From Homemaker to YouTuber at 58
An inspiring story of Asha Vijayvargia (Khyaal Community Member)
“My name is Asha Vijayvargia, and I am 58 years old. I come from a big family and have seven siblings. I completed M. Com from Ranchi. I was a very active student and had joined the NCC in college. I also participated in the Republic Day camp in Delhi and learned aeroplane model gliding with the NCC air wing. I got married in 1988. After marriage, I got busy with family life and my three children.
I have enjoyed cooking since I was a child, often assisting my mother in the kitchen and learning from her. Eager to discover new recipes, I would select them from magazines and give them a try. I loved innovating and creating new dishes, frequently experimenting with different recipes. I participate in many cooking competitions and win often. I used to watch numerous food videos on YouTube, which made me realize I could do the same. My son also encouraged me to start making my own videos for YouTube.
During COVID-19, I was about to make chutney at home one afternoon. I decorated the tray with all the ingredients in a presentable manner and said to my son, “ Isn’t it how they present the dishes in YouTube videos ?” My son said yes and immediately started recording the video and asked me to explain the procedure of making the chutney. After recording, he edited it. We all discussed and came up with the name “Asha ki Cook Book” for my channel. He then uploaded the very first video of raw mango pudina chutney and shared it with friends and family. I received a very good response and words of appreciation and encouragement for the video.
I have been making recipe videos for my channel for three years. I upload videos according to the season, for example, posting mango recipes in summer. I constantly experiment with new recipes in my daily cooking. Initially, my son handled the shooting, editing, and uploading, but over time, I learned to do it all myself. It felt like exploring uncharted territory. I learned everything from scratch, step by step. Now, I edit, add text, write descriptions and tags, and upload my videos using my phone. Sometimes, I encounter obstacles while filming, such as running out of memory and only recording part of the video. Occasionally, I forget to press the record button, or the phone battery dies during the shoot. These challenges taught me valuable lessons along the way. Even when I am unwell or low on energy, the motivation to create a video keeps me going.
Initially, I used to upload five videos a month. Sometimes, I get busy with family responsibilities and can only upload 2-3 videos a month. I have innovated a variety of recipes like ‘Haldi ka Achar,’ ‘Gajar ka Laddu’, and ‘Bhutte ke Bal ki Chai.’ Whenever I go to any function, people recognize me and appreciate my work. People also mention that they like to hear my soothing voice. This brings immense happiness to me because now people know me for my work. I have created my own identity. I have uploaded more than 200 videos so far. I completed 1K subscribers in my first year and recently crossed 4.4K subscribers. Previously, I had a simple Android phone. Seeing my progress, my daughter gifted me an Apple phone.
When we do something with dedication and sincerity, we always succeed. I always work for inner peace. Creating videos gives me a sense of fulfilment and accomplishment. It gives me inner peace and satisfaction. This is something I will keep doing.
Along with this, I am part of a spiritual and social group and participate in many of their activities. I am also president of the Vijayvargia Mahila Sangathan Jaipur and organise many social events. Every day, I dedicate special time to either shooting or editing videos. I love to attend the knowledge sessions, Tambola, and Yoga sessions of Khyaal. I have been a part of Khyaal for 1.5 years. Khyaal has given a platform for seniors where they can engage, learn, and grow.
One piece of advice for my fellow seniors is that there is no age for learning. Never hesitate to learn new things from anyone of any age. We should learn, adapt, and grow with the changing times.” - Asha Vijayvargia (Khyaal Community Member)