Udhyam Office

One of the most memorable parts of this space has been our daily lunch routine. Preparing lunch together every afternoon is more than just a task it is a process of connection. We first decide the menu for the day, and those discussions often feel like a small conference. To make it even more organized, we created a WhatsApp group where we continue these conversations even when we are not in the office. These small moments have played a big role in building relationships.

I don’t know how others experience their workplace, but for me, my relationship with the Udyam office has evolved deeply over the past year.
I arrived at Udyam on 27th May 2025 after a long journey of almost two and a half days—from Pune to Mumbai, Mumbai to Delhi, then to Kathgodam, and finally Almora. It was a memorable journey. I reached the office around 9:30 in the morning, where I met Hitesh, an intern at the time. I didn’t know then that he would later become the Salespreneur of Hamari Bakhli. He was staying at the office and welcomed me warmly.
In the beginning, my understanding of the organization was quite limited. For the first week, it felt like the office had only me and my POC. Even for nearly a month, I didn’t know how big the organization was or how many people worked there, since most of the team was in the field.

There were days when my POC would be out, and I would be alone in the office with very little to do. I had expected the fellowship to be more field-based, so spending so much time in the office felt boring and sometimes frustrating. Slowly, I started developing a slight dislike for the space.
On 9th June 2025, I went to Pithoragarh and stayed there for about a month. When I returned, things were still quite similar, even until the end of July. At that time, I did not expect to build strong connections or friendships in the office.

However, things began to change gradually. More people joined, and the environment became more lively. Over time, I met some wonderful people who started as colleagues but became close friends, almost like a family. When you are away from your own family, having such people around makes a huge difference.

Another reason the office became important to me was its proximity to my home. I lived just a minute away, and slowly I began spending most of my day there, sometimes even late into the night. The space that once felt uncomfortable started to feel like a place of belonging.

Udyam, which began its work in 2017 and set up its current office in 2022, has clearly grown over the years. Through my journey, I have not only witnessed this growth but also experienced a personal transformation. I moved from feeling disconnected and unsure to building meaningful relationships and finding a sense of home in the office.

This journey, along with the people I met like Kavita Di and many others, has been deeply impactful. It has shaped both my personal and professional life in ways I had not expected.