MOTHERING FOR DECADES

ESTHER WILLIAM

‘Bindi’- It is not unusual to find a woman adorning a bright red dot or a rhinestone or fabric stickies on her forehead, a little above the centre of the eyebrows. But if the person flaunting turns out to be someone of religious faith other than the one it is associated with, it can induce some raised eyebrows, little jaw-drops, questioning stares, and sometimes even a reminder, a lecture on how things are “supposed” to be. The woman whose story we have brought for you in this edition is someone belonging to that class of women who would induce all those reactions but coupled with admiration. Esther William has been an Educationist for over 35 years now, majority of them, almost three decades she has spent as the Principal of one of the most revered and reputed school of the state.

Let us get the accolades and achievement aside before we dive deeper into the life journey of Esther William. Esther is the Principal of Alexander Memorial Higher Secondary School, Residency Road, Jammu, a member of J&K Police Wives Welfare Association; Management Member of J&K Public School Miran Sahib; Management Member of Alexander HSS, Amritsar; member of Mari Jahan (Jammu); Founder member of Youth Talent Search (a forum constituting 10 schools of Jammu); member of Saying India (a NGO for differently-able children) and advisor at All Women World Organization (AWWO). She was only recently awarded with the prestigious “RASHTRIYA GAURAV AWARD” for Meritorious Services, Outstanding Performance and Remarkable Role she has been playing in society, well before majority of us were even born.

When Esther was in college she started wearing Bindi and nothing has changed the beautiful ritual even today. Obviously she was asked to refrain from doing so, reason being that Bindi was placed on the same spot of forehead where during baptism, water is poured thrice. A resolute and reasoned Esther, was quick to ask to be shown where it was written that way! This instance describes her approach towards the society and its norms, and serves as the apt introduction of the woman she is.

Esther was born in Allahabad in a devout Christian family to a theologian father and medical specialist mother and is a believer herself despite seeming iconoclastic with that bright red Bindi.

She shares, “My father is a Professor of the Old Testament and my Mom is in the medical line.” Thus it was natural for Esther to be religious as well as compassionate towards others but that in no way meant that she would follow everything she was told in the name of the Almighty. She evidently would question the rudimentary ideologies which were being professed on religious basis.

Esther schooled from Allahabad, Bareilly, Dehradun and Agra, and then graduated as well as Post graduated from Punjab University (Ludhiana). She further went on to pursue degree of bachelors of Education.

She shares that there was hardly any school or college function/annual day or any competition that she didn’t participate in and won-- be it elocutions, debates, flower arrangement, Rangoli, dance, drama, skit etc.

“I loved adventure, so trekking to Kasauli, Mani Mahesh with college NSS group was routine. I loved to travel too,” Esther reminisces.
She further shares, “Despite all other interests, my desire to serve the society and inclination to become an activist was stronger than anything else. Becoming a change bringer was always in my mind.”

Esther wanted to become a social worker soon after Pre-University (class 11th then) so she went to Baroda in 1977 to pursue Bachelors of Social Work, right around the same time 10+2 curriculum was introduced so she came back to her previous college and completed B.A in 1st Division.

Esther volunteered at an old-age home even as a kid. She shares, “I have always loved working for people especially the old, and women and children in distress. They need your time; they love to talk and share stories.”

Right after finishing B.Ed. in the year 1983, Esther got selected as a Volunteer for an International Conference in Vancouver, Canada which witnessed participation of more than a thousand men, women and youth, from over 20 countries. After that one trip to the world conference in Canada, there was no receding from that track for her.

Esther expresses, “It was an experience of a life time, you can imagine as a 21 years old. I saw the world come together in one place. It changed my thinking, broadened my vision.”
Esther got selected as a member of the Educational Unit of the WCC and went to Mexico, Switzerland, East Potsdam in undivided Germany, USA, Pakistan, Italy, France, and many other countries. She has been to Germany thrice.

Talking about what followed after that in her life, Esther says, “The next shift in my life was when I married to into a renowned Christian family of Jammu. My father-in-law was Late Bishop Aziz William, former Principal of Alexander Memorial School.”

She further shares, “My marriage with a young Indian Police Services (IPS) Officer in Jammu was like a whirl wind; there were postings to Kashmir, Doda, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Rajouri and other beautiful parts of this wonderful state.”

Soon, Esther became mother of two little girls but on being pursued by her old in-laws she started teaching in St.Peter’s School Jammu. Esther says, “Today on looking back and analyzing the chronology of events that occurred and experiences I had, I am certain that God was preparing me for Alexander Memorial School and for this post.”

The circumstance brought Esther to Alexander Memorial School which is today a 125-year-old Missionary School established way back in 1989 when she was just 29 and she has been Principal there for 29 years now, half her life.

Esther says, “I was apprehensive about switching from teaching to administrating a school but my father-in-law insisted on appearing for the interview for the post, as it was dear to his heart. I got through.”

Esther shares that the managing the school was a real challenge. She elaborates, “It embraces all children irrespective of their socio-economic backgrounds. The government introduced Right to Education only fourteen years ago in 2009 and made 25% seats reserved for children from economically weaker section but Alexander Memorial School has been providing more than 50% seats to such children since past 6 decades or so, which also made it difficult to sustain financially.”

Speaking of challenges, Esther put out her philosophy to deal with them. She says, “Adjust, yet to create a space for self; reach out, yet remain rooted; give to society, yet to also learn and take.”

Adding on, she says, “The most important thing in all this is that your family must uphold you. I have been extra-ordinarily lucky that my mother-in-law and my husband never stopped me from anything and supported me wholeheartedly.”

For Esther, her true accomplishment is her students turning out to be Theatre Artists, Teachers, Doctors, Revenue Officers, Engineers, Lawyers, and Entrepreneurs and so on. On a personal level, she believes her daughters Nafisa and Delight have made her proud in the highest manner.

While Nafisa Rachel William is a designer and stylist with eponymous label and her studio at Jangpura, New Delhi who has styled for actors like Neha Dupia and Diya Mirza, Nimrat Kaur and Prianka Gosh; Esther’s younger daughter Delight Sarah William is a theatre artist, performer, Director, Teacher Trainer and works for children’s welfare.

Esther believes in meaningful living. She loves reading, watching movies on Netflix and Gardening. She works towards keeping herself updated. She also shares, “I love to walk or go for a drive in the uncharted areas of Jammu as I enjoy nature. I am an animal lover and I enjoy the company of my three dogs.”

Esther believes in feminism but also believes that women need to take more responsibility and position in society with a balance of course. She believes in compassion, empathy, love and helping the under privileged. She is also an advocate of gender sensitization, especially in schools.

Talking about the status of women, Esther expresses, “More and more girl students are coming to my school from far-flung areas like Sangaldan, Rajouri, Bhalessa, interior of Ramban etc. These young girls will be tomorrow’s instrument of change; no one can stop women now.Only thing they need to do is to speak out and ask for their right.”

Adding on, she says, “I am closely associated with the JKPWWA. There are numbers of lady constables, officers from different backgrounds, regions of Jammu & Kashmir. It shows that their husbands and family’s support. These women are performing night as well as day duty.However, there is so much more which needs to be done.”

To the women out there Esther’s words are, “Do not limit you, educate yourself, get a profession, and get financially independent and secure. Empower yourself and nobody can stop you. Do not neglect your family and loved once as well.”