Surana was in the heart of the cosmopolitan city of Bangalore, unlike most of our previous excursions which have been in the remotest corners of the states from Puthoor in Kerala to Purnea in Bihar or even Boko in Assam. Even so, we were apprised of the unique challenges the private technical institutes faced in the bustling modern city.

Before the actual session we normally have an informal chit-chat with the dean or person incharge of managing the institute to get oriented to the culture of the college in particular and the state/city at large. At Surana we interacted with the chair of the student council Dr Chandana who introduced us to the principal Dr Kumar. Through our conversation Dr Kumar apprised us of the high fees levied by the private technical institutes in the region, which in some cases has led girl students into the trap of sexual favors. On being asked if the same has been reported or a any data available, he shared while no formal complaints have been filed so far but the the social media is rampant with such allegations. A casual search on the net reveals many instances of sexual favors being asked of students for marks in private universities in Karnataka.

The session itself was attended by over 350 students in their beautiful designed cedar wood finished auditorium in the basement. The energy was high after the ‘tech check’ of the sound system was done by presumambly beat boxing!

Each session, as Vanshika (The coordinator of all these sessions on behalf of JOSH TALKS for TVS Raider) and I mused, seems to have its own trajectory mapping the mood of the audience. While we cover all the essential points but the communication adapts itself to each college, city and state we’ve visited so far. While the medium remains Hindi and English, and the media a presentation and a few videos, my extempore interaction changes with each session with inputs from the previous workshops, some personal anecdotes and a gentle push for the students to contribute through their experiences as well.

If you would like to have us conduct this 90-minute session in your college or company just drop us a mail with the details of the institution and the preferred dates at suparnaa@simplysuparnaa.com.

Links for further study

To read about the Vizag Chapter click here>>

To read about the Chennai, Chapter click here>>

To read about the Prayagraj Chapter click here>>

To read about Assam Chapter click here>>

To read about Kolkatta Chapter click here>>

To read about the Kanpur Chapter click here>>

To read about the Purnea Bihar Chapter click here>>

To read about the Pune experience click here>>

To know more about the online session experience read here >>

PS: if you stand for what is right – team SABERA (Annual Awards and Summit by the  Simply Suparnaa © Media Network) you must watch the annual event recognising the GOOD work across India. While the

The post Karnataka I Stand up for what’s Right appeared first on Woman Endangered.

The beauty of these sessions is that it gives us a chance to absorb the sights, sounds and most importantly the cultural references unique to the region. So was the case here where a day prior we experienced the vibrant religious fervour at the Sangam or the point where the rivers, Yamuna and Ganga meet. Legend has it that a third river Saraswati also met at this point forming the holy trinity. We were waiting to witness the Arti of the river Ganges and were fortunate to be called upon to offer our obeisance with the oil-lit lamps amidst the age-old Sanskrit chants.

My gratitude for the opportunity to both JOSH TALKS and TVS Radar, for conducting these sessions. Vanshika (Interning with JOSH TALKS ) continues to manage and coordinate with the colleges ensuring all goes smoothly. She also adds the much-needed perspective of a student herself which further connects with the audience we are addressing.

The united group of institutes is an hour and a half from the main city. And since this time we were taking the train back (Bande Matram Express is the fastest train in India replete with large windows and some delectable knick-knacks) the agent booked us a hotel that was quite literally at the station. The whole night was spent listening to the arrival and departure of the trains with the automated nasal announcements.

The session the next day, more than made up for the uncomfortable night before.

We arrived early and spent a good couple of hours with the faculty before the actual session. Most were from the Human Value (a course introduced in engineering colleges in 2018) or soft skills & communication department. They shared stories of how dowry demands and domestic violence are commonplace across the belt. Stories that are actively played out in the neighbourhood or with friends and family.

The session at the UGI campus was special in more ways than one. 400 Students from the foundation course to fourth year BTech were in rapt attention through the Workshop that continued beyond the designated time to over 2.5 hours. Personal stories and anecdotes were shared and it was an emotionally charged interaction for all involved.

The fact is that after each session that we have conducted so far, the students feel comfortable enough to share their intimate experiences or unresolved queries. This time too at UGI a young girl took to the mike and shared an unfortunate incident that she had to encounter. While the B Tech students and their faculty audience seemed taken aback by the narration but this stands as a testimony both to the importance of sessions like these and the safe space that we manage to create within a short span of time. Sharing a personal unfortunate saga amidst peers who had no clue indeed takes courage.

