India (Commonwealth Union)_ Dev Raturi, an Indian origin man from Kemriya Saur village in Uttarakhand’s Tehri Garhwal district, is making headlines in China. He has become an inspiring person among the Chinese students, as his life story epitomizes a true rags-to-riches tale. This remarkable journey has earned him a significant place in Chinese textbooks, serving as a symbol of determination and triumph, inspiring millions of students across the nation.
The seeds of Dev Raturi’s inspiring journey were sown when he found himself deeply inspired by the legendary martial artist Bruce Lee, igniting a burning desire to master karate. Despite facing numerous failures, he continued to pursue his dreams. Dev resided in Delhi for about a decade, working in menial jobs in order to support his family of farmers in his native village, until a life-changing opportunity arose in 2005. He was offered a job at an Indian restaurant in China.
Though the initial monthly salary was modest, Rs 10,000, Dev recognized this chance as a gateway to engaging himself in Chinese culture and the language, Mandarin, with the ultimate goal of pursuing martial arts training in the future. However, his longing dream of training at the popular Shaolin Temple seemed distant due to financial constraints. Nevertheless, Dev’s unwavering determination and hard work eventually worked in his favor, propelling him to become a manager at a high-end restaurant in 2013. Capitalizing on this opportunity, he fulfilled his dream by establishing his own restaurant and naming it “Red Fort” in the Chinese city of Xi’an.
Finally, fortune smiled at Dev when he got a chance to meet a Chinese director at his restaurant, which opened unexpected doors in his life. As a result, he was offered a minor role in a television series called “SWAT,” which served as a stepping stone for his acting career. Thereafter, he continued to appear in more than 35 Chinese films and TV serials, becoming a popular figure in the Chinese cinema landscape. Dev Raturi’s prominence in Chinese cinema not only earned him fame but also garnered him deep affection and support from the local public, particularly during the difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It has been over eighteen years since Dev arrived in China. Today, the 46-year-old’s extraordinary journey has been chronicled in English textbooks for 7th grade students in Shanxi Province. Dev’s elevation from a humble waiter in a restaurant to a popular actor in Chinese cinema and a successful entrepreneur, running eight restaurants in China, stands as a testament to the power of dreams, perseverance, and the unbeatable human spirit.
