Martial Artist | Educator | Entrepreneur
Founder – Swadesi Sports Wear | Movement Initiator – TAVASI

From UPSC Aspirant to Warrior of Grace: How Kajal Found Her True Calling Through Failure

Kajal Srivastava once dreamt of wearing the IPS uniform. For six long years, she poured her heart into the UPSC exam — sacrificing sleep, health, and joy. With each failed attempt, her world shrank, and self-worth crumbled. The final blow came in 2020 after her sixth attempt. “I wasn’t devastated because I failed,” she says, “I was exhausted from constantly proving I deserved to exist.”

On a quiet October night, standing on her balcony, Kajal questioned whether she could go on. But instead of falling apart, she rose — by writing a single word in her journal: TAVASI — meaning "the one who walks with courage."

That word would become her turning point.

Healing Through Heritage: The Power of Kalaripayattu

Amidst the wreckage of dreams, Kajal found a lifeline in India’s oldest martial art — Kalaripayattu. Introduced to it by a yoga trainer in 2017, Kajal didn’t know then that this ancient discipline would become her path to rebirth.

She had long battled health issues like thyroid, PCOS, and spondylitis — worsened by the sedentary rigor of exam prep. But through every kick, stretch, and breath, Kalaripayattu began to restore her body — and her spirit. “It gave me back my identity,” she says. “It was my therapy, my meditation, and my strength.”

TAVASI: A Movement Born from Pain and Purpose

What began as healing for one turned into hope for many. Kajal launched TAVASI — a grassroots movement offering emotional and physical healing through Kalaripayattu. Today, it empowers women, trauma survivors, and everyday seekers to reconnect with their inner power through motion, discipline, and tradition.

Over 2,000 individuals have trained under the TAVASI banner — not just learning self-defense, but rediscovering self-respect.

Swadesi Sports Wear: Where Strength Meets Sustainability

As a martial artist, Kajal struggled to find training clothes that respected both her skin and values. So she created her own.

Swadesi Sports Wear is her homegrown startup that blends comfort, tradition, and sustainability — crafting breathable, natural-fiber-based activewear made from khadi, linen, and cotton. Built for real bodies and mindful movement, it champions Indian weavers and women’s health alike.

The Uniform She Wears Now

Kajal didn’t become an IPS officer. But she became something greater — a warrior of healing.

Today, she teaches, mentors, and leads — not through authority, but authenticity. Her journey reminds us that failure doesn’t define us — what we do after does.

"I didn’t crack UPSC," she smiles, "but I found my purpose — and that’s more powerful than any title."

Kajal Srivastava