: ‘I Didn’t Know How the Internet Worked’: 50-YO YouTube Chef Now Earns Rs 70000/Month #IndiaNEWS #Inspirational Rakhwa village in Uttar Pradesh is one of the most backward regions in the country

‘I Didn’t Know How the Internet Worked’: 50-YO YouTube Chef Now Earns Rs 70000/Month #IndiaNEWS #Inspirational
Rakhwa village in Uttar Pradesh is one of the most backward regions in the country due to its high poverty levels, low agricultural productivity and poor infrastructure.
But the introduction of 4G internet in this tiny village in 2016 opened opportunities for young and old alike reducing the socio-economic disparity in the population.
And 50-year-old Shashikala Chaurasia is a powerful example of the phenomenon.
Her YouTube channel of traditional food recipes has millions of subscribers and enables her to enjoy a status no less than a celebrity.
A Hint of Grandma’s Secrets
Shashikala with her awards.
“My hometown is conservative and I have studied only until class 5. Women my age do not have much access to technology and are confined to household chores and taking care of the family,�? she says. “It is only in recent times that today’s girls enjoy better freedom and privileges. �?
Shashikala says she spent almost 30 years of her life taking care of her three sons, Chandan, Suraj and Pankaj. But the introduction of affordable 4G internet changed her fortune.
Her eldest son Chandan says, “In 2016, a mobile brand’s internet dongles were introduced and started trending in our village. Everyone was exploring various opportunities that the internet was throwing at us. Some of my friends became bloggers, while some became obsessed with social media. Others still became influencers. �?
One day Chandan learned from one of his friends that posting videos could help you earn money. “It all depended on the views and reach of their videos but I was intrigued by the concept. I realised that if such a possibility exists, then my mother could help us with the content as she cooked great food,�? he says.
Shashikala is known for creating delicacies and lip-smacking food that everyone in the family enjoys. “I surfed some food channels on YouTube and found a few food bloggers and people who shared recipes. So I decided to put faith in the concept,�? he adds.
The 29-year-old engineer then shared the concept with his other two siblings. “They were excited, and we unanimously decided to give it a go,�? he recalls.
Chandan, Suraj and Pankaj then proposed the idea to their mother. But having no knowledge and experience in using social media, Shashikala was sceptical.
“I had no idea what my children were suggesting. Earning money from just preparing food videos seemed unreal. However, I conceded to my children’s demands on the condition that my face would not be shown to the viewers,�? Shashikala says.
Chandan then created a page on YouTube called ‘Amma Ki Thali’. “I had found many food channels associated with the name of a kitchen or those related to food.