As women cross the thresholds of every incredible chapter of their lives, society tends to weave their favourite narratives to box the women within expectations defined by age. Regardless of the powerful roles that women play within the boundaries of their family, or in their professional lives, an invisible barrier created by societal norms always tends to push them back by constantly reminding them about the limitations associated with age.
However, with time, women have learned to retort back to society by embracing the beauty of wisdom and experience that comes with age and exhibited tremendous alacrity to embark on the multitudes of adventures that lie ahead in their lives.
Amongst the ladies who have repeatedly proved that age is just a number when it comes to turning a new leaf in their lives or setting off on a new journey in life, one of the most popular names is Kiran Dembla.
Kiran Dembla has always believed that age is just a number; it is only dedication and willpower that are needed to accomplish a goal. With a very humble beginning to her life as a mother of two and a homemaker, Kiran Dembla has now been bestowed with the title of the Iron Lady in the world of fitness. It is at the age of 40 that Kiran decided to pursue the dream of being a bodybuilder but her journey has not been without encumbrances. The world of fitness and bodybuilding being an exclusive territory of the men, it was quite obvious that Kiran was ridiculed for even thinking of entering that territory.
However, post an illness when Kiran Dembla started her weight loss programme successfully shedding 24 kilos within the span of seven months, she realised her passion for fitness and became an entrepreneur by opening her own gym. After that, not only did Kiran successfully build an envious six-pack just like her male counterparts but also looked eye to eye with every negative criticism targeted at her.
This journey from being an inconspicuous lady to a fitness icon in India is a documentation of Kiran’s determination, patience, and resilience where she only listened to her heart and followed her goal without caring about societal expectations. Seeing her life makes one believe that it is never too late to start afresh only if your dedication and willingness are in the right place. That is why, Kiran Dembla wanted to disseminate her own knowledge regarding physical fitness, diet planning, strength, and cardio training among others which made her begin a career as a fitness trainer who guides several celebrities towards transforming themselves.
After establishing herself as a distinguished bodybuilder and fitness expert, Kiran Dembla also explored her passion for music by taking up the profession of disco jockey. Moreover, she also pursued her dream of becoming a mountaineer which altogether makes her story almost unbelievable yet highly inspiring. From the point of view of the societal notions of women and their achievements, the very idea that a woman would not only step into the world exclusively ruled by men, but also emerge victorious from there, is nothing but a subject for worst criticism.
However, it is what triggered in Kiran the perseverance and conviction that she is going to cross every insurmountable barrier in her path and fulfil her dreams only to show society and other Indian women that nothing can stop one from achieving their dreams, not even a fatal disease.
Sometimes individuals need to actually fall into trouble to unlock their own potential and problem-solving skills. Likewise, it took Kiran to spend 35 years being a nonchalant homemaker without worrying about her health or fitness until the blood clots in her brain knocked on her door to give her a wake-up call. After that it was the disease and its emotional trauma as well as the strong medications, she was taking that made her gain a huge amount of weight.
Starting with the basic instinct to lose weight by training at a gym, Kiran Dembla could finally identify her own passion and dream which she followed since then by working out sincerely, losing weight, and even participating in the World Bodybuilding Championship that was organised by the Indian Bodybuilding Federation in Budapest. Even the initial qualms of starting a strict protein-based diet and rigorous training that usually accompanies first-time bodybuilders could not make Kiran retreat as she had her eyes set on seeing through her dreams and goals.
Currently, Indian society is full of opportunities for women to not only live their own lives on their own terms but also pursue whichever career they want, regardless of the preconceived notions of male domination in certain fields. Kiran Dembla bodybuilder is a living example of how judgment and negative criticism can sometimes disrupt any kind of change you might want to bring into your life and also how it is important to dismantle the stereotypical notions not with words, but with true actions. Not only that, but the 41-year-old fitness expert sends out a message to every aspiring female bodybuilder that, it is willpower, desire, passion, and conviction that can fulfil an individual’s dream.
Even if a woman chooses a career option dominated by men like bodybuilding, it is the untiring tenacity, self-love, healthy lifestyle, and food habits that can catapult them to success.
