The Indian Woman

My first lesson in empowerment came from my mother’s financial independence. Interestingly, the first earnings of her life happened in the small town of Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh, after she trained at a beauty parlour of one of the illustrious women featured in this book—Shahnaz Husain. It was my mother who dreamt big for me at a time when a lot of parents didn’t have such great ambitions for a daughter.

The journey through this book has been an inspiring one for me personally. There are one-of-a-kind personalities like Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Naina Lal Kidwai, Lata Mangeshkar, who are familiar names in the country and outside. And there are achievers like Surekha Yadav and Chandro Tomar who may not be famous, but their stories leave a lasting impact on the reader. All these women in a way surprised me with their simplicity, humility and accessibility. But I guess these are the very qualities that helped them be where they are and what they are today. I feel that apart from their individual achievements, these women have contributed a great deal in giving a dream to every young girl who wants to make a place for herself in this world.

I strongly believe that behind every successful woman, there is family—parents, spouse and children—and friends. That’s the biggest strength for her and she doesn’t mind accepting it. Another striking characteristic in several stories of these women icons is their small town background—they grew up in humble, middle class homes. What really impressed me about these women is that none of them ever sought any concession for being a woman. They all firmly believed that once you are out there in the professional world, your gender really doesn’t matter. And this is one message that all young women should certainly take from these icons. If you want to be treated equally, don’t ask for favours.

This book, for me, is more about Indian women at large rather than the few stories included here. When I commute between my workplace and home, one sight always catches my attention. Simple girls, modest women waiting at the bus stops—I look at them and get drawn into thoughts—here is an Indian woman who would have finished all household chores, cooking, cleaning, sending kids to school, before leaving for her work. In the evening, she will not be able to relax at home because dinner will have to be cooked, children’s homework will have to be supervised and many endless, thankless jobs to be done. This is the true Indian woman, each one of whom is an icon in her own right. So, I dedicate this book to that woman standing at the bus stop, in hope and courage...

—Richa Anirudh

Her compassion unfathomable, her determination unbeatable and her conviction impregnable—if we were to assimilate the pith and core of the timelessness of Indian civilisation, one factor that would shine through brighter than most others, would be the strength of the Indian woman.

Today, as the women of India stand tall on the shoulders of ancestors who worshipped, idolised and respected womanhood, they certainly have a sublime legacy to be proud of. All things eternal—Mother Goddess, all things enduring—Mother Earth, all things unwavering—Mother India, and all things unconditional—a mother’s love, have always been etched intricately on this nation’s consciousness.

Let’s begin from the beginning. Shakti—the all-powerful divine feminine is believed to be the personification of cosmic energy, the manifest; and Shiva—the supreme God, the all encompassing consciousness, the unmanifest. The confluence of energy and consciousness, the female and the male that created the universe, and that which lives on in every human being, is delicately woven with the threads of divinity in the Shakti-Shiva constructs. This tradition of unity of the feminine with the masculine continues with the legends of Sita-Ram and Radha-Krishna, the fact that the feminine is mentioned before the masculine reflects her undisputed status. That the land of a million gods and goddesses accepted into its fold, cultures and religions from faraway regions to seamlessly transition into the secular, plural and liberal nation India is today, can also to an extent be attributed to the faith and fervency of Indian women.

India has been witness to many a heroine who engendered change and transformation of the society through her history. If India’s intellectual rigour has defined her through the times—with the Vedas and Upanishads laying the foundation, women seers like Gargi and Maitreyi contributed important verses to these ancient scriptures. Mystics and poetesses like Andal, Khana, Lal Ded and Meera Bai further enriched the country’s spiritual heritage with their perennial works. And it wasn’t just India’s cultural ethos which gained immensely from their contribution. The hands that wielded the quill equally ably wielded the sword. Rani Durgavati, Razia Sultan, Jijabai and Rani Lakshmi Bai proved that when the need arises, a woman’s valour can match and surpass any man’s. Their lives inspired and continue to inspire millions of women in India as well as rest of the world, a testimony to which is borne by stories in this book as well. The likes of Rani Ahilya Bai Holkar and Rani Rudrama Devi, with their just and efficient administration, laid the foundations of the modern

