Women, in India, since times immemorial have always suffered great atrocities in their way of living. Distressed, oppressed and looked upon were the values ascribed to women.
But with changing times, when the world was growing towards globalization, there was a reform in the thinking caps of the people also, and it converged a way for the betterment of womanhood across the countries.
Resilience refers to people’s ability to cope with, adapt to and rise above hardships and crisis. It also refers to a cluster of interdependent capacities which function like a reservoir of stress-hardiness resources. With changing times, women have not only risen above their prescribed roles, but have instead moved a mile ahead of them.
The Indian woman's position in the society deteriorated during the medieval period when Sati, child marriages and a ban on widow remarriages became part of social life in India. As time evolved, various other factors in current generation bulged up, that constantly inhibited women’s growth to success. Primary being the kind of patriarchal – male dominant social order, that was the building block for them in their way towards business success. Also, women's family obligations bar them from becoming successful entrepreneurs in both developed and developing nations. "Having primary responsibility for children, home and older dependent family members, few women can devote all their time and energies to their business" is what the various financial institutions say on the pretext of goading women to rely on their own savings, or loan from their relatives and family friends only. Thus, despite the fact that women entrepreneurs are good in keeping their service prompt and delivery in time, due to lack of organizational skills, compared to male entrepreneurs, women have to face constraints from competition.
However, in a career filled with firsts and superlatives, ‘Oprah Winfrey’ is one big name that has managed to amass a sizable fortune and become one of the most powerful people in the entertainment industry, and yet maintain a sense of humility and compassion that we all should strive to achieve. In 1971 Oprah began her career in broadcasting at age 17 at radio station WVOL. By 19, she was anchoring the news at WTFV-TV, both the first African-American woman and the youngest person ever to do so. Soon she surpassed the local talk show and within a year it was renamed ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show.’
Another one to mention, is concerning the major Soft Drink Seller. We have a history behind ‘PepsiCo’ emerging as the top notch in the bygone years. It is currently on a binge--a $1.3 billion feast of acquisitions. But it's not for fat or sugar-laden products. Instead, Indra Nooyi, who's been CEO since 2006, has been culling from a menu of natural and organic snacks and drinks, that has led to this success.
These and many more instances uncovered yet here, women have attained a status equaled to that of man in this male chauvinistic society.
Hence, as a token of respect and gratitude towards all the women of this world, let us pay a homage to these delightful angels, on the occasion of Women’s day, by saluting to their ever fighting spirit and attitude of resilience. Women have carved a niche for them in this rebellious society and walked out of this pool of competence and hatred with flying colors.
We hope and pray that this ever lasting spirit continues to bubble up and spreads across the entire nation and we have many more of ‘Kiran Bedi’ and ‘Ritu Kumar’ fighting their way out through this male driven society and herd of men everywhere.
Long Live the Women of era and the generations to follow.
