From Sandwip to Florida: Dental Hygienist, Writer and Artist Jahan Rima Now Runs Her Own Business in US Malls

Masuma Jahan Rima, born in Sandwip in Chattogram, now lives in Florida in the United States. She works as a dental hygienist. She is also a writer and an artist, and most recently an entrepreneur — she owns her own business in a large US shopping mall.

Describing herself, Jahan Rima said: 'My life is mixed. By profession I am a dental hygienist; at heart a writer; in emotion an artist; and by my own choice an entrepreneur.' Asked which identity expresses her most, she laughed and said: 'All of them are me, and none of them alone is only me.'

During the coronavirus pandemic, her dental hygiene work put her on the front line. In 2020 she went to remote areas to stand beside infected patients. In recognition, the US nonprofit Remote Area Medical (RAM) gave her a certificate of appreciation.

Her first story book, 'Je Tumi Manush Khojo', was published in 2019. In 2021 she jointly published the poetry book 'Ripabone Bibhorima' with her twin sister Jahan Ripa. She is now writing her third book, 'Anandobarir Abbu'.

Her connection with writing is older. In 2014 a well-known recitation artist in Bangladesh gave voice to a recitation and music video made from her poetry. Her writing has also been published in various newspapers in the country.

She has also long been involved in editing and publishing. For more than a decade she has handled editorial and management duties for Ektara, an Orlando-based Bangla magazine in Florida. She also works as an associate editor of 'BanglaTimes 360'.

After finishing a degree in political science in Bangladesh, she came to the US and enrolled anew in health science and dental hygiene. After six to seven years of study, she began work at an emergency dental clinic.

About five years ago her venture, Jahan's Artistic World, began with a kiosk at The Florida Mall, one of Florida's largest and busiest shopping malls. There she began offering mehndi, body art, portraits, caricatures and painting.

Recalling the start, she said: 'At first I was very afraid. What if it doesn't work? Why had no one done it before me? On top of that was the mall's high rent and uncertainty.' She left an artist's job at Universal Studios and also turned down an offer to join the Morocco pavilion at Disney World.

Alongside The Florida Mall, she has now opened a new branch at Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets. She also has a laundromat business at Orlando International Airport (MCO).

Asked whether she considers herself successful, she said: 'I won't say I have become successful. There is still a long way to go; but I am successful in my own way. To me success means happiness of mind.' She also said it gives her joy to have brought Bangladesh's traditional mehndi art to American malls.

Apart from mehndi, she regularly works in oil, watercolour, one-line art and mixed media. She is recently learning caricature from a mentor. She calls her family her strength and calls their home 'Anandobari'. Orlando Voyager magazine recently published a piece on her in its 'Hidden Gem' series.