We had a comfortable journey back on the Bande Matram Express and got the weekend to recoup as Monday we were back on the road to conduct the next session in the tribal belt of Assam, Boko.

To read about Assam Chapter click here>>

If you would like to have us conduct this 90-minute session in your college or company just drop us a mail with the details of the institution and the prefered dates at suparnaa@simplysuparnaa.com.

Links for further study

To read about the Kanpur Chapter click here>>

To read about the Purnea, Bihar Chapter click here>>

To read about the Pune experience click here>>

To know more about the online session experience read here >>

PS: if you stand for what is right – team SABERA (Annual Awards and Summit by the  Simply Suparnaa © Media Network) jury is looking for you Register here>>

The post Standup for what’s Right I Prayagraj Chapter appeared first on Woman Endangered.

The Roman empire has produced many outstanding emperors and dictators – Julius Caesar, Augustus Caesar, Marcus Aurelius, to name a few. But an Empress? Popular history does not sing paeans of female despots of the era. It has undervalued several women on merit and has given them far less than what was overwhelmingly their due.

Specifically, there is one instance of a woman who could exceed the charm of Cleopatra, the audacity of Caesar, the sagacity of Aurelius, the syncretism of Augustus, even the oratory of Marcus Anthony, and that was Theodora. In the almost 500 years after Cleopatra ruled the Ptolemaic kingdom, no woman participated in and controlled statecraft more effectively and actively than her. Viewing her life from the perspective of her humble and dubious early life, her accomplishments present an exceptional saga of grit, courage and an indomitable will.

She was crowned Empress of Rome in 527 AD and ruled for over two decades till her death in 548 AD, co-ruling with her husband Justinian from Constantinople, the seat and fulcrum of the Eastern Roman Empire. Several memorable aspects of her life and personality involve her resolute hold over her husband. She was his lover, mentor, guide, counsellor, and occasional conscience keeper. She not only saved her husband’s empire and throne but also saved his life while prolonging his rule of thirty-three years. Justinian once called her the “partner in my deliberations”, a sure, albeit, understated admission of her influence.

Humble Origin, Inglorious childhood, Dubious Adolescence

It is not known for certain when or where Theodora was born or from where she came. Many tales about Theodora were penned after her death and the contradictions prevailing in accounts over a large slice of time need to be treated with caution and the proverbial pinch of salt. Most of what is recorded about her come from ‘Secret History’, a salacious, controversial work written by a 6^th century Byzantine historian, Procopius of Caesarea. Many have defined his accounts as exaggerated gossip. But the essential framework around which her story was woven remains largely credulous.

According to him, Theodora’s mother was a dancer and an actress and her father was a bear-keeper named Acacius, who worked at the Hippodrome in Constantinople. Encouraged by her mother, and likely pushed by her father’s death when she was four, Theodora was the star of the Hippodrome by the tender age of fifteen. Edward Gibbon wrote of her:

“Her venal charms were abandoned to a promiscuous crowd of citizens and strangers of every rank, and of every position; the fortunate lover who had been promised a night of enjoyment was often driven from her bed by a stronger or more wealthy favourite; and when she passed through the streets, her presence was avoided by all who wished to escape either the scandal or the temptation.”

A particularly sleazy story of hers revolves around her portrayal in an adaptation of ‘Leda and the Swan’ in which she lay naked on the stage, her thighs covered with grains of barley which were gradually pecked away by a live goose.

Destiny had something more spectacular in store for Theodora than the cheers of the crowd. She was to abandon the Hippodrome at the age of 16 to become the mistress of Hecebolus, Governor of what is now Libya. When their relationship broke down, Theodora travelled back to Constantinople where she met Justinian, nephew of the Roman Emperor Justin I. The rest is history.

Theodora, Empress

She was soon to become Justinian’s mistress and so enamoured him that despite their 20-year age gap, he sought matrimony with her. Justinian was prevented by a Roman law that barred anyone of senatorial rank from marrying actresses. In 524, Justinian was able to prevail on his father to pass a new law decreeing that ‘reformed’ actresses could legally marry outside their rank if approved by the Emperor. Soon after Justin’s law, Justinian married Theodora in 525 AD. He succeeded his father as Emperor of Rome just two years later. Theodora was crowned Empress of Rome in the same coronation ceremony as her husband.

