that are related to
lights.
Festival of lights, like Diwaliis called festival of lights,
so they will.
So I started something calledIma writes.
So the first word as a mom, myfirst one was taught to say,
(04:37):
instead of mama, I taught him tosay Ima.
Ima is ma in Jewish language, sobut if you actually write the
word, it's E ma, ma beyond that.
So you can hear the mother maword in the word also there.
So so that's why I named it asE ma writes.
I thought I'll start a blog andkind of write about what we do
(05:02):
as a family to keep bothcultures and traditions in the
family.
So, yes, the effort and thewant is to have both things
going on.
So I do, sometimes in summervacation, so I'll give them
myself Hindi classes.
So, they started, like lastsummer they had started writing
their own name, Arjun, in Hindiand [Name] in Hindi, so they
(05:27):
were able to recognize.
But then, as it happens, youknow when the school starts, you
kind of forget things.
But this summer again, I'mpounding it back again.
Go back to Hindi, learn Hindi.
Gurasis (05:39):
Okay okay, okay.
Well, that's great to hear.
That's how I think you're kindof keeping your culture a little
bit alive as well, so that'samazing.
Geetika (05:46):
Yeah, that's the only way.
When we leave our country, wehave to hold on to certain
things that define us as who weare.
For example when I came here,people used to recognize, "oh my
goodness, you're sorry, theseare amazing.
And they always would getconfused.
My producer and my seniormanagers would say he will ask
(06:06):
us where is she from?
Because my show was basicallyin Hindustani and I'm fluent in
Punjabi also, so I was a standbyPunjabi anchor at Zee News also
.
So they would ask her sarees,they look like from Maharashtra,
(06:26):
but some of them look like fromSouth India or Andhra Pradesh
or you know, somewhere close toChandigarh, Delhi.
So where is she from?
And then my Bindi style wouldchange.
So I would sometimes just havea dot, sometimes a dot with a
line, and it would kind of.
So this is what I tell peoplewhen they ask oh, you're from
India.
No, no, no, ask me.
(06:47):
Continue asking me very exactlyfrom India, because just being
India doesn't mean that that'syour definition.
So it's so huge your cuisine,your dress, your festivities,
traditions, your language,dialect, even the way, as I said
, you put your Bindi a dot onyour forehead.
(07:07):
You know, it can vary dependingupon where you're from.
So please ask me where am Ifrom?
Gurasis (07:17):
Yeah, absolutely! So tell me, if not the news anchor
or the show host, or the workthat you do, anything related to
the media and broadcasting,what career you would have
chosen if not these?
Geetika (07:29):
So I always wanted to be, first, as a little girl, a
doctor, Gurasis.
I have never shared.
I'm a very private person.
I'm very introvert, even thoughI have done shows and been on
TV and entered people's housesand talked about issues.
But I personally am a veryprivate person, never actually
(07:50):
talked about it openly.
My parents had a very tensemarriage so every day would be
scary.
So even as the like, forexample as a five year old, on
several occasions I was toldthat in the morning, check on
your mom.
If you think she's not okay,you need to make sure you sneak
out and get to the closesthealth because you have to make
(08:11):
sure your little sister is finetoo.
So every day was a blessing andunpredictable.
So never left my homework doneundone the last minute, always
had my four or five boys closeby and always was on alert.
So I always thought as a littlegirl that if I change
(08:31):
somebody's bad heart into a goodheart, that would change the
scenario, circumstances ofsomething Right.
So I wanted to be a doctor.
But very soon I realized that Iactually can't see the sight of
blood.
So that was a good thing.
I didn't pass out in a surgeryroom.
So that's good.
And then sometime in late 80s weall got CNN into our houses,
(09:00):
right.
So it was early on whentelevision was life, was the
media was getting imploded, withall these international
channels coming to our, not justthe Dhu Darshan happening.
So I noticed Oprah Winfrey.
She was my oh, my goodness, mygoodness, like she talks about
(09:21):
everything on her show.
That was a huge thing for me asa good.
I'm brought up in a veryprogressive city, chandigarh,
but come from a veryconservative family, all
educated people in my family,but very traditional.
So having somebody on TV in myroom talk about issues that we
(09:46):
wouldn't even think of talkingabout, so that was huge for me
and I wanted to have a show ofmy own.
So I'm like, well, forget aboutbeing a doctor.
I cannot do that, but I want to.
Maybe this is a way to talkabout issues, to write about
them, so you create awareness.
This is what this woman seemsto be doing Finding solutions to
(10:07):
problems.
So that was an eye opener forme and I really wanted to be
doing something like that.
So I was one of the youngestwriters for a newsletter that
was being published inChandigarh but being sent all
the way to even Moscow andplaces like that.
So I was the youngest writerand I still remember the heading
(10:28):
of that article in thatnewsletter was Geetika Ki Diary
Ke Panno Se".
Basically means in Englishtranslation from the pages of
Geetika's diary.
So I've always wanted to be awriter or a show host.
But you said, what else?
I never thought about anythingelse other than maybe, a teacher
(10:52):
.
I like being with the kids.
I think sometimes you reliveyour own life when you have 10,
20, 30 kids around you.
You can teach them, you canlisten to them so much and you
can learn from them so much.
It's such a beautiful, I think,profession where you have so
(11:16):
much power in the sense that youcan.
You're basically shaping thesekids.
They're not spending as muchtime with their parents Monday
to Friday as much as you are.
You're so lucky to influenceand shape these 30 or 20 kids,
so that is very fascinating.
I think I probably would havebeen a teacher, nothing else.
Gurasis (11:37):
Well, I can definitely see the teacher in you.
I think that would be a greatprofession for you as well.
Yeah, tell me I want to talk alittle circle back again a
little bit about your childhood.
Tell me how that experience orthat has influenced like since
you are now a mother yourself.
So tell me that how that thingis somehow shaped, the way you
(11:57):
are going to pursue thismotherhood.
Geetika (11:59):
I am still learning.
I don't have all the answers.
I'm still learning.
As I said, they're nine and 10,but my focus is always to say
respect every human being aroundyou.
