Story of two strongest women in my life

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, I want to take a moment to wish all the incredible women out there a happy Women’s Day. Today, I want to pay tribute to the two strongest women in my life, my mother Suman Bandal (aai) and my aunt Uma Jadhav (masi), who taught me the value of hard work and perseverance, and who instilled in me the confidence to pursue my dreams. Both of these women fought against their families and society to pursue their education, establish their careers, raise their children, and survive.

I would like to begin with aai, who I have known since the day I was born. Aai was a state-level table tennis player in 1982, but had to abandon her sports career because of difficult circumstances. Despite this setback, she never let go of her fighting spirit. Aai defied the societal norms when she bravely brought me into this world, despite the family’s preference for a son. I can still remember when people used to inquire, “Only two daughters and no son?” and aai’s confident reply, “Yes, so?” She made certain that my sister and I had equal opportunities to excel, irrespective of our gender. Tragically, when I was 11, my father died in a bike accident, and aai lost her job on the same day. It was the darkest day of our lives. Nevertheless, the very next day, aai looked into our eyes and stood up, declaring that she would live and earn for us. She began working as a typist in a law court and toiled tirelessly day after day to provide my sister and me with a good education and life. Currently, my elder sister is a CFO at a reputable firm in India, and I work for a top-tier company in the United States. Aai was not afraid to face the challenges of life head-on, and she never gave up, even when the odds seem stacked against her.

Now I would like to introduce the second most influential woman in my life, my aunt (masi). She is the reason I am in the United States today. In 1984, masi ran away from her parents’ house to continue her education and sold her jewelry and sarees just to pay her fees. When masi actually thought she was happy with her government job and her family, life gave her another bump; she lost her husband in an accident. With a 3-year-old son and a 9-5 job, masi summoned the courage and confidence to continue her education in her late 30s. She earned a master’s degree in computer science in her early 40s through hard work and perseverance. Her dedication landed her an opportunity to work for a multinational company in the United States. Despite facing numerous struggles, self-learning, and a positive attitude, she established herself in the United States. Whether she was fighting for a cause, defending her loved ones, or pursuing her own dreams, she never gave up or backed down. She faced obstacles and challenges along the way, but she used them as fuel to push herself even harder.

I feel fortunate to have these two women who fought through their lives to give me the best in my life. I believe that each one of us has been touched by the life of at least one such fighter woman who fought tirelessly to provide us with a better life. As we celebrate Women’s Day, let us take a moment to express our gratitude to these exceptional women and pray for their continued happiness and safety. Happy Women’s Day to all!

#HappyWomensDay?#IWD2023 #EmbraceEquity