One of the tasks that Theodora, Empress undertook almost immediately was to establish women’s rights. And if immediacy was her concern, her reforms were indeed sweeping and revolutionary. She shut down brothels in every major city of the empire, brought in anti-rape laws, established houses where prostitutes could live without fear, helped young girls sold into sexual slavery, outlawed forced prostitution, and declared new rights for women in divorce, child guardianship and property ownership. That she has experienced many such indignities in her early days steeled her resolve and nurtured her spirit with an enduring urgency and an indefatigable zeal.

Theodora also helped rebuild Constantinople’s aqueducts, bridges and churches and transformed the metropolis into the finest city the world had seen for centuries. Her time saw more than twenty-five churches and convents built there.

The Nika Riots

Theodora’s finest hour was to come five years into Justinian’s rule when rioting broke out at the Hippodrome during a chariot race. Incited by political rivalry, the riots were severe and bloody. In the aftermath, seven rioters were sentenced to be hanged but the scaffolding collapsed at the time of their execution and two of the condemned men fled to the sanctuary of a church. Seeing this as an act of God, the people petitioned Justinian to pardon and free the men. But he refused. As a result, rioting again broke out across the city and continued for several days. The Emperor was forced to barricade himself into his palace. Enraged rioters named a new emperor, Hypatius, to take his place. Many public buildings were set on fire. Unable to control the mob, Justinian and his officials prepared to flee.

According to Procopius, at a meeting of the government council, Theodora spoke out against leaving the palace and said she preferred dying as a ruler instead of living as an exile:

“My lords, the present occasion is too serious to allow me to follow the convention that a woman should not speak in a man’s council. Those whose interests are threatened by extreme danger should think only of the wisest course of action, not of conventions. In my opinion, the flight is not the right course, even if it should bring us to safety. It is impossible for a person, having been born into this world, not to die; but for one who has reigned, it is intolerable to be a fugitive. May I never be deprived of this purple robe, and may I never see the day when those who meet me do not call me Empress. If you wish to save yourself, my lord, there is no difficulty. We are rich; over there is the sea, and yonder is the ship. Yet reflect for a moment whether, when you have once escaped to a place of security, you would not gladly exchange such safety for death. As for me, I agree with the adage that the royal purple is the noblest shroud.”

Her determined speech convinced the Emperor and everyone else who had been preparing to run away. Justinian then ordered his loyal troops led by the officers Belisarius and Mundus to attack the demonstrators in the Hippodrome, killing purportedly over thirty thousand rebels. The riots were quelled and the rioters were promptly put to death, including the emperor of the mob, Hypatius.

A certain defeat was, thus averted and Justinian’s reign and life both secured.  Instead of a humiliating flight, he went on to rule for another three decades.

Saint Theodora

Theodora had recognised early that controlling religious institutions was an integral aspect of power. She belonged to the Miaphysite branch of Christianity while her husband Justinian supported the rival branch, Chalcedonian. A difficult position to be in, by all accounts. But Theodora’s conviction and commitment to her faith and her political guile were such that despite being in the opposite camp to the Emperor, she continued for a long time to successfully protect, shelter and nurture adherents of her faith. Even when accused of fostering heresy and undermining the unity of Christendom, she continued relentlessly and prevailed against all her charges.

Her successful effort to convert inhabitants of Nobatae, a region south of Egypt, to the Miaphysites sect, while her husband’s express desire was to see them converted to the Chalcedonian faith, is one instance of her superior and uncommonly brilliant intellect and intuition. Such was her hold and influence and so tremendous was its projection that she was venerated as Saint Theodora while still alive and continued to do so after her death.

 
The Hagia Sophia

Another great triumph attributed to Theodora was the construction of the Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom), a proud remnant today of the epitome of Byzantine architecture and one of the world’s greatest architectural wonders.

The Hagia Sophia was the third church to be built on the by order of Emperor Justinian under the influence of Theodora in 532 AD after the riots mentioned earlier had destroyed the previous edifice. It was finished in just five years and was the largest building of the world of its time. It served for centuries as the Greek Orthodox cathedral and the place of coronation of the Eastern Roman Emperors.

