Woman

This world is amazing with beautiful things around, but, one good that makes the world more beautiful is “Woman”. It is amazing to be born as a woman in free India from beautiful sun kissed tropical town of Rajahmundry on the banks of river Godavari. Influenced by great ladies like my grandmother Late Smt. Pushpa Veni and my loving mom, Smt. Hemalatha. What could have been to my life, if they did not  grow me up with stories of courage and freedom and mold me. Hoo Alas, I could have never defined myself as I am today.

This Woman’s day, many organisations organise talks with influential ladies to inspire you and one is happening in hubby’s office. Which is a good trend, but everything begins at home.
 

If you can respect a fellow woman, be it at home or at your workplace or wherever you are, that will build a modern society without barriers. Nowadays I am amazed by young girls coming from rural backgrounds excelling in whichever field they choose to be in.  And also today you see many celebrities and common people coming out and sharing the assaults they had to face in their lives be it on the Oscar stage or infront of the fmaily. Five years back this was not the case, everyone is empowered thanks to the positive trend. This is modern society of equality.
 

Twentieth century  defined  the society and brought out the women. Education changed the norms! There many ladies who inspire us everyday , be it my mom, mother-in law, maid at home, colleague, friend in church  or a lady entrepreneur . I thought to list out few ladies who who stood out of the perils of society and were successful and influential in the Indian society before I was born.

Ø  India’s first Governor – Smt. Sarojini Naidu is famously known to all of us as “Nightingale of India” for her writings and poetry. Very less people know that the first book on  Jinnah was written by her. She was the  Congress president at Kanpur meeting in 1925. During the quit India movement, she spent 21 months in jail. I still remember her poems of Bangle sellers, Indian weavers. Her intercaste marriage, poetry, freedom struggle keeps her apart from many women of those days.

Ø  Durga Bai Desmukh – Lady Lion. Born in my hometown Rajahmundry she is known for her social work and freedom struggle. She was a member of the Constituent Assembly of India and of the Planning Commission of India. An example of this strong lady - During National Congress meeting in Kakinada, she was asked by Konda Venkatappa not to send anyone into the meeting without a ticket. She asks Pandit Nehru entry ticket , everyone was shocked, but  Nehru appreciated  her sincerity and commitment for work. She went to jail in 1930 and 1932 during our freedom struggle. She went on to work in many roles ,  whether it is small or big assignment, she always did with commitment and she had guts to speak if anything was going worng.

Ø  M.S. Subba Lakshmi – Popular with everyone as MS.  Music sings my soul, she defined what is Carnatic music for my generation. Born in temple town Madurai in Southern India in 1916. She became the first person from an arts background to win the highest civilian award “Bharat Ratna” in our country. Her love for silk sarees and especially the blue color is now known as M.S Blue. Everyone from Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, Sarojini Naidu and even the present generation can never forget her. She has made inroads in millions of hearts.

Ø  Indira Gandhi – Iron lady of modern India. When the super power like US is still fighting to have a woman president. India had her first woman prime minister way back before I was born. Leaving apart the legacy from which she became PM and aftermath. One of the best quotes of her is “There are two kinds of people, those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group; there is less competition there. Her memorial is called Shakti Sthal – meaning place of power

Last but not the least ... We can’t divide the society on gender  and everyone is exceptional. So do remember - There are amazing ladies whom we meet in our lives and who give us the stench of positive fragrance!