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DIMAPUR — Tasensola Imsong, a 28-year-old woman from Dimapur, has defied the odds on her journey to becoming a baker despite being hearing impaired.
From starting out as a trainee at a local café, to running her own kitchen and catering to a diverse range of customers, she has shown resilience and determination, despite the highs and lows encountered along the way.
At the age of two, Tasensola's parents, who lived in Mon district at the time, took her for checkups after discovering she had a speech delay, but the results would show that it was ‘normal.’ It wasn't until she was ten years old and taken to Guwahati for medical consultation that her hearing impairment was diagnosed.
She was advised to wear ear plugs, but due to discomfort, she discontinued them after some time.
During an interaction with Eastern Mirror, Tasensola’s mother, Imsuinla recalled how her daughter, the eldest of three siblings, would bring home cleanliness awards from school for consecutive years during their stay in Mon.
After studying up to Class 3 in Mon, she shifted to Dimapur where she completed matriculation from Honili Memorial Hr. Sec. School. But midway through Class XI, she quit schooling and decided to chart her own career path.
A baker in the making
Interestingly, Tasensola displayed an artistic bent of mind at an early age, as her mother recollects how she would stitch dresses designed and sketched by her daughter.
She also enrolled in a government-sponsored knitting course. But right after completing her training and before her parents could provide a knitting machine, she realised she had a different calling.
In 2015, the young girl went to study formal sign language at Deaf and Dumb Biblical Ministry located at Naharbari in Dimapur.
Meantime, she also developed a passion for baking, and so in 2017, she started working as an apprentice at Hope Café, where she worked until the café closed down during COVID-19 lockdown.
Finally, in 2020, she started her own venture.
Tasensola’s mother proudly says that her daughter bought all the baking equipment and accessories from her small earnings, which she had been saving over the years.
She set up her own kitchen located at Khermahal in Dimapur, where she takes orders via phone call, Instagram or WhatsApp.
From a small start, she now bakes and serves cakes, cookies, doughnuts, desserts, and custards. She also takes orders for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and other occasions.
Communicating (through sign language) with this reporter with her friend Lanu as the interpreter, Tasensola shared how she wishes to open a shop but cannot due to financial constraints.
Another dream on the horizon
The baker, who continues to do what she loves, has another dream on the horizon.
“Pottery is something I've never tried, but it is a craft that I'd like to experiment with. I'm not certain if I'll be successful in learning it, but I do believe it will be worth giving a try,” she shared via WhatsApp.
With unemployment one of her major concerns, Tasensola confided that if she succeeds in pottery, she would help the unemployed youths by providing employment.
Besides providing support to her family, the big-hearted baker also continues to do charity work wherever she can.
Advice from a mother
Tasensola’s mother said that many parents find it uncomfortable to introduce their children who suffer from various disorders or disabilities, while confessing that she also once cried and asked herself, “Why?”
“One should not regret, do not let them know that they are different from others,” she said while expressing that they should be treated like any other individual.
“Make them feel special, they can do wonders,” she said and added that families and friends play the most important role in bringing them up.
“Do not make them feel rejected. They are special and a gift,” Imsuinla added.
Approach to life, message
Tasensola, who is comfortable messaging via WhatsApp, shared her approach to life.
“Since I'm hearing impaired, I too face difficulties when it comes to communication. I have kind people around me who help me with my communication with my clients,” she shared.
“When I started working at Hope Cafe, I developed my love for baking. Eventually I realised it was not just something I wanted to do out of interest, or part-time, but that I wanted to make it my full time profession.
“My journey was a blend of highs and lows, like many other people. But till now, I'm extremely grateful for all the support that people have shown to me so far,” she communicated.
Here’s her message to people who face similar barriers:
“It's all about perspective. It's also a choice. We can either wallow in self-pity and live a miserable life, or we can be grateful for what we've been blessed with and make the best of what we can. That, I believe, will take us further in life.”