Passing and Legacy

Theodora died in 548 AD on June 28^th, aged about forty-eight. Victor of Tonnena, who recorded her death, does not specify any clear cause, but the Greek terms used for her malady translate to cancer. Later accounts attribute her death specifically to breast cancer. Her body was buried in Constantinople in the Church of the Holy Apostles. Her memory alongside that of her husband Justinian stands beautifully adorned in mosaics that exist to this day in the Basilica of San Vitale of Ravenna, Italy. 

Her lasting legacy is perhaps less the tale of a beautiful, intelligent and ambitious woman who ruled a sprawling empire, and more the story of a determined, skilled and meticulous woman who tirelessly and passionately worked for the betterment of women during her overwhelmingly parochial times. Her own humble and scarring youth never clouded her vision, understanding or sensitivities towards the humiliations and excesses that women faced.

No other woman has wielded such influence in the running of state as this extraordinarily strong-willed woman of outstanding determination, courage and intellect, her dominance and might not in the slightest diminished by the massive controversies she courted. Her sincere and untiring efforts to obtain for women in that ancient world a more just and equitable perch in society and to support them in facing the adversities of a male-dominated society inured to the dignity of women demand that her legacy must live on and find modern champions.

Women have often been neglected as major contributors to the history of the world either through commission or distortion. It’s a delight for us to have taken on the challenge to unearth these overlooked gems and keep relevant the stories of amazing women in history.

This article is part of a series on women by author Uday Kumar Varma, former secretary of the Ministry of Information & broadcasting and MSME, Government of India. An ardent proponent of gender equity, Varma writes on women through history who have excelled in their area of passion and defied conventions. You may also like to read about the activist Emmeline Pankhurst from England, the lady sniper Lyudmila Pavlichenko from Russia,  the American pilot Amelia Earhart or Judge Ruth Bader Ginsberg or just maybe a piece on the Spanish artist  Frida Kahlo? And you must read the story of Mata Hari– “Harlot? Oui! Mais traitoress, jamais!” ‘Courtesan! Yes; Spy, never!’

The post Theodora: A crowned Empress in a Man’s council of Rome appeared first on Woman Endangered.

The Network consciously works towards creating a positive narrative away from sensationalism. सबेरा SABERA, is a one-of-its-kind annual social impact award and summit which highlights SDG & ESG aligned work across the country. Amidst others, the network stands for causes enabling gender sensitivity as promoted by Woman Endangered. An initiative to affect behavioural change and enhance gender equity. With a keen spiritual bent, I am training in Shaktism under my Spiritual Mentor, Shree Umeshwar Shrivastav, and have also formally studied the Sankhya Shastra under his tutelage. I strongly believe that leadership and spirituality are interconnected and have the potential to bring a larger change in society.

From engaging with girls from economically weaker sections, daughters of sex workers, rag pickers, launderers or gardeners to employing women who have had to take a career break. From documenting steps in the unfortunate incident of Rape as explained by the Super Cop Chhaya Sharma who busted Nirbhaya’s perpetrators to conducting menstrual hygiene sessions in slums and offices. And of course, acknowledging Gender equitable campaigns and companies across the country. I remain grateful for your support and belief in my work. I have had help from different corners of the industry and as I receive this acknowledgement – I thank you from the bottom of my heart for it wouldn’t have been possible without your direct support or the warmth of your blessings.

Yours Sincerely,

Suparnaa Chadda

The post Simply Suparnaa © Awarded by UN Women appeared first on Woman Endangered.

-Nietzsche

The world has seen innumerable brave and courageous men and women who have in the face of impossible situations defied death, even conquered it. But there are only a few whose spirit for adventure is so overwhelming that they choose to embrace certain extinction in possession of a passion they hold supremely satisfying and sublimating. Life for them is a perpetual pursuit of a continuously exciting and constantly engaging enticement, it is a dream whose actualization fuels their determination and dictates their craft and conscience. Adventure is their lifeline, fearlessness their DNA.

There could not be a better and more illuminating example of this ilk than Amelia Earhart.

Amelia Earhart resides in the heart of people not because she was an aviator who set many flying records, not because she championed the advancement of women in aviation, not because she set her heart on things belonging to men’s exclusive preserve, though her list of accomplishments is long and distinguished, actually exceptional.  She is dear to people because she displayed an indomitable spirit in pursuit of her life’s purpose and passion. She attempted and accomplished successfully all that was deemed impossible in domains far removed from the imagination of the women of her times.

