Yashoda Lodhi, wife of a daily wage labourer, from the rural area of Kaushambi district of Uttar Pradesh, had never imagined that she would be an internet sensation one day. Often referred to as ‘Dehati Madam’, Lodhi, a social media influencer, who studied till Class 12, runs her own Youtube channel – ‘English with Dehati Madam’– with 2.85 lakh subscribers. She motivates people from rural pockets to speak in English and how to be a confident speaker.
“There is nothing which a Dehati (a word used in local parlance often referred to for a person who lives in rural pockets) can’t do. Not only the rural folks, today, I get messages that I inspire people not only from the metro cities but also from abroad. I am a Dehati, and yes, I can speak in English, can you?" asked Lodhi, who hails from Sirathu town of Kaushambi district.
What Changed Her Life
Yashoda’s journey from a rural background to a social media influencer was not easy. She recalled an incident that forced her to gain command over the English language. “I was in Class 11 when my teacher asked me to stand up and recite some lines about ‘myself’. I was blank, whereas, others who were possibly from the English-medium background, recited the same quite easily. I was bullied by the other classmates who called me ‘Dehati’. This was the first time I had an encounter with the word ‘Dehati’. How does one differentiate among the people, just on the basis of attire or pronunciation when we both reside in free India and have equal rites? I was moved by the incident and I decided to learn English," she said.
She said it was just the beginning. “I used to make sure that I read anything written in English. Often used to listen to the English news on the radio sets and gradually improved her spoken English skills," she said.
Year 2022 was a Turning Point
Following the poor financial conditions of her family, Lodhi couldn’t pursue her higher studies. “In 2019, I met my soulmate and after a six-month-long courtship, we tied the knot. Though my family members were against this marriage, we decided to move on together. But as my husband was a daily wage labourer, the amount he used to earn was too less. On the other hand, I bought my first smartphone in 2021. It was then I thought of having my own channel and empowering others like her. I then launched my own channel on Youtube – ‘English with Dehati Madam’," she recollected.
‘English with Dehati Madam’
“Hello friends…Welcome to my channel – ‘English with Dehati Madam’. I’m Yashoda and I belong to a very poor family. I’m from Uttar Pradesh. I opened this channel for the people who want to learn English in an easy way. Basically, the students, women from our villages are in great need of this type of class that teaches them English in an easy way," the description of her channel reads.
Lodhi, who begins with a scratch today, has uploaded around 368 videos and has a loyal fan base of around 2.85k subscribers. While admitting the fact that she is not a certified teacher, Lodhi said she is using social media to motivate others to learn English language.
Josh Talks, a Proud Moment
Of the many videos she uploaded, most of them are about the usage of tenses, how to speak English without hesitation? And the usage of words in a day-to-day life. She also shares snippets from her own life, doing tours of her thatched house, filming her family members, her buffalo, her rabbits, and other light-hearted content, which got much appreciation by the people. While narrating her story on Josh Talks, on which she was earlier invited, Lodhi said being ‘Dehati’ doesn’t mean that one can’t speak English. The only thing which you have to do is to give it a try, she said.
In her motivational videos, she also urged people to think in English as she said it’s going to help them while speaking. In her video, she said, being invited for Josh talks, was a dream come true for her.
‘Dehati Madam’s’ humble but motivational content got much appreciation not only from India but also from abroad. “I am in Dubai. I see your videos daily. I must need English in Dubai," a viewer commented on one of her videos. “I like her confidence. She isn’t afraid to speak with anyone," reads another comment.
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