Always know that a woman, a man, older, younger, everybody has
(12:22):
their own perspective on thesame issue, and how they've been
raised, what their lifeexperiences have been, this all
influences that personality, butit doesn't mean that that's who
that person is, because theyare also learning.
Right, we're all learning.
Gurasis (12:42):
You're all a work in progress.
Geetika (12:44):
We are all work in progress and you can't say oh,
and sometimes it happens, but itseems that you meet somebody
after 10, 15 years and you thinklike, oh, my God, this person's
so changed.
So as long as you have fourpersonality intact, don't lose
on goodness, do good and thendon't worry about how the other
(13:07):
person is reacting, because youcan change the other person.
You can only work on yourself.
This is sometimes.
They are nine and ten andsometimes they tell me mama, you
did this wrong.
Do you know that you shouldprobably apologize?
I said you know what?
This is so funny, that we couldhave said that to our parents.
Even now.
(13:28):
Even now we can't do that, butthis is such a great thing that
if I did something wrong, I canapologize to my little child and
say I'm sorry about it, like,oh, I wish I hadn't done that,
or how would you want me to dothis or say something about this
(13:50):
, and you take their opinionfrom their mind.
It is so amazing.
I love that.
Gurasis (13:55):
Yeah, it is beautiful.
Yeah, tell me, even in terms ofexpressing the emotions, like I
don't think so.
My parents have never said tome that you know the word I love
you.
Yes, they do.
I can see that interactions andeverything, but they never said
it.
But sometimes saying that alsomakes a big difference.
How do you see that?
Geetika (14:14):
Oh, my goodness, totally.
I was actually looking at a TikTok the other day and in that
they were showing that we say itI love you, I love you and buy
things for the kids these daysAll the time we have to tell
them, whereas for our parentsthey're like you know what?
We put you in good schools,we're taking care of you,
washing your laundry, giving youfood.
Isn't that love?
Why do I have to say it inwords?
(14:34):
And then me and my husband werehaving an argument about it, a
discussion kind of, so I'm likeI come from a very different
culture.
So, for example, here, forevery little thing you hear,
thank you.
Yeah.
But in India we do it here.
Thank you.
Yeah.
It's taken for granted.
I, for example, say tons oftimes I've learned it, as I said
(14:55):
, over the last several years Isay thank you for even somebody
picked up the book at home or hedid something like maybe just
put the curtains, the light wastoo strong.
Thank you so much.
We don't do that, so that'sjust a cultural thing, but it
doesn't mean that we are notthankful about it for the
(15:17):
actions that we do around us.
We just don't say we're veryloving people, actually
Absolutely Very warm heartedpeople.
We invite anybody at any time.
This morning only, for example,I was telling my kids that
nobody gives a call or preplans,especially when I was going up.
(15:37):
And even now, when I talk to myfriends back home, very rarely
people plan and you can correctme if I'm wrong.
But people just say you knowwhat?
I was in your neighborhood or Iwas passing by and I wanted to
see you, and if it happens to betea time, we are happy to have
that person in, and then if itis lunchtime, we'll prepare
(16:00):
something extra right away, andit's just in our nature.
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
Gurasis (16:06):
Welcome everybody at any time.
Yeah, it happened.
Like our uncles and aunts andma'sis and boobies, they'll be
passing by and they'll say oh,we're just passing by, we'll
just stop by, and sometimes youwould be having dinner and
they'll just join us, havedinner with us, you know, or
they'll just pop up at any time.
Geetika (16:21):
Oh my goodness, I don't think to relatives.
We can even say that I was justtalking about people.
Relatives are.
Yes, of course you have to beavailable, but even for, like,
just friends and acquaintances,if they happen to be in your
area, they can laugh on yourdoor.
Gurasis (16:42):
Speaking of childhood and all that, tell me if you
could go back and live, relive,you know one moment from your
childhood in Chandigarh.
Which moment it would be andwhy?
Geetika (16:52):
Oh no, that's a very tough question.
I don't think I want to revisit.
Okay.
It's been a very tough child,but things that I've done I do
cherish them, like I, no matterwhat was going on in the
personal life at home, but Ialways made sure that I am doing
(17:16):
best what I can do.
For example, throughout myschooling I was head prefect,
class leader, always took partin debates, declamations,
extempor, and always got a prize.
That was my way of, I guess,contributing as a person, even
(17:40):
though the atmosphere may bevery chaotic and unpredictable.
But that was my way of movingforward.
The thing I've learned even nowas a new immigrant, can you
imagine like when I came here Iimmigrated in an independent
category as a broadcaster and Iwas doing international news on
(18:03):
Z news, so people in likeeverywhere watched that news
bulletin around the world.
My mom was a research analystand my sister had just one saree
gamma, both Punjabi and Hindi,so she was hoping to become a
playback singer.
So all these, we were at thatpoint in our lives and then we
(18:26):
packed our bags and came here.
My mother came as a researchanalyst.
My sister was a dependent onher at that age and so they came
separately and I followed them.
But the moment we land here wedon't know anybody and we don't
know what job search looks like.
So somebody who had found thehouse for my mom and my sister,
(18:49):
they said, oh, it's outskirts ofToronto, but it was Hamilton.
Not knowing it, hamilton is adifferent city, so to get out of
that and actually to be inToronto would be another journey
, right?
So here we are with researchanalyst and international news
anchor, saree gamma finalist.
(19:12):
And now what do we do?
I worked in mushroom farm.
I was the shortest, petitesecurity guard and I did evening
courses just to add up onto mymedia professional background at
McMaster and kept sending myresumes, no matter what, how bad
(19:34):
it looked on certain days, keptsending my resumes, followed up
multiple number of times, and Iguess that persistence and
timing, I would also say, helped.
So within in less than a yearso in September 2002, yeah, in
less than a year I was ontelevision.
(19:58):
So I think that always movingforward, no matter what, as I've
learned in my life each step,as long as it is moving forward,
how small it is and how slow itis doesn't matter at all,
because eventually you willreach the destination may take
you longer.
(20:19):
I sometimes feel, oh my God, ifI was worldly wise, if I had a
mentor or if I was smart enough,I would have reached that
destination much faster.