Missing for 85 years but not forgotten

She became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, and the first person ever to fly solo from Hawaii to the U.S. mainland. During a flight to circumnavigate the globe, Earhart disappeared somewhere over the Pacific in July 1937. She was to complete 40 springs of her life only two weeks away. Her plane wreckage was never found, and she was officially declared lost at sea after a year and a half in March 1939.  Her disappearance remains one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of the twentieth century.

Early Life

Born in Atchison, Kansas on July 24, 1897, she defied all that was traditional and embraced everything so atypical of women of her times. Earhart’s tryst with flying, destined to bring her immortal fame and glory began in California in December 1920 when she took her first airplane ride with famed World War I pilot Frank Hawks—and was forever hooked. In January 1921, she started flying lessons with female flight instructor Neta Snook. Later that year, she purchased her first airplane, a second-hand Kinner Airster and nicknamed it “the Canary.” Earhart passed her flight test in December 1921, earning a National Aeronautics Association license. Two days later, she participated in her first flight exhibition at the Sierra Airdrome in Pasadena, California.

Record heights

Earhart’s first record came in 1922 when she became the first woman to fly solo above 14,000 feet. In 1932, Earhart became the first woman (and second person after Charles Lindbergh) to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She left Newfoundland, Canada, on May 20 in a red Lockheed Vega 5B and arrived a day later, landing in a cow field near Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Upon returning to the United States, Congress awarded her the Distinguished Flying Cross—a military decoration awarded for “heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight.” She was the first woman to receive the honour.

Later that year, Earhart made the first solo, nonstop flight across the United States by a woman. She started in Los Angeles and landed 19 hours later in Newark, New Jersey. She also became the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to the United States mainland in 1935.

Between 1930 and 1935, Earhart had set seven women’s speed and distance aviation records in a variety of aircraft, including the Kinner Airster, Lockheed Vega, and Pitcairn Autogiro. By 1935, recognizing the limitations of her “lovely red Vega” in long, transoceanic flights, Earhart contemplated, in her own words, a new “prize … one flight which I most wanted to attempt – a circumnavigation of the globe as near its waistline as could be”.

Experimental

She was a maverick, an iconoclast, who loved demolishing traditional images of women. She was also a loner. A 1915 college yearbook caption captured the essence of her character, “A.E. – the girl in brown who walks alone”. Her restlessly wandering yet extraordinarily resolute mind took her through several experiments and experiences in life, sampling and savouring diverse tastes of adventure. In 1935, Earhart became a visiting faculty member at Purdue University as an advisor to aeronautical engineering and a career counsellor to women students. She became a member of the National Woman’s Party and a pioneer supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment.  In 1929, after placing third in the All-Women’s Air Derby—the first transcontinental air race for women—Earhart helped to form the Ninety-Nines, an international organization for the advancement of female pilots. She became the first president of the organization of licensed pilots, which still exists today and represents women flyers from 44 countries.

Rebel

If she was notably unorthodox in her professional, she was as much of a defiant rebel in her personal life. She married a publisher George P. Putnam, a divorcee himself with two sons from his previous marriage after he proposed six times to her. Earhart referred to her marriage as a “partnership” with “dual control”. In a letter written to Putnam and hand-delivered to him on the day of the wedding, she wrote, “I want you to understand I shall not hold you to any midaevil (sic) code of faithfulness to me nor shall I consider myself bound to you similarly.” She continued, “I may have to keep someplace where I can go to be by myself, now and then, for I cannot guarantee to endure at all times the confinement of even an attractive cage.” Evidently, Earhart’s ideas on marriage were liberal for the time, as she pointedly kept her own name rather than being referred to as “Mrs Putnam”. There was no honeymoon for the newlyweds, as Earhart was involved in a nine-day cross-country tour promoting autogyros and the tour sponsor, Beech-Nut chewing gum.

But her marriage further strengthened, whetted and refined her passion of flying. Putnam not only shared her dreams but actively helped her plan and execute them. The understanding they shared matured and flourished. He taught her how to present her ambitions and accomplishments to the world at large. Following her disappearance over the Pacific and not being satisfied with the Roosevelt administration’s efforts to find her, he commissioned a private search that unfortunately did not yield any success.

