ECHOES

Women’s Day Special

‘We The Women’ invited women around to share their opinion on this International Women’s Day. Here’s what they had to say. If you want to share your thought and opinion, share your message and contribute to create ripples, send us a short video clip at [email protected]



NAYEEMA AHMAD MAHJOOR

Chairperson/ State Women Commission



My request to everyone on this day is to stand against any crime that takes away life and dignity of women. Don't ever politicize crime like rape or molestation and stand united against those who support this heinous crime. I request all schools in Jammu and Kashmir to arrange safety walk for girls and take other measures to restore confidence of girls who feel scared to go out, after Asifa’s (Bano) murder happened. Give space and respect to women who is not in need of your earned “Roti” anymore. She manages to feed herself but she needs respect and safety from men at home and outside.



MALVIKA KALRA

Founder, Rehai-Freedom for Animals

Year after year we celebrate Women’s Day to reaffirm our position in society and to remind us of any biases that still exist. It is sad that humans discriminate on the basis of gender, caste, creed, race, colour, economic status and so on.
Not many people realize that along with these societal faults is the discrimination that we have created as inhabitants of this planet on the basis of species. Like casteism, racism and sexism, this is known as speciesism.
Women’s Liberation cannot be achieved in isolation. Women will be fully liberated only when we learn to look beyond societal conditioning and remove each and every bias that creates victims of physical, sexual, mental and emotional abuse. And yes, this includes the nonhuman animals too.





ANSHITA CRAZY KOUL

Comedian/YouTuber



I am not the container. I am the water.

I am not who you think I should be, I am who I think I should be.

I am not the color of my skin or the shape of my body or the clothes I wear.

I am stardust. And I am mine before I am anyone else's.

So if you think I am limited by your ideas of who a woman is or how and what she should do, let me take a pin and burst your bubble because I am a woman and I am limitless.

Happy international women's day to each and everyone. The historic importance of this day combined with much-required feminism and its in-depth understanding is the need of the hour for all of us.





SMILEY TANUJA CHAHAR

Dance and Fitness trainer



What are really dreams? I always believed dreams are what we think with our open mind and not what we visualize with closed eyes; what we follow with our passionate heart. It means to aspire to be the better version of you today than you were yesterday. I know there comes times when everyone will be against of your dreams and also times when you would try and fail so many times that you would feel like giving up, but you should know that maybe that’s the chance you can win your dreams. So never lose hope it’s important to follow your heart and do what makes you happy. You have only one life so it’s important to do something that will make you remember through ages. Don’t always run in the direction where everyone is going. Make your own destiny. So here are some tips that I followed too and surely it will help you too: Focus on your own commitment; Get rid of stagnating thoughts; Use your imagination; Step out of your comfort zone; Get rid of distractions; Don’t rely on others; Plan your routine of day to day life; Stay motivated and always think positive; Before you give up, think why you started; Don’t change always Be you.

So to all the beautiful women out there, live life following your dreams and do not compromises; it’s never too late to make your own mark.



PARUL JASROTIA

Research Scholar/ Travel Vlogger



BE A SHAKTI- Never feel incomplete from any perspective. You are ‘Sampoorna’, you are ‘Shakti’.

If a woman is aware of her strengths, she will be ready to take a ride to her dreams. She has the courage to take a risk and when she fails, she won’t lose the confidence but learn from the mistakes and get up again with more positive vibes.

First of all we have to be sure about our passion and if we are focused and convinced, then we start meeting the positive people and caravan goes on. Will-power, persistence and dedication act as the fuel to the passion. Passion is something inside which sets your soul on fire.

When you are travelling, you always have a tale to share. I strive to share all of my travel tales that makes a learning process for others and for me as well. It is my endeavor to get this message of pursuing the passion across all the women, for which I am immensely passionate.







SHAHEEN WAHID

SP, Traffic, Jammu Rural



A woman is a beautiful creation of the God. She has been bestowed with the strength, the qualities of multitasking that she does, the many caps she wears- both in the work place and at home. There is nothing she cannot do.

She is the one who gives life to a life. She is indeed the pillar of the society on whose shoulder there is the onus to take forward the existence of mankind in a smoother way. She is generous, passionate and audacious and she knows an absolute solution to all the problems.

Women can change the world. But first we need to invest in them, give her the wings to fly. We need to allow them to take birth- not kill them in the womb. We need to educate them, give them the basic freedom, good health, a safe and secured environment. We need to provide them simple things like bathrooms and a good atmosphere in schools so that the families send their girl children to schools willingly. We need to make her feel good and proud of being a woman, not force her to child marriage, not fall prey to eve teasing.

We need to give stress on her education. When we educate a man, we educate an individual. When we educate a woman, we educate the whole family.

International Women’s Day is one such occasion that gives an opportunity to celebrate her inner strength, her existence. Since on her shoulder lies the responsibility of building, the dreams of every member of the society. A woman is a full circle, within her is the power to create, nurture and transform.

Though life is not at all easy but we need to have determination and persistency and above all, the confidence in ourselves. We must believe that the God has gifted us things which we must attain.



DIVYE DUHETA MAHAJAN

Author, Engineer



Nature has always been a giver of life. So is a woman! Without a womb, a life can’t come to existence, nor can it further flourish to be a man or a woman. Therefore, there is no point in distinction to the reality that a woman is a masterpiece of creator. She has ability to experience life, feel it growing in her womb and give birth. Perhaps, the creator resides in her, like her to create the world being a woman. Irrespective of those mindsets that try to suppress the individuality of women by considering them as incapable, or weak, Nature as a mother to both a Man and a woman never differentiated in their abilities. She, as a daughter brings sensitivity to her parents to groom her with love and care; and when woman reaches her motherhood, she bestows divine qualities of infinite compassion, love, peace, harmony, understanding, empathy, clarity, kindness and forgiveness towards her own children and towards society. These are the same qualities that Gandhi acknowledged in a woman and wanted to inculcate in every heart to attain freedom not just for the nation but also for the SELF.