But you know what?
I had my own journey.
I was very naive.
I wasn't ready for the industrycalled media.
I've learned things.
(20:41):
I've done stupid mistakes, butyou know what?
That's my journey, that's mylearning experience.
Gurasis (20:50):
Yeah, 100%.
I think everybody's journey isunique to themselves and I think
it happens as per theirexperiences and some things I
think happen in their lifebecause they really have to
learn from it that can benefitin the later years of their life
.
So I think all those ups anddowns and obstacles kind of
prepare you for the bigger thing, which we don't realize in that
moment.
But eventually you'll see thatall that accumulates together
(21:11):
and helps you to really conquerthe next thing.
Geetika (21:14):
You're right and everybody is different.
I am who I am.
I just cannot help not trustingpeople.
Sometimes I lose my commonsense.
I doubt myself.
I'm like, why did I not use mycommon sense?
But that's who I am.
I trust people because I'mthinking if I am good, the other
person in front of me is alsogood.
(21:35):
So sometimes it doesn't workout.
But you know what, just becausethings were not good or people
were not good doesn't mean thatI am going to change myself.
Too bad, sorry, I'm still thesame.
Gurasis (21:51):
Yeah, I think I read this quote also, that never stop
being a good person because ofa bad encounter.
And that stayed with me when Imoved to Canada, because you do
come across all kinds of people,but I think I never lost my
nature just because other personwas not reciprocating the same
thing.
Geetika (22:09):
Yeah, yeah, I tell my boys sometimes they're very
little right now, but sometimesthese things stay in your memory
for long that at boys, yourjourney will be different, but
always look for good people andyour gut feel hopefully will
help you.
And that if somebody is bad,don't react the same, move away
(22:32):
from the situation.
That's the best.
Yeah, absolutely.
You cannot let other thingsimpact you.
You have to.
But again, this is not justhappening to me.
I'm not just learning thisright now.
It's taken me a long time tolearn all of this.
Yeah, yeah.
But it's good to be able toshare with my kids, are people
(22:57):
who are younger than me, orsometimes just friends.
It's good to learn from any butof any age.
Yeah, yeah.
Gurasis (23:06):
You know, this reminds me of this one situation where,
you know, I was coming out ofthe Metro.
It was my very firstpresentation in Canada, like in
my school.
I came out of the Metro andwalking towards my school it was
like a two minute walk and thisis passed a lady and she
shouted at me I hate your turban, like go back to India.
(23:29):
She just shouted at me and Iwas like what just happened?
And I turned back and I lookedat her and I saw her and I was
like there is no way I canexplain her or say her anything
that's going to justify this.
So I don't know, for some reasonthis statement came to my mind
that this lady has some loosescrews, just move on.
(23:51):
Something just kicked in me andI moved on and I don't know
what happened.
That whole situation justfueled me in some way that my
presentation was one of my bestpresentations in the class and I
don't know what just happenedthere.
What was that magic?
What was that?
Something that you know gotinto me and I had the amazing
(24:11):
presentation in the class.
Geetika (24:13):
I am sorry that it happened.
I love the way you're wearingyour turban and grisies.
We are all very amazing people,whatever culture, whatever
tradition we bring.
This is a country of immigrants.
Just a reminder to everybodyit's a land of immigration, land
of immigrants.
But I think what you're sayingis that you did best in that
(24:38):
class was because, probably, youknow, I always think that
criticism sometimes doesn't bumyou out.
Sometimes it helps you.
Yeah, 100%.
That's why I would say give meyour critical feedback.
So it's okay.
Somebody said something, butyou probably thought you know
what I'm going to make myselfshine today 100%.
(25:01):
Right In my presentation.
Yeah, so in a way it was ablessing in disguise.
She probably pushed you tobring the best out of you.
So, and when people react likethat, I always think it is not
about me or what that persondelivered in words to me.
It is actually about them.
Maybe they need help.
It's something they're feelinginsecure about, they're feeling
(25:24):
bad about something, so probablythat person actually needs help
, right.
Gurasis (25:29):
Absolutely, I think.
At that moment I didn't reallyknow how to process it and maybe
it got translated into thepresentation, but I think now I
can gauge, you know, whether toreally take this personally or
just bounce it off.
It's absolutely okay.
Okay, I think we should talkmore about you now, more about
(25:49):
your journey in Canada.
Before that, I would like to goback once again in India, where
you got selected.
You were one of the top 11candidates for the Zee news.
You were also trained for thewhole experience, right Before
you actually was sent live.
I want to tell a little bitabout that training phase and
how that experience was like.
Geetika (26:09):
Oh, that was a wonderful experience, not fully
utilized, as I said, it was not,I think, prepared for it.
But you know, when you say youhave to be prepared when the
opportunity arrived.
I've been thinking about it.
I want to be on television to ahost of my own and this.
So we heard my mother heardthat I just finished my masters.
(26:32):
I was at a stage in life whereI didn't know what will happen
next.
That's another story, anotherepisode for you guys.
So I thought I heard my momheard that Zee was looking for
VJs anchors and faces for theZee cinema and they were
(26:53):
actually close to last rounds ofselection but they were doing
their last interviews inChandigarh.
So she said why don't you applyand try entering?
So I sent my resume and mypicture and I was called.
That's what happened and I wasmyself surprised.
(27:14):
But yeah, I was selected and Ithink I was.
If I don't recall it wrong, Iwas the only one selected for
both Zee cinema and Delhi fornews anchor ship.
So I always wanted to be ananchor, have a show of my own.
So I declined going to Bombayand I said yes to Noida training
(27:36):
.
So it was an amazing training.
We were taught how to look onscreen, how to dress, how to sit
properly, how to deliver speech, what to say, what not to say
when you're on television, howto do your makeup, how to write
(27:56):
down your questions discreetlyon screen, how to do research
for your topic.
This was all taught.
This is on job training, so wewould spend some time of the day
in newsroom where all the otherexperienced people would be
working and you get to see themlive in action.
This was an opportunity.
(28:17):
I think that doesn't come toeverybody.
