From watching YouTube videos to divert his thoughts from hunger to becoming a well-known YouTuber himself, the story of Isak Munda’s rise to fame is practically nothing brief of inspirational. Mr Munda, a tribal man from Odisha’s Sambalpur district, was when a each day wage labourer who only began generating videos last year. According to News18, he decided to start out generating YouTube videos in March 2020 just after work dried up due to lockdown.
Inspired by meals bloggers, Mr Munda decided to make a video of himself consuming boiled rice and curry. The video became a hit on the platform and has clocked in more than half a million views till date. It shows the 35-year-old applying his hands to consume a plate of rice, sambar, a tomato and green chillies. To make the video, Mr Munda 1st had to take a loan of Rs 3,000 to invest in a smartphone.
“I had taken a loan of Rs 3,000 to buy my first little smartphone to make videos,” Isak Munda stated. “I make videos about life in my poor household and village, showing what and how we eat. I am happy my videos are received so well by many. I am making a decent income now,” he added.
Isak Munda today has more than 7 lakh YouTube subscribers on his channel ‘Isak Munda Eating’. Most of his videos show off nearby flavours and regional cuisine – basic, every day meals that has managed to turn the labourer into a lakhpati.
“In August 2020, I received Rs 5 lakh income from YouTube,” an elated Mr Munda told Odisha Television. “I have built a house with the money and bailed out my family from the financial crisis. I have also decided to extend help to needy people as per my capacity,” he stated.
But Mr Munda’s only aim is not to make revenue from YouTube videos. “I want to create awareness among people about our local traditions and also the negative influences it is battling. I am happy to be no longer seeking daily-wage work as a labourer,” he stated.