Kolkata, Jan 8 : One bright, sunny afternoon, psychotherapist, entrepreneur and mother Minu Budhia hailed an auto rickshaw and went about looking for a way to end her life but she didn’t do it.
Instead, she got the help she needed and embarked on a journey that led to this memoir “Death of a Caterpillar”.
The memoir was released by distinguished guests Mayor of Kolkata and State Minister Firhad Hakim, Minister Dr Shashi Panja, Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay and Lt. Gen. R.P. Kalita and the event was attended by the creme de la creme of Kolkata from all walks of Life.
Written with piercing honesty, humour, and peppered with self-help tips, this must-read motivational memoir is a heart-rending and captivating story of a small-town girl turned social entrepreneur, an introvert turned mental health influencer, someone who went from being counselled to doing the counselling, a woman lost and found…
Mayor of Kolkata & Minister Firhad Hakim said, “Why are we here? We are here to learn what Minuji has experienced in her life. She has the guts to take up the challenge and do good not only for her own daughter, but also for all the children in society who need it. If silently you are doing so much good for society, you are doing the work God wanted you to do. You are doing a tremendous job. As a city mayor, I need this in the city. We are all with you Minuji.”
Minister-in-Charge, Industry, Commerce & Enterprises, PE & IR, Woman & Child Development & Social Welfare Department, Dr Sashi Panja said, “It is a touching moment – the launch of this book. It not only has social connotations but also chronicles her journey of finding happiness through her struggles and her success. I have seen myself how she has coped and grown over the years. We will learn a lot not only from reading her book, but also seeing her performance.”
Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay said, “I have heard from my esteemed colleagues about the work Minuji has done. She has not only overcome her own issues and challenges, but dedicated and devoted her life to making life better for society. It is a beautiful gathering for a beautiful cause.”
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command, Lt. Gen. R.P. Kalita said, “The passion with which Minuji works – her dedication and passion has touched the lives of lakhs. This book, chronicling your rollercoaster journey, will do wonders to provide hope to those who are feeling lost, helpless, or alone in their own situations. Your story itself is a fight – a fight for the freedom of dignity, for the freedom of the mind, for the freedom to be oneself – and I salute that. ”
Minu Budhia said, “From a small-town girl in Tinsukia, Assam who wanted to be a doctor, to where I am today – my life has been a rollercoaster ride. And this book chronicles the highs, lows, and sudden twists. When my younger daughter Prachi was diagnosed with Low IQ & ADHD, my whole world shattered to pieces and I was on the brink of suicide.”
“With time I realised she wasn’t my weakness, but my strength, my inspiration, my pride & joy. In between its pages and its lines, this memoir tells the story of why and how I was able to find myself, and some stories of what I learnt on this journey. I hope you will enjoy it,” she added.
Whether you’re an avid reader or someone who prefers flipping through magazines, with its memoir-meets-coffee-table-book approach, this colourful hardcover book makes for a great new year’s read.
With its anecdotal approach and easily applicable self-help tips, gleaned from the author’s professional experience as a psychotherapist and counsellor, this is as much a motivational memoir as it is a much-needed reality check for any woman coping with insurmountable challenges and a survival guide for parents.