She Conquered Her Demons And Wore Her Scars Like Wings

Splashed across social media, multiple messages offering discounts heralds “International Women’s Day!”

Lets us go back a hundred years, when women were expected to be wives and mothers, tasked with raising good, moral citizens and keeping comfortable homes. Most women didn't have careers, with the exception of teachers, nurses, seamstresses, maids, and others who performed jobs considered to be appropriately feminine.

While there used to be a very specific model for exactly how to be a woman—how to look, talk, act the part, and sit down and shut up like a woman—those days are long gone. She has individual traits. She is capable of finding her own happiness and building her success. She has many stories and many thoughts which should be magnified and adored. There's more to a woman's life than finding the man of her dreams, bearing a child, and being the best homemaker.

My journey began 35 years ago. Hailing from a traditional Marwari family, I transitioned slowly but surely from a servile, docile, good wife and home-maker to a mother who instilled the values of equality in her daughter. A daughter who is now brave enough to speak her mind and fight for what is right. Three decades have brought us a long way. While no doubt there are battles still raging over how women use their bodies and conduct their lives, they express themselves in different ways, redefining womanhood to be specific rather than general.

So here is my wish-list. This could be your wife’s wish-list too. Or your mother’s. Or even that of the "grown-up" young woman at home- your daughter's.  

I dream of a day when women stop subjecting themselves to self-imposed concepts of beauty which are unrealistic and instead flaunt their own unique charm with confidence.

I dream of a day when every woman gets an opportunity to educate herself. Only education can banish ignorance and enable women to fashion their destiny.

I dream of a day when my daughter and I can move out freely at any time of day or night-alone or with friends.

I wish every woman aspires for a career so that she never feels helpless or trapped in any situation. Making a choice to have a career will enrich her life and open up endless possibilities.

I wish that every woman aspire to be financially independent and teach the same to her daughter from a tender and impressionable age, enabling her to share the responsibilities with her partner when the time comes.

I wish to soon see a time when the birth of a girl-child is celebrated with equal fervour and enthusiasm in all households. A time when is free to blossom and chart her own destiny.

The first step for a society to evolve to one that that listens to our demands as women with needs, is to make us feel safe on our streets, in our homes and in our work-place.

“Being a woman is fully badass” – One of my female friends mentioned this when a few of us met up for a celebratory lunch on the eve of International women’s day today. “Beyond the global approach of being a woman, I think being a woman is fully badass"... she continued. Women are powerful, beautiful and strong. They're inspirational, awe-inspiring, history-makers, and are just really, really cool.”

To me, being a woman means being unapologetically myself. Through sharing of my ideas, pushing boundaries and finding my own voice, I can prove that although gender is part of anyone's identity, it should never restrict them to cultural boundaries of how a woman is expected to be. Women are all unique, and that’s the beauty of it.

 It’s the fire in my eyes,

And the flash of my teeth,

The swing in my waist,

And the joy in my feet.

I’m a woman.

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman, that’s me.” – Maya Angelou

Wishing the women in your life, a Happy International Women’s Day! Make it memorable.