Just to clarify in the beginning that I am not any party’s supporter or promote any particular ideology, but at the same time recent issues do attract me and compel me to write about them. As we are approaching International Women’s Day on March 8, I find the time more appropriate to applaud the women power.

Recently, I was on a holiday and was away from the current happenings. The moment I was back and got over my gadget detoxification period, I was flooded with Tweets and Facebook updates about Smriti Irani’s speech in the Parliament. Initially, I was shocked because to me, it was not very clear – whether people were excited about a wonderful speech which was academically profound, or the truth which was explicitly presented with evidence and facts, or was it about the woman’s guts and courage? The dilemma had risen because our society has always been male dominated with the exception of one or two states; we have started acknowledging the ‘existence’ of women and their power.

Women empowerment is a burning issue all over the world, and people talk about it often. However, situation like the one I mentioned is different since an environment is being created for women to give them power. But at the same time, it is imperative to talk about women who are already in power and are successful achievers. It’s inspiring and encouraging since it shows us the real picture of a progressive society.

We have seen women overcome many obstacles to reach at the highest level, holding many top positions in the society. For example, I am a huge admirer of Chanda Kochhar, Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone to name a few, because of their perseverance, their persona, their hunger for success – which can’t be missed and is noticeable just not in India but all over the world. 

To me, power emerges from within, and you need to celebrate it – but you don’t need to be a celebrity to have power. Being yourself is powerful – when your voices are not stifled and you are free to express your opinion – that is power. We should shatter the belief that feminism is equivalent to weakness and less intelligent than men. Women should know and find their true worth. And this sense of self-worthiness can’t be always associated with your education, beauty or skills. But women running their houses and raising their children with great efficiency is their power. Empowerment is not something which can be fed. We should explore our individuality and confidence.

Gender equality, social reforms, and other manifestos are very vast subjects to discuss about. Sometimes, discrimination happens at your work place, at your own home but it’s difficult to see. It is assumed that women are incompetent. They are being judged on their performances and not on their potential. When women are successful, they are often tagged with words like ‘bitchy’, ‘catty’, ‘aggressive’, ‘selfish’, ‘emotional’, etc. Women remain the primary victim of all sorts of domestic abuse too. Their truth and worth gets smashed down. They feel worthless. But if women recognise their power and choose to exercise it in order to navigate the negativity, back stabbing, abuses that happen in everyday life, it gives them the purpose of their existence and makes them the person they are proud to be.

I personally feel that feminine power and being empowered is an individual journey. Women are not born to just listen to the society or people around them on how to look, how to act or how to live. They can’t be manipulated anymore. Women need to make choices that act in their best interests.

The key ingredients of a woman’s power are self-esteem, individuality and knowing the essence of womanhood.

“We All Have A Wonder Woman Inside Us”.