Around the World

In pursuance of her dream, Amelia Earhart took off from Oakland, California, on an eastbound flight around the world. The date was Ist of June, 1937. It was her second attempt to become the first pilot ever to circumnavigate the globe. She flew a twin-engine Lockheed 10E Electra and was accompanied on the flight by navigator Fred Noonan. They flew to Miami, then down to South America, across the Atlantic to Africa, then east to India and Southeast Asia. The pair reached Lae, New Guinea, on June 29. When they reached Lae, they already had flown 22,000 miles. They had 7,000 more miles to go before reaching Oakland and fulfilling her long-cherished dream.

Missing in Action

Earhart and Noonan departed Lae for tiny Howland Island—their next refuelling stop—on July 2. It was the last time Earhart was seen alive. She and Noonan lost radio contact with the U.S. Coast Guard cutter ‘Itasca’, anchored off the coast of Howland Island, and disappeared en route.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized a massive two-week search for the pair, but they were never found. On July 19, 1937, Earhart and Noonan were declared lost at sea.

Scholars and aviation enthusiasts have proposed many theories about what happened to Amelia Earhart. The Crash and Sink Theory, the most prevalent one, suggested that Earhart’s plane ran out of fuel while she searched for Howland Island, and crashed into the sea and perished. Another theory hints that she may have landed in a neighbouring island, the Gardner Island, now called Nikumaroro having failed to locate Howland Island, where they may have survived for some time before dying. There are other fanciful theories as well. One such theory mentions that she was captured by the Japanese and executed while another equally fanciful theory is that they worked as spies for the Roosevelt administration and lived under new identities on their return to the US. Her disappearance, even after decades, continues to arouse interest and excitement and is one of the most controversial unsolved mysteries. The official position, however, is that her plane crashed into the sea near Howland Island possibly because the plane ran out of fuel or due to navigational errors. While the controversy is still alive, she still remains the most wanted missing person.

Legacy

Earhart became an acclaimed international celebrity at an early age during her own lifetime. Her charismatic appeal is accentuated by her shyness, steely resolution, fierce independence, dogged persistence and death-defying determination combined together in her rare personality. Her mystifying disappearance and the circumstances leading to it lent a lasting lustre to her legacy and a glowing hue to her uncommon accomplishments. She has been discussed and eulogised in hundreds of articles. Scores of books have been written about her life as a motivational tale for everyone, especially for girls. Hailed as one of the brightest feminist icons, Hillary Clinton in a 2012 memorial address said, “Earhart … created a legacy that resonates today for anyone, girls and boys, who dream of the stars.

Earhart, even after over eight decades of disappearance towers tall in defiance of death. There are people who still believe that she did not perish in the sea. Her iconic legacy has only become richer and more enduring with the passage of time. She is remembered as a fearless intrepid courageous person of outstanding grit and determination. But, above all, she is part of a treasured heritage nurtured by young women across the world for leading a life that was not only eminently successful but exceptionally inspirational. She lived with passion and purpose each day of her life.

“Once more into the fray

Into the last good fight, I’ll ever know

Live and die on this day

Live and die on this day”

Women have often been neglected as major contributors to the history of the world either through commission or distortion. It’s a delight for us to have taken on the challenge to unearth these overlooked gems and keep relevant the stories of amazing women in history.

The author was the former Information and Broadcasting Secretary, GOI. Mr Uday Kumar Varma serves as an esteemed jury member on the SABERA The Social and Business Enterprise Responsible Awards 2021 Jury Board.

This article is part of a series on women in history who have excelled in their area of passion. You may also like to read about the activist Emmeline Pankhurst from England or the lady sniper Lyudmila Pavlichenko or just maybe a piece on Frida Kahlo?

The post Amelia Earhart – Girl who walked alone appeared first on Woman Endangered.

The post Lady Death -The Russian Bitch from hell appeared first on Woman Endangered.

