Celebrating FEMININITY globally :-)

Being a woman is a terribly difficult task, since it consists principally in dealing with men.” ― Joseph Conrad

The UN declares an International Women's Day theme and for 2013 it is “A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women”.Each year around the world, International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8. Gone are the days when women just remained confined to four walls of the house and managed the kitchen.Over the period of time there is global momentum for championing women's equality.

On this occasion i felt nice to pen down and give tribute to some wonderful women who has inspired me in various life phases so far :-

My Mom : "You were my strength when i was weak,my voice when i could not speak" Ma you are the very reason of my existence today and honestly i feel blessed to have a woman of substance  integrity and outmost courage as my mother. I love you so much that don't wish to tie the knot and move elsewhere coz you are my heartbeat, my oxygen cylinder and dunno how my life would be without you beside me and our 24/7 non stop chatters. On this auspicious occasion i urge please don't keep deadly wish of getting me married in future :-) I want you as my mom in every birth i take and hope can make you feel proud someday.

Sushmita Sen : Personally having met her in Maximum City and can't get over her charisma till date. Perfect example of "Beauty with Brains" who created history by being first Indian Woman to grab coveted Miss. Universe Title in 1994.Her expression when winning the crown is still fresh in our minds.Glam Diva who created ripples at age 25 by being single mother and example to millions of women out there. Someone who is so blunt regarding her relationships and so comfortable in her skin being herself amidst hypocrisy and fabricated industry.Her statement "Just being a woman is God's gift. The origin of a child is a mother, a woman. She shows a man what sharing, caring, and loving is all about. That is the essence of a woman",captured hearts of millions across the globe.

Sudha Murthy : If you guys looking for a real unconditional love story then definitely read about Sudha and Narayan Murthy-Founder Infosys and she is best example for "Behind success of every man there is a woman". 

Naina Lal Kidwai : A chartered accountant by profession, country's 1st woman MBA graduate from Harvard Business School and currently Group General Manager and Country Head of HSBC India. Also the first woman to guide the functioning of a foreign bank in India. Simply loved one of her articles where she clearly pointed out the importance of diversity and how to encourage more girls securing admission in B-schools having male : female ratio very uneven.

Kiran Bedi : India's first woman officer in the IPS who fought against all odds and also established few NGOs. Her strong dynamic persona and boldness is something we girls should imbibe and raise her voice against injustice as the old adage goes "Only Crying Babies get milk"

Shakira : Colombian singer-songwriter, dancer, record producer, choreographer and model who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s. Dance being my passion, i love imitating Shakira's moves and wish can get them even 1% close to perfection.Her track : Hips Don't lie,Wherever,Waka Waka became kind of dance anthem across the globe.

Madhuri Dixit Nene : The Dhak Dhak girl whose gracious dance steps showed jhalak across the nation. What i simply admire about her more than her classical beauty that post 30s establishing a great career she found her Prince Charming- a surgeon in USA and now happily settled. A success story of career and relationship in deceptive world of Bollywood.

  

Kaneko Ikeda : Comrade in Faith and wife of Dr. Daisaku Ikeda-president of Sōka Gakkai International (SGI), a Nichiren Buddhist lay association which has 13 million members in 192 countries and territories, and founder of several educational, cultural and peace research institutions. The book - Kaneko's story is a beautiful read for women on marriage,faith and balancing everything in life. I salute their bond of togetherness over 6 decades and more which has shone like a diamond than just the mere ring people fancy.

Gauri Khan : When asked her did Bollywood Badshah SRK ever bestowed diamonds upon her and prompt reply was " I am quite a grabber, what i like i go and pick myself ,don't wait for him to get". Wife of nation's most successful Bollywood actor and ideal example of inter-religion marriage who has inculcated respect to all religions in their kids as at their house-MANNAT which is always centre of attraction in Bandra celebrates Diwali and Eid with great pomp and joy. What i love about her that she was with SRK when he was struggling,got married when she was 21 and had no proper furniture and dwelling on rented place in Mumbai coming from Hindu Brahmin family whose father was a retired army officer. 

North East sisters-Mary Kom and Iron lady Irom Chanu Sharmila : Mary Kom paved the way for girls from remotest regions that nothing can deter a true spirit and talent by winning Olympics medal. Iron Lady of Manipur,  the only voice of the voiceless and has been fasting for the past 11 years(the Indian Govt. giving liquid food through her nose from 11 yrs )and will be completing 12 years. These two women are greatest examples of undaunted strength and courage.

Neighbourhood sisters from Pakistan-Benazir Bhutto and Nazia Hasan : Ms. Bhutto, a former prime minister of Pakistan and the founder of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) paving the way and emphasizing upon importance of girl's education who was was assassinated in a bombing on 27 December 2007, after leaving PPP's last rally in the city of Rawalpindi, two weeks before the scheduled 2008 general election in which she was a leading opposition candidate. The following year, she was named one of seven winners of the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights.

Nazia Hasan was an iconic Pakistani pop singer. Her song "Aap Jaisa Koi" from the Indian film Qurbani (1980) made her a legend and pop icon in Pakistan and all of South Asia in the 1980s, where she is admired and loved even today, years after her death.

Goldie my Niece : She gave me a glimpse into Motherhood via Mausihood. I learnt from the tiny tot what kind of mental preparation needed in future along with a caring partner if i ever decide to tie the knot and have a baby. And salute to all single mothers in the world because as i realized raising a baby single handedly is quite a task and motherhood though changes everything doesnot come so easy.

Apart from the above mentioned list, there are tons of names of many unsung admirable true heroines who has led exemplary lives juggling between daily to do list and pursuing their wildest dreams and those who have been victims of domestic violence, abuse, dowry killings, rape and other injustices-SIGH :-(  Its time we change HISTORY, and work for progressive development of women who is at par and not just an object to fulfill sexual desire.

Men who treat women as helpless and charming playthings, deserve women who treat men as delightful and generous bank accounts - by UNKNOWN 

My hearfelt special Thanks to the wonderful sensitive MEN in my life who made this journey so worthwhile so far and also those losers,morons and heartbreakers i would like to extend my Thanks with a broad smile coz you guys made me supertough and independent woman of this 21st century :-) After all, the word WOMAN has MAN and hence both are equal partners in a society and coexists-Purush and Prakriti and one is incomplete without the other.