Akansha: Big dreams

Ranchi, April 3: She was born in Ranchi, then moved to Calcutta and finally to the USA.

But while talking to The Telegraph, Akansha Singh, Pantaloons Femina Miss India-2007 finalist, admits she is a Ranchi girl through and through.

And why not, for her parents are both from Ranchi. While her father, Ashok Singh, is originally a resident of Ashok Nagar, her maternal uncle still resides at Bariatu. Akansha’s biggest weaknesses — her nani, dada and dadi — are all here.

A graduate from Rutgers University in economics and mathematics, the talented Bharatnatyam dancer and a five-feet-and-10-inches tall beauty, currently works as a senior operational planner in a pharmaceutical company in New Jersey.

Ashok Singh, her father, is a transport engineer at the New York Transit, while mother Veena, works in the Metro Urban Development department.

The Telegraph caught up with Akansha’s mother, Veena, who is in town following her mother’s illness. Veena, however, would be leaving for Mumbai on April 6, two days before the finals take place.

“I had to come in a hurry. Both my husband and son would have loved to see her participate in the show,” says Veena.

While talking about her child, who was born on Janmashtami, Veena says: “When Akansha was a toddler, we moved to Calcutta. When she turned three, we shifted to the USA. Since then, we have been coming to India at least twice, sometimes even thrice, every year. Akansha is as Indian as they make them. She can speak fluent Bengali, Punjabi and chaste Hindi. I would say my daughter has four weaknesses — Ranchi and her three grandparents, who stay here.”

When the lady spoke over the phone she sounded excited. “My nani dada and dadi are my strengths,” she says before adding, “Be sure that I will be visiting Ranchi soon.”

A proud grandfather S.N. Singh concurred: “Only a few days ago, in March, she was here. Though she had some time constraints because of the show, we made the most of it while she was here.” For those who would like to know what the young lady did with her time here, here’s a clue. She ate and shopped.

“I simply drool over softy ice creams that are sold at Firayalal’s. Whenever I am there, I make it a point to go to Firayalal and gobble down as many softies as I can,” she adds.

We had to ask Veena, any last words before the final? “Akansha is perhaps the first from the city to qualify. I would like to request Ranchi people to vote for Akansha and make her a winner,” says Veena.

One can vote for Akansha by typing out MMI AKANSHA and send it to 8888. Alternatively one can also go online to vote for her.