Right, you dream of going onnational television, but it
doesn't happen to everybody.
So I am very grateful for thatopportunity for Zee chairperson
and the management team Alwaysgrateful about that.
Gurasis (28:35):
But why do you say that it would have made a better use
of the opportunity?
Why would you say that?
Geetika (28:41):
I think if I had a mentor, for example, I knew
exactly how to take this stepfurther up.
Right, that would have been anamazing thing, Just like.
That's what we always I alwayssay that when you have a
destination in mind, then youcan actually carve out some of
(29:01):
your steps.
You may need help sometimes tomaneuver, but you need to have a
destination so you can takedifferent paths, whichever way
comes easy to you or you thinkthat is the fastest or the best
way that you're out, but if youknow where you're going, it
(29:22):
becomes much more clear.
Gurasis (29:25):
Tell me, is there like a story or a feedback that you
received from a viewer of thatnews show?
Or maybe like what peopleactually recognizing you on the
street?
What's that happening?
Geetika (29:36):
So not in, I'm not sure about that back home, but yes
for sure it's been.
Everybody who sees me on streetor in a store and they come up
to me and say are you from TV,from the Daya?
Really, you look so different.
(29:59):
Because you know, televisionactually accentuates your
personality.
You look taller, bigger, right.
And then they see me in person,without makeup and anything,
and they're like oh my God,you're so petite, same girl.
So it's funny.
Sometimes I can get away withthis, saying no, no, don't worry
, I just resemble her.
So that's funny as well.
(30:20):
But talking about India, that,to be honest, I actually don't
have clear memory of my shoppingtrips in India.
Was I recognized?
Sure, I was, but it's adifferent environment there,
right?
For example, there when wewould go and do some shopping
because you're being escorted asa news anchor you're the
national news anchor, right?
(30:42):
So you being escorted, there'sa car and somebody is escorted.
You to go to a solid store?
Yeah, nobody cares.
I'm going for grocery shoppingtoo, yeah, any grocery store.
So it's different.
Gurasis (30:57):
So that's like one of the differences you just shared.
Are there anything else, anyother differences that you would
like to share with us?
Geetika (31:03):
I remember in India, when I got the job on Zee news,
I came back the first time, backto Chandigarh, Somebody told my
mom oh my God, Githika can justput on a press on her scooter
right, and then nobody will stopher, you know.
And then just put somethinglike Zee news on your house,
Nobody will say anything.
She's a big shot.
You don't hassle a reporter orsomebody from that high profile.
(31:28):
So when you come here and wewere laughing at it that I've
come here as an internationalnews anchor, look what I'm doing
Mushroom farming Nobody cares.
Yeah.
Sometimes we go from high levelpositions and we come back, come
, come to this country, thinkingof things that we just imagine
or read right, and we think, oh,life is beautiful, it's just a
(31:52):
rose bush there.
But sometimes it doesn't worklike that In reality.
All immigrants, I think, havetheir own story to tell, but one
thing that I think we, allimmigrants in Canada, have, is
persistence.
We are dreamers.
We are very hopeful people.
We do not give up.
(32:12):
We are not give-upers.
So that's one thing that Ithink binds all of us together.
We also complain less becausewe know we are the ones who have
to make it work for ourselves,so we just look for something
that will work right.
Positivity, so that's anotherthing I notice you are an
(32:36):
example of that.
Gurasis (32:38):
Oh yeah, thank you.
Thank you for saying that.
I think it's like a variety ofpeople.
I've seen a few people that whodon't really like appreciate
this opportunity that they havegot to come to Canada.
And then there are people whoactually make the full use of it
and I think we really have tolearn from the one who actually
made the use of it.
And sometimes I've seen peoplecomplaining at the things where
(32:58):
they knew what they were signingup to.
I feel like like, for example,coming to Canada, they knew that
they were going to do theirchores themselves, they knew
that they were going to cook forthemselves.
They knew that life is not allroses there.
So I think they just forgetthat they had to change their
mindset a little bit to actuallysucceed in this new world.
Geetika (33:17):
Sometimes it happens, yeah, even back home or wherever
you are.
Yeah.
And if you dream or think andyou don't get it, I think mind
and our nature as a human beingis, we feel dejected and it's
like, oh, it's not working, I'mgoing to give up, because giving
up is much easier.
Right.
Yeah, but to be telling yourselfthat, no, I'm going to make it
(33:38):
work.
It needs hard work.
It needs strong will, strengthin you.
It's just about you.
You have to fight that battleAbsolutely.
You have to do it on your own.
For example, even coming backon, I'm trying to start my own
podcast and do stories becauseI've been in hibernation as a
(34:02):
mom for many years now.
It's a step that I had toreally feel within me and think
do I really want to do it?
It's not going to be easy.
Nobody's launching me this time, it's going to be just me doing
on the camera and behind camerawork.
(34:23):
So I had to really feel andpush myself.
So if you don't do that,nothing's going to be easy.
Gurasis (34:35):
So let me take you back to 2001 again.
That was the time when youlanded in Canada, tell me.
I remember I read somewherethat you said that your
educational background andprofessional experience had no
meaning to the potentialemployers here.
That was the first time youheard about the term no Canadian
experience.
That was like the gap on yourresume.
(34:56):
Then I also read this oneanecdote where you walked to a
local news station in a Sari.
Tell me about that wholeexperience and what happened
next.
Geetika (35:07):
So when we came it was October.
When I came it was October 2001.
And I remember very clearlywhen you bring your currency
from India and convert it intoCanadian dollars it doesn't look
very good.
I don't know what happens thesedays, but 20 years back it
didn't look very good.
So, which means that you haveto start thinking about paying
(35:33):
your bills right away.
Very first week I remember veryclearly that I didn't know how
to dress up for a job interview.
I obviously I was internationalnews anchor, so I had a
beautiful collection of sarisand I wore my sari and walked,
which was luckily very close by10 minute walk to the news
(35:55):
channel there.
So I walked and gave my resume,introduced myself to the
receptionist and gave my resumeand said the letter and the
couple letter has been addressedto the news director.