एक वैश्विक ब्रांड सुपर्णा चड्डा को स्वीकार करता है और उसकी सराहनीय कहानी दर्ज करता है ।वोल्वो ने सुपर्णा की कहानी को महाबलेश्वर के पहाड़ी शहर में दर्ज किया, वहाँ उन्होंने अपने लक्जरी ब्रांड वोल्वो XC90 को दुनिया की सबसे सुरक्षित कार के रूप में जाना!ऑटोकार इंडिया ने यूट्यूब पर अपने 10 लाख ग्राहकों के लिए महिला दिवस पर कहानी प्रकाशित की। सुपर्णा प्लेटफॉर्म वुमनएन्डरंग की संस्थापक भी हैं। वह इसे एक सुरक्षित दुनिया बनाने के महत्व के बारे में बोलती है और हमारे बच्चों के आनंद के लिए सुंदरता से भरी दुनिया को पीछे छोड़ने में सक्षम होने के लिए।

The post Global brand Volvo : Woman of Substance ग्लोबल ब्रांड वोल्वो: सराहनीय महिला appeared first on Woman Endangered.

WomanEndangered (WE) organized a drive to distribute menstrual cups and sensitive women about feminine hygiene. Menstruation still being a taboo subject, the #LetsTalkPeriod campaign is aimed to affect a change in mindset . This was the second meet organized by WE at Patparganj. The first was a few months back focusing on feminine hygiene.

Walking through the dusty lanes, the stench and dirt is hard to miss. The roads have been dug up from both the sides and a narrow stretch of 1 metre is what’s left to navigate through. All kinds of travelers navigate on this stretch- from the school girls to the holy cow, from the ferocious dogs to the young adults with dreary eyes.
Five minutes later I enter a compound. The veranda is clean, chairs are neatly arranged for the meeting and posters reading Mahila Panchayat organised by Delhi Mahila Aayog and supervised by Sur Nirman- Educational and Cultural Society welcome us.

I am not going to talk about the torment women have faced since time immemorial but what I will highlight here is the stigma still attached to even talking about a natural bodily function women experience every month. Suparnaa Chadda, founder of WE, pointed out ‘No one is hesitant to talk about facial hair and shaving but when it comes to periods, it is something shameful to talk about.’ This shame and hesitation to talk about periods results in various hygiene and health problems that women could suffer from. Suparnaa states that it is a sign of a healthy body and a natural mechanism to detox the body- a blessing for women, not shame!
WE beautifully talks about periods using the power of music i.e.  sargam ke saath sur- sa re ga ma pa dha ni sa. Each sur is an abbreviation for the health tips to be followed while a woman is on her period. Sa stands for suti kapda (cotton cloth); wearing cotton clothes during period so that there is no rash or itching in the pelvic region, ga stands for geela kapda  (wet cloth); do not wear wet clothes during period. ma stands for mahavaari (period); use sanitary pads or cups during periods. Pa stands for pyaar (love); wash pelvic region after sexual intercourse. Dha stands for dhona (wash); wash hands and pelvic region after visiting the washroom. Ni stands for khaana (food); consume nutritious food, preferably home cooked meals, especially while on period.

Along with sensitising women about periods WE is also promoting the use of menstrual cups over the sanitary pads. Sanitary pads are non-biodegradable and could also cause infertility in the long run. Menstrual cups, on the other hand, do not cause any problems in the long run since it does not have any chemicals. It can be used for 10 years effectively, saving a lot of money that would have been spent on buying the sanitary pads. Women can also take part in activities such as swimming wearing the menstrual cup. The cost of these cups in the market is INR 900 but WE distributed 70 such cups in Patparganj at the cost of INR 10, to ensure a value association and long term usage of the cup.

The event was unique since it was attended by 70 women, all from the underprivileged sector, indicating that there is scope to take up this issue across different sections of society. Suparnaa and her team will visit the camp again after 3 months to take feedback from the women to whom the 70 cups were distributed.
This is a battle against changing the mind-set and is a tough road to take. WE has taken the mantle to bring about a change in the society and this meet did change the way I looked at periods.
Come on India, #LetsTalkPeriod!

The post Talking notes on Menstruation- माहवारी की बात हो रही है appeared first on Woman Endangered.

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HOCKEY: Slogans like Jassi (Jasjeet) jaisi koi nahi or “Golden girls of hockey,” rent the air as the Indian women’s hockey team beat Japan 1-0 in the finals of the Asia Cup. The win made no difference to their lives. They knew that after the party was over, it would be back to their humdrum lives — travelling by sleeper class, catching a bus to office, arguing with families over marriage plans and struggling to make ends meet with a paltry salary of Rs 5,000. “We are stars for just a day,” says Suman Bala, part of the Indian hockey team. “No one recognises us the moment we are out of the hockey field.” This, from a person who has represented India a dozen times.

