- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Our Journey: A Family's Tale of Resilience
We are a family of four, a blend of the inevitable Parents and their two children, each navigating their own valleys of life. However, one's fate took a turn that no one anticipated, leading him to his destiny far sooner than expected. Hi! I am Shovona Karmakar, a commercial artist based in India. My mission is to infuse colors and fresh perspectives into brands and agencies through my work as a 3D food illustrator. As I approach 2025, I find myself on the brink of a personal reboot, reflecting on the ideologies and experiences I've gathered over the past 35 years.
A Sudden Goodbye
Tragedy struck when our only son and my beloved brother left this world too soon on June 2, 2025, at 5:25 PM in Mumbai. His legacy lives on in his 6-year-old son, whom we haven't seen since June 4, 2025, when we had to return to Kolkata after his sudden demise. And if you’re wondering about his wife, that’s where the real story begins.
Living One Day at a Time
I’ve always yearned to share our family story through my platform, but his departure has left us with countless unanswered questions and an unpredictable future. It has made me truly understand the essence of living one day at a time.
Our Humble Beginnings
We are not wealthy, nor do we come from a prestigious lineage. Our family is predictably low-profile, with a strong inclination towards cooking, reusing, and recycling until things can no longer serve their purpose. We’ve always aspired for high marks, good colleges, and promising jobs—a dream our parents wished for us, having experienced the void of those opportunities themselves. Our lives have been a tapestry woven with changes, from social and economic evolution to the telecommunication boom and the rise of computers, journeying from Zenith computers to iMacs.
A Typical Millennial Life
My father, the son of a farmer, rose from humble beginnings with all he had and what his father could provide. My mother’s journey was marked by the constant reminders of her gender. Destiny brought them together, and they built a life far from their homes in the urban jungle as new government colonies emerged. Language barriers and job uncertainties were just a few of the challenges they faced, but they fought through it all, creating a world for themselves and their children—Shovona Karmakar and Prasenjit Karmakar.
The Roots of Resilience
For 35 years, my parents transitioned from nothing to something, living in the lesser-known regions of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. I was born in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, while my brother came into this world in Diamond Harbour, West Bengal.
Finding Strength in Adversity
As I share our story, I realize it may not seem extraordinary. We haven’t created any revolutions, nor have we intentionally harmed anyone. Yet, our journey has instilled in us resilience, strength, happiness, contentment, and an insatiable curiosity. Surprisingly, I’ve also developed a talent for dark humor.
Facing the Unknown
The loss of my brother has left me feeling numb, my anxiety soaring, and my mind rebooting. I don’t seek therapy—not out of disbelief, but rather in pursuit of knowledge to tackle the challenges in my life. His abrupt departure has sparked a whirlwind of thoughts, leading me to permute and analyze every moment since. Deep down, I feel that his passing serves a purpose, his sacrifice holds significance, and his duty needs a new knight to carry it forward. My fears are manifesting—I am terrified of the unknown, of losing someone else, and of facing solitude.
Seeking Answers
We are the Karmakar family, currently residing in Kolkata, West Bengal, on a quest for answers that may illuminate why my brother had to bid us farewell far too soon.
```
We are currently involved in multiple legal battles to gain visitation rights for our only grandson and nephew. Our goal is also to uncover the true reasons behind Prasenjit Karmakar's untimely departure from our lives.