HYDERABAD : Fear. We all have it. It holds some back and it builds some up. And a select few run into them head on to find themselves. Such is Harsha Maheshwari. Dancer and choreographer, Harsha has been on a journey of self-love and decided to take it one step further with letting go of her fear of judgement. Being a woman who has been a part of a society that sets standards on what is an acceptable appearance, Harsha decided to go dead against it. On July 1, her 26th birthday, she decided to shave her head and rid herself of the insecurity she has nurtured for years. Not just that she went on to give up perfume and make up; anything that would pertain to judgement in the society.
As a part of her journey exploring self love, she went on to create a video expressing her learnings and endeavours through what she does best: dance. “I’ve been working on myself and on loving myself for a couple of years now. We live in a world where we get embarrassed about our appearance, or shortcomings of the same. I started to notice that my hair was what I was most worried about when I set out. I noticed that that was what bothered me the most and what I focussed most on about what others would think of it. So I decided to free myself of it,” says Harsha, in a flourish of confidence.
Harsha began a few days ago with a post asking the girls on her Instagram profile about what they are embarrassed about the most. She made an A to Z list of them all which included superficial things like smelling bad, body hair and name to deeper things like failure and being yourself. “The number of people who shared their story with me was overwhelming. More than just my own personal growth hearing the stories of so many people who were struggling with what I had mentioned was an experience,” she explains. Leading up to her birthday, she explained her post through her own actions. She posted a video of her dancing with a fully shaven head.
Although going bald was a liberating decision and an act of getting in touch with herself, it wasn’t taken in a stride by her family and friends; at least at first. “Our society often believes that anyone who looks presentable and appropriate by their standards is doing okay. And anyone who might be unconventional – have tattoos or piercings or coloured hair - are disturbed. Some of my acquaintances saw what I did and were worried. They asked my parents if I was okay or if I was going through something. But I’m grateful that my family and friends are quite understanding. They said that they might take a while to adjust to this new me but that they still support me in everything I do,” she shares.
Harsha’s journey doesn’t end here. She believes that through her journey of self-love she can further the message of it to those who need it. “If what I did makes others love themselves a little more, flaws and all, then I can’t be happier,” she says. Next up for her is her fear for animals. “I love animals and I am actually a vegan. But something that happened to me when I was young created a fear in me for them. I plan on turning that around,” she says signing off.
Harsha’s post
Heal not hate. Dedicating my 26th birthday to everyone who has hated their looks, hated themselves cause of others , have hurt themselves more than the diseases did , faked to fit in and who’ve been far away from love. From unwaxed legs to a bald head. From no perfume to no layers to cover my scars. From straps showing to no make up. All A-Z that I had spoken about a few days back, here is the answer to that. This is my new look. New day. New thoughts. Crossing one hurdle at a time. #ByeFears #ByeJudgement #ByePerfection #ByeEmbarrassment #ByeBodyShaming #HelloScars #HelloLove #HelloNonAttachment #Cancerian #Healer #Lover #TakingLayersOff
srividya.palaparthi
@newindianexpress.com
@PSrividya53