Let every girl, a woman or a lady feels her uniqueness and reside in a true nature of Womanhood with love, compassion and dynamism. Wishing everyone a very Happy Woman’s Day.







BILQUIS MIR

National Coach



On the occasion of Women’s Day I would request every parent to bring up their little girls with a right mindset, so that when she grows up, she could establish herself and could be known by her name. Along with imposing unrealistic and unreasonable restrictions, we also shield them from certain harshness. We do not let them go out, participate in sports, take on the challenges and such other things. This is like shielding a plant from sun; she cannot grow under such circumstances.

Having just daughters should not be pitied, girls should not be pitied; they need to be trained and strengthened not merely by education but in every aspect; spiritually, mentally and physically. She should be able to lead her life with dignity. The way my mother accepted and supported me, despite all odds is what I wish every mother to be like.

Also, I would like to clarify that a strong woman is in no way the one who do not let out her emotions, she is the one who cries, wipes her tears, get up and fight. Just remember, a woman is not weak, she beholds in herself immeasurable strength.





AARUSHI THAKUR

Theatre actor & Director.



Every woman at a particular point in her life has felt oppressed, judged, discounted; has felt unequal. I myself have endured criticism, directed predominantly towards my choice of career, a career which brings grave fame, pride, adulation for our male counterparts but deemed inappropriate for the fairer sex.

But I write not to complain, I write not to dishearten; I write not to give in. I write to inspire, for this is not the first time we have been singled out nor will it be the last. With determination, focus, solidarity and subsisting effort towards our goals we can re-shape the course of history. We can achieve our dreams and not let the many sacrifices made by great women before us go in vain.

In order to progress we need to eliminate the fear of being judged, disregard the stereotypes and collectively we need to stop striving for equality but strive for excellence.

Recent times have brought with them somewhat of a revolution with regards to the acceptance of women. It brings me great joy that we live in an era where people are becoming more accepting towards women working and following their dreams. However our work is far from done. Lets stand by women who have dared to follow their dreams, lets get inspired by them, lets encourage them and let us all work together to uplift other women around us.

The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organisation but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.

Here’s to strong women: may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them.



OMAIRA & BINISH

Founder CraftsWorldKashmir



Most women inherit creativity from the environment. Cooking food is one such creative art that has been rendered so normal that we don't subsume it as an art. I, as an individual and independent lady, believe that empowerment of women is linked to their free spirit of taking bold decisions and economic empowerment. The gender needs to be delinked with profession. A woman has the power to create and excel in any field if her heart and mind are in harmony and synchrony. Women who intend to be independent should choose a profession and then put their best efforts to reach to the zenith. But after achieving the zenith they should not forget to empower others as best success is that which is shared--Omaira

Women are the real artists, who carry the best creation i.e. humans in their wombs. But despite the biological evolution of humans socio-cultural-educational revolution is yet to happen. Women still have to fight for the basic amenities and rights in life. The whole entity of a woman is a struggle that she faces daily. Some compromise, give up and maintain the patriarchal status quo while a miniscule minority fights for equality and justice. For them every day is a woman's Day. So let's pledge on woman's Day that we will join hands for a future free from Patriarchy and Misogyny--Binish





SHWETIMA JAMWAL

Radio Jockey (98.3 FM)



I am the Women of today-

Me Hi to Rang Hui

Haan..

har situation me ghulna mujhe ata hai

Jaisa bolo waisa reh leti hu

Jaisa dekho waisi me dikhti hu

Jaisa chaho ghul k mil jati hui

Actually janam se yhi sikhaya jata hai mujhe

Ki har rang me rang jao

Fir chahe wo rang tumhe pasand ho bhi ya nai

To fir kyu mere anchal pr daag tum lgate ho

Aur fir bura bhi mujhe hi bnaate ho

Andar se shwet hu aur bahr kaali me ho jati hu

Pr khush ho na tum, k har rang me mein rang jati hu

Har pal shayad andar hi andar mein marr jati hu

Par khush ho na tum, k har rang me mein rang jati hu



I do not think a woman needs assistance to be empowered; all she has to learn is to channelize her inner strength. Happy Women’s Day!





KUSUM TIKOO

Actor/Producer


We the women! We are not here to create the history, not to lead, not to carry forward legacies! We are not super humans! We the women are as normal as any human being! But alas we are considered to be picture perfect! I mean, the pressure put on women in today’s society is immense and I admire any female out there who doesn’t let the high demands and expectations get them down. In my experience, I have learned that we, as women, should not let the likes of “perfected” images or “criticism” affect us and it has came as such a relief to me to realize that being different and imperfect is far more interesting than being a “perfect” person. I believe that being yourself and feeling happy as yourself- just the way you are, signifies the word “beauty.” That's me-Me the Kusum Tikoo....a human being.





KUSUM SHARMA (ANTRA)

Poetess/Writer



An Artist

She is the love of ‘life’

Life holds her

While the time slips by

Like the sun

She imparts her light

To every moon that wishes to be

A bright support, trying to light up

Someone's dark night’

She is the soil

She loves the rain

She is power

The patience, to bear the pain.

She won't fade away

Cause she's the hope

She is the tear drop

Rolling down a cheek

Strengthening the heart

For the times ahead

She's neither the past nor the future

She is - ‘this moment's carefree laugh’