As part of the session 'Bihar Youth Startup Players' on the Panchayat Bihar Aajtak platform, four young entrepreneurs shared stories of their success. The event was moderated by Shweta Singh. Participants included Manish Kabra, owner of a cafe; Tishya Shri, a doctor and poetess; Keshav Verma, an entrepreneur in the construction sector; and Sakshi Keshri, founder of Artemis Pink Jewellery. They recounted how they managed to realize their big dreams while remaining in or using Bihar as a base.
Manish Kabra began by discussing his cafe business, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary. He recalled how ten years ago, brands refused to open outlets in Patna, claiming the city was not ready for it. Kabra started with a very modest spot—a cafe of only 200 square feet with four chairs. Today, his business serves thirteen thousand people annually, and he stated that the company's second-largest network is located in Patna. He urged the youth not to wait for ready-made platforms but to create them themselves. Kabra also noted that modern youth have changed the approach to perception, for instance, calling a laundry a 'laundry,' a barbershop a 'salon,' and a tea stall a 'cafeteria,' expressing pride in their connection to Bihar.
Next, Tishya Shri shared her story. She holds an MBBS degree but declined some early offers in Bollywood films after graduation. She then turned to poetry, becoming a Hindi poetess and an English writer, publishing three books. At the event, she performed excerpts from a poem dedicated to the daughters of Bihar, titled approximately 'I am a daughter of Bihar.' She mentioned that this song was presented a year ago and was solemnly awarded by the then Governor of Bihar, Arif Mohammad Khan. Tishya also spoke about a sudden offer to star in a film for which she never auditioned, which initially seemed like a joke; the new film will be released soon.
The third guest, Keshav Verma, shared that his father founded the company 'Seventh Group' fifteen years ago, starting with one building on a plot of land measuring just four katha. Keshav studied Computer Science in England and later returned to Bihar, driven by both family wishes and his own desire to work there. His company is currently constructing the largest shopping mall in the region, and his goal is to make his company the best in the infrastructure sector across India.
To conclude, Sakshi Keshri introduced her company Artemis Pink, which produces premium jewelry from natural diamonds and exports it to Gulf countries. Sakshi completed all her education in Patna over fifteen years. Recently, she held an exhibition of her jewelry in Patna, and the public response exceeded her expectations. Sakshi expressed a wish for jewelry manufacturing factories, currently located in Surat and Mumbai, to also be established in Bihar. She also mentioned that carpets are made in the town of Obra, Bihar, something many do not know, and that such facts will only become known if people start promoting them.
The discussion continued with Manish Kabra, who emphasized that the main characteristic of Bihari residents is their innate ability to fight, present since childhood. In his view, this is a gift from God, and no resident of Bihar fears difficulties. Kabra stated that birthplace and circumstances are not determined by a person, but changing one's destiny and conditions is within their power. He clarified that he came to this platform not due to a large inheritance or fame, but because of his work and hard labor.
Kabra shared his dream: just as the mangoes of Banaras and the petha of Agra are famous, he wished that everyone visiting Patna would definitely try his coffee. He told the story of an employee named Titu, originally from Hajipur. Titu started working in the service industry eleven years ago and is now the best barista in Bihar. Kabra noted that Titu took only four or five days off in 365 days, and he is proud of him. He thanked the organizers for providing the opportunity to speak with the youth.
Following this, Tishya Shri said that telling the world about Bihar is a special responsibility. She admitted that as a child, she disliked constantly explaining that the knowledge of Chanakya and the teachings of Buddha were connected to Bihar, but she later realized its importance because it helps people feel a connection to the region. Mentioning Shatrughna Sinha and other artists from Bihar, she called it a form of 'soft power diplomacy.'