Any spin-offs? “A few thousand rupees as salary and a few more as cash reward — hardly sufficient to run a family,” says a player who wanted to remain anonymous, fearing vindictive federation officials.

And that’s the way their life has been. Be it the federation, government or people — support and recognition have always evaded them. Concern too. For these golden girls, the night Bryan Adams crooned Night to remember at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (JNS) here, it truly was a night to remember — they hardly slept amid all the music.

That’s not all. After a hard day’s training, they wake up early to wash clothes. They are kept in dormitories at the stadium while players of visiting foreign teams stay in five-star hotels. However, the secretary of the Indian Women’s Hockey Federation (IWHF), Amrit Bose, maintains that “the girls are more comfortable in the JNS room.” She even tells captain Suraj Lata Devi to “tell this to the press.” Devi obliges. Explains a player, “Many who protested against the high-handedness of the federation have been given the boot. Beggars can’t be choosers.” Is it any wonder then that rather than ask for another shirt for playing, these players prefer to wash the ones they have in the night and iron it the morning?

Jobs: Women hockey players have limited options. Most try to get into the Railways; a few unlucky ones have to be content with a constable’s job. The Railways recruit them as junior clerks; promotions happen in a few years. Few go on to be superintendents. __Travel: What’s the attraction then? Free travel passes. Domestic level players are given second-class sleeper passes while international players get AC passes. “We got them only after we won the Manchester Commonwealth Games gold in 2002,” says Surinder Kaur.

Those who miss this `gravy train’ play on a contract basis for A-I. “Apart from getting a job, there’s no other attraction in playing for India,” admits one player.

Match fees: Guess what they got after winning the Asia Cup? Rs 25,000 each. The men’s hockey team on the other hand was given Rs 1.5 lakh by Sahara India Parivar for the same achievement a few months back. Plus, the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) had promised Rs 1 lakh each. Dhanraj Pillay, for example, is an officer with IA and he’s not even a graduate. The men also endorse products and make money by attending private functions.

Promises to these girls by politicians have been galore. Rarely has the money reached them. For example, out of the Rs 10 lakh promised by Union sports minister Uma Bharti after the Commonwealth Games, only Rs 2.5 lakh has reached them.

Endorsements? “None,” says 16-year-old Jasjeet Kaur, the star of the Asia Cup. “I fail to understand why corporates don’t have faith in our capabilities,” says Devi. No sponsors means lack of funds which means lack of foreign exposure. Net result? No result.

CRICKET: Women cricketers are little known, unlike their glamorous male counterparts. Does anyone remember Mithali Raj’s record feat of 214 runs against England in 2001 — the highest score in women’s Test cricket? Some photo-ops, interviews and felicitations later, she went into oblivion. The captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, Anjum Chopra, says that people’s response, the government’s apathy and the federation’s limitations all add to the misery. “Everyone is indifferent.” she says. Even in a cricket-crazy country like ours. “The sport is the same but the treatment of women is different. However, since the rules of the game are the same, women have to work harder to achieve the high fitness levels. But the revenue is different.”

Jobs: The same as hockey players. Chopra is an exception due to her high qualifications — a post-graduate with an MBA. She’s an officer in the Bank of Punjab and gets a salary of about Rs 15,000. Most women quit cricket because they don’t find a placement. It is after all an expensive and time-consuming sport.

Match fees: When they played a Test and five one-dayers against England recently, the women were given just Rs 7,500 each. Compare this to the men who get nothing less than a lakh. As for endorsements, forget it. Only the kit is sponsored.

Travel: By train unlike the men who fly executive class. “Forget AC or first class. That’s only for players of the Railways. For the rest, it’s the same sleeper class,” says Chopra.

Training: She would love to have someone like Andrew Leipus training their team. “A professional physical trainer would take care of our injuries too.” But she knows that’s a pipe dream. They hardly have much choice in the diet as compared to men cricketers. “We don’t get a variety in juices or food items. We can’t demand it either,” she says.

The scene here? Women footballers try hard to get away from cooking aloo gobhi a la Bend it like Beckham, but ultimately end up doing that only. The story is the same: lack of encouragement, lack of proper planning, funds, foreign exposure, training facilities and job opportunities. They either give up the sport or take up coaching.

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