But I had done my research oncomputer the same week Only
after coming to Canada.
They were very kind because theresume must have looked like
(36:15):
wow, international news anchor,what is she doing here, right?
So they were very kind andinvited me for an interview.
So I remember very few days backactually, I was reminding and I
was, we were talking with theperson and I reminded that he
actually asked me the newsdirector, do you know what's on
(36:36):
the left side of the street andwhat's on the right side of the
street?
And I did not know.
But I was so keen on presentingmyself and saying that you know
what, you guys shoulddefinitely hire me as a reporter
.
Like I was so strong about thatthat I knew that I wanted to be
a reporter.
So because I have a lot ofexperience.
(36:59):
So he said but if you don'tknow what's on the left side or
the right side, how will you goand do any news coverage?
Well, first of all, you're veryfresh.
Why don't you settle down andsee how it is and then we'll
circle back and talk about it?
So I thought, okay, and, but Ikept updating.
I was not also going to seeashamed or embarrassed or maybe
(37:25):
this was my naiveness, that Iwas not scared or embarrassed to
update what I am doing now.
So I actually wrote him after afew days.
No, obviously I thank, but Ikept him updated on this is what
I'm doing right now.
I am doing a security guardposition, also taking media
consultancy course at the localuniversity, but that I am still
(37:48):
looking for a position and I amreading the map.
So I did that job too.
So I was reading the Mac, I wasgetting familiar with the
streets around, reading thenewspaper every day, local news.
So I am thinking maybe thepersistence and that may have
(38:12):
been a factor that he finallyintroduced me.
But I also sent the same weekso this is the funny part that I
was also sending my resumes towherever I thought around that
area and news channels werelooking for anchors or any entry
level position.
I would keep sending my resumesof the same week that I got a
(38:33):
call from him saying that youknow what?
I think I can refer you tosomebody.
I don't have anything for you,but I think I'm going to refer
you.
The same week I got a call fromCFMT.
In those days Omni channel wascalled CFMT.
I got a call saying we wouldlike to interview you.
I also got referred, but I wentfor the interview and again I
(38:56):
was so confident in what Iwanted to do and present myself
so eloquently like I, this iswhat I plan to do, this is what
I want to do and I'm veryprepared for it.
I was interviewed and I wastold that we were actually
auditioning for BollywoodBoulevard and it was an English
language news magazine show,entertainment show.
So all the news is comingstraight from Bombay and the
(39:19):
show.
I don't know if you're familiarwith that.
So it's an entertainment newsshow.
But the stories are coming allthe way from Bombay and wherever
, from India, and they talkabout that, have local artists
and talk about it.
So I was not selected.
I was very happy, to be honest.
(39:39):
But the managers, they seemedimpressed.
They said we'll keep you inmind.
I didn't lose hope.
I was sad but I didn't losehope.
But I was also happy that Iwasn't doing that show.
But I came back because I hadit in my mind that I wanted to
do a Hindi language newsmagazine show.
I was very certain.
(40:02):
I was very certain about it.
So within few weeks I gotanother call from them saying
we're doing the CBC Gemini award, winning 32 part series in
different languages I thinkeight languages.
They did and that would you beavailable to proofread it and
narrate it?
So proofreading meant that itwas typed by somebody else.
(40:24):
I had to proofread that and youcan imagine 30 to one hour long
episodes.
How much work was that?
So I thought so I had to redomost of the episodes, but
because I didn't have thetechnical skill set to type it
on computer, I hand wrote 32episodes.
(40:47):
I still have the copies of them.
So one hour long, 32 episodes,they're all hand written in
Hindi.
So when they said, are you done?
And I was the first one out ofall the languages I said yes,
I'm done.
So I took it.
So they were literallyscrolling the page and saying,
(41:09):
did you handwrite it?
So I'm like, yeah, this is myhandwriting.
I did it.
So that was pretty impressive,I think.
So I nabbed it and it was alsothe first translated version
that was put on air.
It was finished, I think, inless than two months and that
(41:30):
was my first hello to Canadianshere and it was an amazing, the
most wonderful experience of mybroadcasting career ever.
I loved it.
What way could have been thebest way to learn more about the
country that I had immigrated?
Yeah.
(41:50):
It's beautiful.
I would stay in the editingbooth non-stop.
I did not need any washroombreaks, water breaks or food
breaks.
I think my editors were like,okay, get her out, this is too
much.
Gurasis (42:04):
How long did it take to rate those 32 episodes?
Geetika (42:07):
So I think we recorded it in less than two months.
Gurasis (42:11):
Wow, but it's a long time.
Geetika (42:14):
And I was traveling from Hamilton to Toronto every
day, Monday to Friday and thenyeah, so it was beautiful.
I will never forget thatexperience.
It was lovely and so thankfulto Omni for that opportunity and
I completely fell in love withCanada.
It was so beautiful.
Gurasis (42:35):
I'm sure there must be things that you narrated that
you had no idea about, becausesometimes there are some things
in the history you were like, ohmy God, is this where this
comes from, or this is what hashappened.
Geetika (42:45):
It was all new to me.
I had not read about Canada indetail.
Who reads about Canada as asubject back home?
So we all want to immigrate to,but we don't have this kind of
information available orresearch.
So one thing that I thinkalways amazed people at the
(43:06):
station was who were part of thedocumentary translation work
was that I would check the name,because they're French names,
right, I cannot pronounce them,right, obviously I'm not a
French speaking person.
So I would always check thename and then deliver it.
And they always would say, evenwhile doing my Bidhi Ho show,
(43:29):
why do you have to make a show?
Why are you calling the embassyor the council office to check
this name or listening to itsomewhere else?
Because this is so you said.
Do you remember anything thatyou were taught while on job
training?
So because you're doing a newsnewscast, you can't say wrong
names.
One thing I learned definitelylearned to pronounce the other
(43:53):
person's name.
I don't feel ashamed when peoplecall me Geeta Jitika.
It's like I prefer to not letthem keep doing that.
It's better to correct itpolitely so that you don't.
It's a good idea to correctright.
