Onlykashmir.in Feature Desk
Hemal Agarwal is a journalist, public speaker, and content creator from Siliguri, West Bengal, known for her bold voice, unbiased opinions, and passion for impactful storytelling. An ambivert by personality, she enjoys connecting with new people while also deeply valuing her personal space and close relationships.
Despite facing discouragement early on as a young woman from a small town aspiring to enter journalism, Hemal chose to follow her passion fearlessly. Interestingly, the same loud voice she was once criticized for has today become her greatest strength. Emotional yet practical in her approach, she believes in listening to people with empathy and creating meaningful impact through journalism, public speaking, and digital storytelling. She is also the brain behind Humans of Siliguri, a social media platform dedicated to motivating, real-life stories.
Q1 (Rameez Makhdoomi): Tell us a bit about your academic life and professional background?
Hemal Agarwal: My name is Hemal Agarwal. I was born in 2004 and spent the first ten years of my life in Mumbai, Maharashtra, before shifting to Siliguri, West Bengal, in 2015. I completed my early schooling up to Class 5 at Vasant Vihar High School & Junior College in Thane, Maharashtra, and later pursued my education at DAV School, Fulbari, West Bengal, from Class 6 to 12. During my higher secondary education, I chose the Humanities stream, which gradually developed my interest in media, communication, and public speaking.
I completed my graduation with a Bachelor of Science in Media Science from Inspiria Knowledge Campus, Siliguri, spanning from 2022 to 2025. Alongside academics, I have always believed in gaining practical exposure beyond classrooms. During college, I completed a three-month internship at The Indian Express in Noida from November 2024 to February 2025, where I got hands-on experience in journalism and ground reporting.
Later, I worked with The Cord, a news and media platform based in Siliguri, where I first joined as an intern for four months and later continued for ten months as a full-time professional from March 2025 to May 2026. Alongside this, I also pursued a three-month Performance Marketing course from upGrad between August and November 2025 to understand the digital and business side of content creation.
In December 2025, I started my own content creation platform, @iamhemal. After completing my professional commitments, I now plan to pursue content creation full-time to build meaningful and impactful storytelling platforms.
Q2 (Rameez Makhdoomi): How do you view the recent West Bengal verdict?
Hemal Agarwal: I view the recent West Bengal verdict from a completely neutral perspective because I do not support any particular political party. Personally, I feel that modern-day elections are often no longer about choosing the absolute best leadership, but rather about choosing the less problematic option among the existing choices.
For years, West Bengal has seen governments making large promises through manifestos, but many important commitments either remain incomplete or are entirely forgotten after elections. Development should not remain limited only to schemes and announcements. Citizens expect long-term progress in areas like safety, employment, infrastructure, education, and governance.
Now that a new political direction has emerged in the state, people naturally have expectations and hopes attached to it. However, I believe the real judgment should be based on actions and implementation over time rather than just promises made during campaigns. Every political party, regardless of ideology, has faced criticism in states where they are already governing, which is why citizens today have become more cautious and observant.
I also strongly believe that democracy should empower citizens beyond just voting once every few years. If citizens have the right to elect leaders, there should also be stronger accountability when politicians misuse power or fail public trust. The growing criminalization of politics is another serious concern. Individuals with criminal backgrounds being given important positions sends the wrong message to society. Educated, responsible, and ethically driven individuals should be encouraged to enter politics and governance.
At the end of the day, people want honest governance, justice, development, and safety, irrespective of political parties.
Q3 (Rameez Makhdoomi): Could you tell us about your work as a public speaker?
Hemal Agarwal: Public speaking has been one of the most defining parts of my journey. Over the years, I have actively participated in speaking platforms, leadership roles, journalism, and anchoring opportunities that helped shape my communication skills and confidence.
I have won multiple awards through Toastmasters International at different levels. I received the Triple Crown Award after completing three levels of the Pathways program within six months, followed by the Pathfinder Award after completing five levels within the same duration. I also secured First Position in a Public Speaking Videography Contest, Third Position at the Area Level International Public Speaking Contest, and First Position at the Club Level International Public Speaking Contest.
Apart from competitions, I also served in several leadership roles at Toastmasters, including Secretary and Vice President Education for multiple tenures, where I learned leadership, team management, and mentorship. Outside Toastmasters, I won First Position in an inter-college, intra-state public speaking competition held at Salesian College.
My work in journalism and media further strengthened my speaking journey. During my internship with The Indian Express, I worked on ground reporting assignments and was also featured on their YouTube platform. Later, during my tenure at The Cord, I became one of the faces of their news anchoring team and interviewed several dignitaries, regional personalities, influencers, and public figures, including Member of Parliament Raju Bista.