nation state of India, which has had a woman prime minister, a woman president and several women chief ministers. Several women freedom fighters and leaders stood unshakable in the face of adversity during the struggle for Independence—Sarojini Naidu, Kalpana Dutta, Vijayalakshmi Pandit and Aruna Asaf Ali to name some of the most unforgettable of them. One cannot but pay tribute to these women of substance, whose contributions have moulded the character of the quintessential Indian woman.

Even as we delight in the glory of the past, we cannot overlook the concerns of the present. The universal challenges of gender bias, unequal opportunities and lack of security have often impeded the progress of India’s women on their road to empowerment. The turn of events in India in recent times has seen strengthening of the voices against such malice. Several reformative measures are being amped up, both by the state as well as society, setting in motion a wave of affirmative action in support of women. The recently instituted Bharatiya Mahila Bank (a financial institution exclusively manned by, and catering to the needs of women) in a bid to financially empower the Indian woman, the numerous schemes and programmes such as Janani Suraksha Yojana, SABLA etc. implemented by the Government of India in order to protect and nurture the girl child, the amended legislative measures to enhance safety of women in the country—all work in harmony with the endeavours of India’s women to realise their dreams.

And the new dreamers do not need to look too far for inspiration. Four Indian women were featured in the Fortune’s 50 Most Powerful Women in Business in 2013—the maximum from any single developing country on the list. Not to forget the ‘Iron Lady of India’—Indira Gandhi, who was voted as the greatest woman of the past 1,000 years in a global poll conducted by BBC News Online in 1999. As Indian women continue to conquer grids and gorges across the globe, it would be imperative to learn from the lives of those who have overcome extreme challenges and risen to enviable positions. They not only show us the way to ascension, but also add to the repository of wisdom that the modern Indian woman stands to gain from. Entrepreneurs and entertainers, activists and accountants, scientists and sculptors, economists and ecologists—the professions may be unending and so would be the list of illustrious Indian women who have left an indelible impression on the nation and

the world. Several stories of such Indian women have been captured in this book. The Indian Woman, thus, offers readers what India is best known for—a symphony of distinct characters and unique stories; a potpourri of intense struggles and astonishing achievements; a thali that scintillates the senses and satiates the soul.

The book opens with the fascinating journeys of some exceptional Indian women who have pioneered growth and development of the nation, ironing out gender differences and venturing successfully into seemingly impossible and unchartered territories. The individual excellence of each of these gems remains unparalleled as she proclaims I am Every Woman. The second section assays the lives of women who have demonstrated extraordinary skills, setting a trail-blazing record in spheres often deemed unsuitable for women. They have led the way for other women to march ahead, echoing to the strums of Every Woman is Her. No bouquet would be complete without the scent of fresh blooms, and no book without the fragrance of remembrances. The third section offers a glimpse into the lives of ten historic Indian women who continue to live in the memories of the nation—She is in Every Woman.

Indian women have not limited themselves to conventional contours and geographical coordinates. Today, we are proud of the Indian women abroad who have not just excelled in their adopted countries, but have been great ambassadors for their country of origin as well. The woman of courage—astronaut Kalpana Chawla as well as Sunita Williams; of compassion—United Nation Human Rights Commission chairperson Navi Pillay; of enterprise—Pepsi Co CEO Indra Nooyi; of excellence—economist Padma Desai; of science—Sunetra Gupta; of arts—Patricia Maria Rozario; of activism—Amina Cachalia; of politics—Kamla Persad-Bissessar; of literature—Jhumpa Lahiri and of elegant normality—the woman toiling for her family away from her homeland—she is the face of India abroad as she holds the luminous torch of the