They don't know how the name ispronounced, so I always did
(44:18):
that and that was, I think, onething that everybody noted that
how come the names are alwayspronounced right.
Even to my boys I say make surewhen the other person is
getting introduced, because yourname is not a foreign name,
it's Arjun.
It's like everybody should knowhow to pronounce.
(44:40):
That it's a good thing to dofor the other person.
Exactly.
They feel good when you've takentime to know their name.
So that was one thing that Ilearned.
And good research.
Just don't go jump up on thetopic just because you are
talking about it.
It's good to do some research,always helpful.
(45:02):
Then I took an offer to be acommunication advisor in a
political office.
That worked.
It was interesting.
It was another learningexperience because now I was on
the other side of the fenceright, Not just covering a
minister or bureaucrats orpolitical people and questioning
(45:24):
them, but now I was on theother side thinking that, oh,
what looks like easy is not easy.
There's a lot of research thatgoes into one policy.
Absolutely.
The tons of people who areworried about if this goes wrong
.
What will happen If this goesright?
What will happen?
What needs to be done Right?
(45:47):
So when we comment on politicalleaders this is one thing that I
learned during my experiencethere when we comment on leaders
, first thing is go vote, thenyou can say some.
If you have not gone out tovote, do not say anything.
First point, then you don'thave the right to say anything
If you haven't exercised votingright.
(46:08):
Secondly, I always think whenwe are having our own families
four or five people or seven or12 people we have arguments.
We don't all have the sameperspective or thinking on the
same subject.
We differ, we will make mistakes, but when somebody is managing
(46:31):
a province, a district, country,you can't just blame them all
the time.
There has to be a balance.
You also have to see what washappening during their term.
What all did they do?
Weigh it.
Just because we have an opinionon someone, we can't just throw
(46:51):
our opinion on that, and it'snot an easy job to be a
politician of any level.
I just did a podcast on threelevels of government where I
actually asked a sitting memberthat when people walk into your
office?
Do they even understand whatresponsibilities fall into which
category and who is responsiblefor?
(47:12):
them, for example Because, forme, you are the elected person.
You better know I have aproblem, find a solution.
For us it's like, yeah, I havea problem, find a solution.
Because, just like what we doat our home, we'll say to the
senior member in our house thatyou know what?
I have a problem, find asolution.
(47:32):
Or why don't you have asolution?
It's a very normal way toapproach, but every
responsibility falls intodifferent category and there's
always a way to find a solution.
I just believe that there'salways a solution for every
problem.
It may be difficult,non-convenient all the time, and
(47:54):
maybe it's not the way thatfeels right to you or very easy
for you.
It may hurt your ego,self-importance, but there's
always a way to make it work.
Gurasis (48:06):
I feel like whenever a problem is created, it's created
because it has a solutionAlways.
You just have to find andnavigate to it.
Geetika (48:13):
Yeah, I don't like people who just kind of blame
the leader or whoever, becauseit's almost it feels to me like
a family member who hasn't doneanything but will blame somebody
who is doing.
Gurasis (48:25):
Because it's easy to do that, because it's easy to
blame.
Geetika (48:29):
So if you're not going to participate or if you're not
going to do anything, then maybedon't find faults in people who
are actually doing, becausealso another thing to remember
aggressive.
When you do work, you will makemistakes.
That is how, that's the natureof doing work right, because if
you don't walk, how will youfall?
(48:49):
Yeah, 100% yeah if you're justsitting and complaining of the
other person walking and fallingbecause that other person is
walking.
Gurasis (48:58):
At least the person is trying.
Geetika (48:59):
Yeah.
So I just feel like we live inanother democracy here.
So I think if you want to havea comment on something, then you
know what?
Go and get involved with yourlocal writing associations.
And this is a message foreverybody young people,
immigrants, some families,seniors, go and participate.
Gurasis (49:22):
So I think I also want to talk a little bit more about
Batha'i Ho and I want to give alittle bit of background again
to the listeners you know.
So you became the launchingface of Omni2 in Toronto and was
offered to anchor News Magazineshow Batha'i Ho, which ran for
nine years, and I think hostinga successful show for nine years
is not a small deal.
(49:44):
Then also, like I was tellingearlier that it became one of
the best talk shows in ethnicmedia in Ontario.
I want to tell us the inceptionof that idea.
How did that come up?
So I also found a few of theclips.
I was able to find them somehowon YouTube and, by the way, you
were looking beautiful in allof those and you have
(50:06):
interviewed, I think, the peoplefrom various domains you know.
There were authors, there waseven organizers.
I also saw like a few of theIndian chefs who visited Canada
and everybody you know who hascontributed to the cultural
fabric of Canada.
So tell us more about that showand that whole journey.
Geetika (50:25):
You know, as Gurasis.
As I said, my idea to thehiring committee was at Omni2.
It was like I want to be ableto do a show where I can say
hello and be my authentic self.
I can't do a show and just beput up in a studio just because
you're bringing stories for meto air and I just want to say it
on camera and good, look, lookgood.
(50:46):
But my whole thing was you knowwhat?
I'm already not having a greattime.
My credentials from back overare not being recognized at all.
So if I'm going to go back tomy broadcasting career, then
this is how I want to do it.
I want to be myself.
I just cannot be myself.
(51:09):
So, being able to write myscript in Hindi, have a saying,
choosing stories, interviewingpeople, being able to wear the
dress that I love the most mycotton saris I miss wearing them
, putting on a bindi and beingable to portray myself.
(51:35):
I did not.
There was nobody saying, okay,you can't say this thing,
because this is this doesn'tlook right.
We have a script for you,that's what you're gonna follow.
I was given a lot offlexibility in because I think
they trusted me and I really,really appreciate the team
members there for trusting methat I was generally myself, and
(52:03):
for that I think it was one ofthe reasons.
I think people would say, okay,you know what?
This is somebody we would justmeet on street, right, this is
not somebody that doesn't looklike us.
She's talking the way we misslistening to things because
we've been here for so long andshe's fresh from India.
(52:24):
The diction is so fresh and sheseems to be representing all of
India.
As.
I said my saris would confusepeople.