I also had the opportunity to meet political figures like Smriti Irani and Revanth Reddy during my media journey. One of the most meaningful moments for me personally was meeting, interviewing, and being felicitated by Padma Shri Awardee Karimul Haque, widely known as “Ambulance Dada,” as part of my personal storytelling journey through @iamhemal. Additionally, one of my voiceover videos was featured by Amar Chitra Katha on their social media platform, which was a memorable milestone during my time at The Cord.
Q4 (Rameez Makhdoomi): How did you learn the art of public speaking?
Hemal Agarwal: I learned public speaking primarily through Toastmasters International, which played a major role in transforming and polishing my communication skills. The platform gave me a safe and structured environment where I could consistently practice speaking, receive constructive feedback, and improve myself step by step.
Since Toastmasters was associated with my college campus, it became easier for me to become actively involved from an early stage. What truly helped me grow was consistency, discipline, and regular practice. Public speaking is not a skill that develops overnight; it requires patience, confidence, sharp observation, and continuous learning.
Over time, the platform not only improved my speaking abilities but also helped me build leadership qualities, stage presence, and the capability to connect with diverse audiences. Even today, I believe I am still learning every single day because communication is a skill that constantly evolves with experience and exposure.
Q5 (Rameez Makhdoomi): Who are your major inspirations?
Hemal Agarwal: One of my biggest inspirations in the digital space has been Kavya Karnatac, popularly known as KK Create. I have followed her work since my college days, and she inspired me to pursue my passion for public speaking and digital storytelling more seriously.
Another major inspiration for me has been Raj Shamani. His journey, discipline, and consistency taught me the importance of hard work and staying committed to one’s goals regardless of challenges and failures.
What inspires me most about both of them is how they used digital and social media as tools to build their unique identity and create real impact. Their journeys prove that with dedication, consistency, and authenticity, social media has the power to completely transform someone’s life. In today’s growing digital era, I aspire to create meaningful impact in a similar way through storytelling, journalism, and content creation.
Q6 (Rameez Makhdoomi): How do you view the life and safety of women in West Bengal today?
Hemal Agarwal: In my opinion, the condition and safety concerns surrounding women in West Bengal over the past few years have become serious issues that society and governments cannot afford to ignore. Multiple harassment and assault cases have repeatedly come into public discussion, and many people feel that proper justice has either been delayed or not delivered strongly enough.
What concerns me even more is the mindset where women are often advised to restrict their movement or avoid stepping out at certain hours, instead of focusing on creating stricter systems against criminals. Safety should never become the responsibility of women alone. The responsibility lies strictly with society, law enforcement, and governance.
At the same time, I also believe that this issue is not limited to one political party or one particular state. Crimes against women continue to happen across different parts of the country, regardless of who is in power. Political promises regarding women’s safety are important, but real trust can only be built when justice is delivered quickly, laws are implemented strictly, and victims feel protected rather than neglected.
I strongly believe that justice should always be prioritized over political narratives, compensation announcements, or symbolic gestures. Society needs stronger accountability, faster legal processes, and a fundamental mindset shift where crimes against women are treated with absolute seriousness and zero tolerance.
Q7 (Rameez Makhdoomi): What is your central message to our readers?
Hemal Agarwal: My message to everyone is simple: be a responsible citizen and always understand the difference between right and wrong before supporting any leader, ideology, or decision. We often expect change from governments and society, but real change begins within us through our civic sense, humanity, and daily actions.
Treat your nation like your own home. Respect people, support each other, and never lose your humanity in the race for success. At the same time, keep working hard and stay consistent toward your dreams because success never comes overnight.
One lesson that has stayed with me throughout my life came from my father. He once told me:
“Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.”
That line completely changed my perspective. Opportunities come to everyone at some point, but only those who prepare themselves consistently are able to make the most of them. So always believe in yourself, keep learning, and keep preparing for the life you dream of.
Q8 (Rameez Makhdoomi): Tell us about your initiative, “Humans of Siliguri”?
Hemal Agarwal: Humans Of Siliguri is more than just a name—this project is an emotion deeply connected to my roots, my hometown, and the people around us whose stories deserve to be heard.
It is a platform where I aim to share inspirational, motivational, and impactful stories of individuals from different walks of life—stories of struggle, courage, dreams, hope, and resilience. These are narratives that can inspire someone silently fighting their own battles. I’ve always believed that every person has a story powerful enough to create change, yet not everyone gets the platform or voice to share it. Through this initiative, I want to become that bridge—a voice for the voiceless and a space where real people and real emotions are valued and heard.
While the name reflects my deep love and connection toward Siliguri, this journey is not limited by geographic boundaries. Along with stories from my own region, Humans Of Siliguri will also bring powerful human stories from across India. It is a new vertical by @_iamhemal_, and it is truly one of the most meaningful things I’ve ever started.
