“I’m Odisha’s bahu. I will live here. I’m attracted to Odisha. The village life, nature, Mahanadi, trees, and even the cows here feel like my own,” says Germany’s Ulrik Jason, a professor in England, who has left behind her luxurious lifestyle to live a simple life with her Odia husband Shivaji Panda.
Born in Germany and a sign language professor in England, Ulrik is now a proud Odia bahu. Starting from dressing, cooking to living like a ‘khanti odia bahu’, she has excelled in everything and is super proud of herself.
In this era of online dating and instant breakups on WhatsApp, the love of Ulrik for her Odia husband is too adorable and has become the talk of the town.
As per reports, Ulrik worked as a sign language professor at a University in England where she met Shivaji Panda of Sindurpur village under Binika block in Subarnapur district. Shivaji who is both deaf and dumb since birth was also working as a professor at the same University.
It was during their job at England, Ulrik fell head over heels for Shivaji and knew that he was the one. Despite his impairment, she was smitten by his simplicity and kindheartedness. However, their love story was short-lived after Shivaji decided to leave England and settle down in his humble residence in Odisha.
He opened an eco-village and started a sign language school. Later, Ulrik visited him and soon fell in love with Odisha and the village lifestyle. The couple then decided to get married and be with each other forever.
The couple had a court marriage in London in the presence of close friends and family. On her big day, Ulrik made sure the wedding was conducted as per Odia traditions. She opted for a Sambalpuri saree instead of other bridal attires and looked as pretty as Odia bahu in bangles and mehendi.
“I’m very happy to have found a life partner like Ulrik. I could not have asked for more,” said an emotional Shivaji.
Now, the couple is leading a peaceful village, leaving behind the chaos of a city. They have grown 60 different varieties of trees, plants, and shrubs in their eco-village and take care of them. They also impart sign language lessons to youngsters in the village.
Fellow villagers have only one thing to say about the couple, “Prema Heba Toh Emiti (This is what true love looks like).”