Sometimes my saris wouldconfuse people.
My bindi style would confusepeople.
My language was not just onedialect, like only from
Chandigarh only or from DelhiHindi or no, maharashtrian Hindi
.
(52:44):
It was like it was kind of, as Isaid, the word Hindustani is
true, I think when people wroteback that she speaks pure
Hindustani, so we can't figureout where she's from.
So whoever would come in thestudio, if there's a Bengali
guest, they would think thatthey're talking to me because
they think I'm probably fromBengal or a Maharashtrian guest.
They're thinking probably she'sfrom Maharashtra or Punjabi.
(53:07):
Are you Punjabi, githika?
So it kind of helped me, Ithink, because I looked like
them from wherever, whicheverpart of India they were coming
from.
So that must have been acontributing factor for
everybody liking me, I guess.
Gurasis (53:24):
Yeah, I mean, I'm sure about that.
Whereas seeing those videoswhen the music kicks in and then
it pans towards you, the camera, and then you do the
introduction, for some reason Ithink I haven't seen it before,
right, ever.
For some reason, when I saw it,it just made me feel so proud.
I was so proud to just see youspeaking the Hindi language.
(53:46):
I can't fathom the fact that itwas, you know, broadcasted on a
Canadian television.
People were looking at it,people were seeing it.
It was something, something wasthere in me.
I was like, oh my God, I was soproud to just see what was just
right there.
Oh, thank you.
But also, once again, like youknow, githika.
(54:07):
Once again, like nine years,that's huge.
Tell me, what do you believe?
What are the key factors thatcontributed to the show's
popularity and sustained successthroughout these years?
Geetika (54:18):
So I think, as I said, the show was basically about
everyday life, everyday people.
Yeah.
Stories that were successful,stories that were struggling,
stories that were failing.
We did not make up anything.
(54:38):
It was.
We would actually just walkinto people's homes and give a
call and say, would you beinterested and let us cover your
story?
And people who are veryauthentic.
I think what I see is, as I said, when you are being honest and
trusting, sometimes the otherperson feels that you know what
(54:59):
they can be also honest and justbe themselves.
So I think it was a show wherenothing seemed like pre-done and
directed or scripted.
It was just how people work.
So that I think that was theessence of that show and I'm
(55:21):
sure me being honest and mebeing just myself may have also
helped it.
But yeah, the show was a verycasual show and most times, for
example, like there's, we wouldhave a story fixed and then say,
(55:43):
okay, this is the time slot,we're coming, but I'm going
without makeup, with my cameraperson, just entering somebody's
house and chatting.
So what people generally, Ithink misses sharing their story
, the way they think and talkabout to themselves about it.
Yeah.
(56:04):
Right.
Sometimes that authenticity iswhat kind of becomes the setting
point.
Yeah, beautiful thing of thatwhole talk For the non-Indians.
Gurasis (56:15):
the word with IHOME means congratulations.
Yes.
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(56:38):
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(57:00):
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Now let's get back to theepisode.
(57:21):
So tell me if any of ourlisteners who would like to get
into the similar industry, whatcan they do or what would be
their next steps if any of themwants to get into it.
Geetika (57:33):
I think the best.
They're such great universitieshere in Ontario.
Ryerson is great.
They have an amazing program.
I was one of the scholarshiprecipients of Ryerson's
accelerated program on comms andmedia and I think there were
seven candidates across Canadaand I was one of them.
(57:55):
So we were given one weektraining and workshops and
seminars.
It was an amazing experienceand I realized, my goodness,
kids and students who are goingthrough the actual program at
Ryerson is such lucky fellows.
So there's such great programsat Seneca, our local
universities and colleges.
(58:16):
York has programs.
As long as you know as I alwayssay, the destination, what you
exactly want to do, the pathbecomes much easier then and
then always keep your eyes open.
Nobody told me this.
I also didn't have great, Ithink, people to look at.
But in this field where I waslooking but I think, look for
(58:38):
mentors and don't care to ask,there's something here that I
didn't have back home in Indiaor I don't know if it is still
there or happening there now ordoesn't happen Job shadow.
You know, right, grisys, youkind of just ask somebody to be
(58:58):
with them for a day or a weekand see what happens before you
decide, right, getting into thatfield.
That's an amazing thing.
Job shadow.
I love that, but you canactually be with that person and
see what they do.
Yeah, so do that.
That's one thing I think allstudents after their 12th,
(59:19):
graduation or grade nine herethey can volunteer and don't
quote me on that.
But I think there's such greatopportunities as students in
this country that we get and weshould utilize that, because
back home we didn't have thesethings, like in grade seven,
grade nine, how could you go andjob shadow, volunteer somewhere
(59:40):
?
Nobody talked about that.
So here there's amazingopportunities for you to just go
and even check out the fieldthat you want to get into.
Gurasis (59:51):
Yeah, absolutely.
That sounds really interesting,though, and I like that.
The shadowing part I think thisis also not the same, but still
in the same category, where youreach out to people and do that
information interviews, just tolearn about their day-to-day
life, or just to learn about thejob that they are doing, or
just see that.
Is that really something youthink you?
Geetika (01:00:12):
are cut for?
I think yes, exactly, yeah.
So also, if you want to dojournalism, I think a reading is
something that you have to have.
You need to have interest inreading and read about
everything, anything around you.
It's never going to harm you.
You'll only learn, If not injournalism, then in some other
field, just as a person also.
(01:00:34):
So there's so much happeningand these days the information
is right on your screen.
You can Google search anythingand it will pop up on your
screen.
So the world in some ways is soeasy.
So do that reading, research,Ask questions.
Don't be embarrassed or shy toask questions.
(01:00:55):
No question is ever stupid.
Ask, that's half of us.
Half of us don't do thingsbecause we didn't have the guts
or we didn't feel comfortableasking that question.
It's like, oh my goodness, ifonly I had asked that question.
I would know what to do now andalways find opportunities.
(01:01:15):
Wherever you live, See what ishappening around you, where.
When you go in person, that'sanother way to learn things.
When you interact with peoplesocial interaction is another
way.
