Asha Saxena's passion for music remained undeterred, even after suffering a neck injury. Now a retired music teacher, she dedicates her time to teaching music to students for free.

Asha Saxena is a retired music teacher. Originally from Pirawa village in the Jhalawar district of Rajasthan, she moved to Jhalawar at the age of six after her father was promoted as the District  Collector there.

Reflecting on her childhood, Asha describes it as normal yet fulfilling, as she happily shouldered responsibilities as the eldest of five siblings.

At seven, Asha enrolled in Harishchandra Sangeet Vidyalaya, where she later began teaching. She recalls an incident in Pirawa where she fell from a building and sustained injuries to her neck bones, which made singing difficult for her. Despite a neck injury, her love for music drove her to learn by listening to others.

Upon moving to Jhalawar, she studied under her guru at Sangeet Vidyalaya and pursued music as a subject in the sixth standard under Sushila Hardikar’s guidance. By tenth grade, Gurudev Madan Mohan Rao had helped her refine her voice through diligent practice. With the support of her husband, she completed an MA in music from Khairagarh University and began her career as a music teacher.

Asha feels she has lived a simple life without major regrets. Her greatest accomplishments lie in the success of her students.

Her role model, Sushila Hardikar, inspired her with her simplicity and dedication. Asha's husband has been a constant pillar of strength, especially during challenging times.

Her love for singing, evident since childhood, was the driving force behind her perseverance. Despite the difficulties posed by her neck injury, she improved her singing with the unwavering support of her guru and her determination.

Balancing her career with raising young children was challenging, but with her husband's support, she completed her MA and employed various remedies to improve her voice.

Asha has never charged her students any fee for her lessons, teaching them purely out of passion. One of her significant achievements was attending the Sangeet Sankalp Programme in Jabalpur, where she met many renowned figures.

To the younger generation, Asha advises that while there are few jobs in the field of music, determination and dedication will pave the way to success.