So, as a journalist, you needto be able to go and interact
with anybody and the more youknow about more people, more
(01:01:37):
traditions, cultures andcountries and languages, the
more easier your journey as ajournalist will be, and more
exciting, in fact.
Gurasis (01:01:48):
So, geetika, before we get into the final segment of
the podcast, I wanted to alsoshare with our listeners about
your podcast, which is Geetika'sCanadian Diary.
Tell us where they can find itand what it is about.
Geetika (01:01:59):
Gurusis geetikaca.
If people go and checkgeetikaca, they will see all the
platforms and they can checkout our new episodes.
As I said, it's all inconception stages.
I'm also a mommy here, so whichmeans my full-time job is
generally with the two wonderfulgrowing human beings at home.
(01:02:21):
But so this is baby steps thatI'm trying to take back and I'm
thinking I hope I can dosomething important in terms of
bringing the issues out, andfollowers and people who have
liked me several years backdoing the show will appreciate
the topics that we will bebringing and talking about.
(01:02:45):
So my main focus is talk aboutimmigrants who have trouble,
although I always say the younggeneration that is coming
nowadays is much more smarter,they are much more educated,
they have already done theirresearch, so they're way ahead
(01:03:09):
of lots of immigrants when wecame 20, 30 years back.
So they just have to go toGithikaca and all our platforms
are listed there and they can goand listen to my new podcast on
(01:03:32):
YouTube and Podbean andFacebook.
But, as I said, it's very earlyto be promoting it.
But thank you for bringing itup, gurusis, I'm hoping people
will send me suggestions,feedback.
I am looking for people'sfeedback and suggestions and
(01:03:52):
topics, and feel free to connectwith me.
It is Githika Kikhanedian Dairiat gmailcom.
Send me your ideas, would lovethat.
Gurasis (01:04:02):
Well, I don't know what you're saying.
It's initial stages.
I think you are putting theears of your experience into
that podcast.
I have listened to the firstfew episodes and I enjoyed them,
and I think I'm looking forwardto them more and to all my
listeners.
The links to listen to thepodcast and connect with Githika
can be found in the show notes.
(01:04:22):
So now we're in the finalsegment of the podcast.
I call it Beneath the Accent.
I'm going to ask a couple ofquestions.
You can answer them in one wordor a sentence, or however you
feel like.
The idea is just to know moreabout you, so ready, yeah,
what's this one habit youadopted that has changed your
(01:04:43):
life?
Listening.
Have you recently bought thatyou now regret?
Oh no.
Geetika (01:04:48):
I don't think so.
I'm a minimalist.
I don't buy too much.
Gurasis (01:04:52):
Okay, so what's next on your bucket list?
Geetika (01:04:55):
Make sure my podcast reaches lots of immigrants, lots
of Saudisians and lots ofpeople.
Gurasis (01:05:03):
Well, it surely will.
So who's your go-to person whenyou feel stuck?
Geetika (01:05:08):
I go to books a lot when I'm feel stuck.
Okay.
I always feel books are suchgreat teachers and I always find
somebody else's experiencematching.
And then I see what did they do?
Because, as I said to youAgressis, I didn't have.
It was a tough childhood, so Ialways had to look for things
(01:05:33):
that were positive, so they werealways my books.
Gurasis (01:05:39):
So are there any movies that you like to watch over and
over again?
Geetika (01:05:43):
Dilwale Dulhania leh jayenge All-time favorite.
Gurasis (01:05:46):
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
Geetika (01:05:48):
I work in a hospital setting and I bridge the
language gap between patientsand doctor teams.
I wish I had a magic wand whenI see kids, young children,
towards the end of their life.
I always feel there should besomething that doesn't let that
(01:06:13):
happen.
Gurasis (01:06:15):
If you could create one law that everybody has to
follow, what would it be?
Geetika (01:06:19):
Oh, my goodness, I could have a list of Okay, then
two again, I think.
Honesty, because if you are, bylaw, have to be honest, who
will do less mistakes on purposeor hurt other people or do
wrong things because you knowwhat.
You will have to agree to whatyou did because you by law have
(01:06:44):
to be honest about it, so youwill not do wrong things.
Gurasis (01:06:47):
If you could eat one dish for the rest of your life,
what would it be?
Rasmalayi, okay, so describeCanada in one word or a sentence
.
Geetika (01:06:58):
I think I would define Canada as a dream, your dream,
where you have to work towardsit and it will come true with
persistence, honesty again inyour dream and your work and
never giving up.
I feel it is a place where youcan dream and also achieve.
(01:07:20):
In some places you can dreambut you can't achieve because of
so many other factors.
But here I feel, generally thestories of your dreams will come
true.
Gurasis (01:07:32):
Love that.
I love that answer.
So, finally, if you could leaveme with one piece of advice,
what would it be?
Geetika (01:07:40):
I don't know what it would be Gurasis, a young man
doing so well and an initiativethat is already, I think, making
you a better person every day.
Because you are hearing from somany people about their life
journeys, I think, sometimesjust exactly what you're doing
(01:08:02):
actually, just looking aroundand learning.
Sometimes you don't even haveto speak a word to learn, you
just have to look around andtake it all in.
And if you can take it all inand piece together the things
and put good things in your ownlife journey, in your own steps,
I think your life will be verydifferent, but you're already
(01:08:24):
doing it.
Gurasis (01:08:25):
I love that answer.
Thank you for saying that andthank you, Geetika, for being on
the podcast.
It was a pleasure speaking toyou.
Thank you so much for addingvalue to my listeners.
Thank you.
Geetika (01:08:35):
You're welcome.
Thank you so much for having meGurasis.
Gurasis (01:08:38):
Hey listener, thank you for making it to the end.
I highly, highly appreciate youlistening to the podcast.
Subscribe to the podcast if youhaven't as yet, and please
share with your friends oranybody you think would like it.
And, like I always say, weencourage you to follow your
heart but also ask.
On Instagram, the handle is@mythickaccent.
You can also leave us a reviewor write to us at hello@
(01:09:02):
mythickaccent.
com.
So stay tuned and let'scontinue knowing each other
beneath the accent.
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