Celebrating My Shaktis: Women Empowering Women

This is something that I have been thinking about for a very long time. Maybe it was awaiting a stimulus with all the buzz around Women's Day. Now, I am not big on celebrating days; I believe that every single day is a celebration and should be treated just like that. However, sometimes they do make you step back a little, take a look at the goings-on in your life, and see how something that seemed so insignificant at that moment changed it all for you.

If life is a stage, there is a really interesting play going on. A play where everyone plays the audience and the central character at the same time. So everyone has their own script, which interlaces or entwines with so many other people's, creating beautiful patterns.

Sometimes these people, no matter how small their actions, leave an impact on your life. I have been lucky and proud to have a few women in my life who changed it all for me, and this is my way of saying thanks to them—my Shaktis or sources of strength.

The first one is obviously my mother. She is one of the strongest souls I have had the privilege of knowing. My mom is an ardent devotee of Durga, and the amount of love she showers on her Goddess flows back into her, manifesting itself as strength. She fought against all odds (family, financial, social) and studied to be a doctor in the 70s. She was a working mom in the 80s who managed domestic duties with equal (if not better) skill and perfection. My mother taught me never to give up and to always push the boundaries ahead.

The next figure of strength in my life that I admire is my mother-in-law. I am sure when my family members read this blog, they are going to be surprised that I placed my MIL here because she and strength, or rather the generalized description of strength, don't go together. She is this frail, gentle creature who hardly ever expresses herself. But that's exactly what her strength is. Strength doesn't always have to be this brute aggressiveness that everyone talks about. My MIL teaches me that you can be gentle yet strong. She must have had guts of steel to let go of her young kids (read toddlers) to study away from home so that they could have a good future. Letting go comes with strength too, and she reminds me of that every day.

Maaji... The whole internet is full of her students' descriptions of her. A few lines here can hardly do justice. But the warmth, affection, and love that she pours into each soul she touches return as a craving to go back to her and be nurtured through her gentle touch again. I now understand what they mean when they say, very often about famous holy places, that you only get to visit when the Gods residing there call you. I feel this strong urge to run to Mysore even as I write this. Maaji is not just my teacher; I feel this bond with her tying me down to my Ashtanga practice every single day. Maaji, true to her name, is strength in knowledge personified.

Madhulika Damani, commonly known as Madhuji, is the most wonderful person I have ever met. I used to report to her, and the kind of fascination and reverence I developed for her as I saw her toil every day is something bosses don't generally get from their subordinates. She is the most hardworking person I know, who dedicates every minute she is awake (and sometimes while she's asleep too) to her work. Madhu heads the Indianwear at Trent—that's Westside stores for you. She's a pioneer of the Mix-n-Match concept in modern Indian retail. I always wanted to get inside her brain to see how she comes up with these wonderful color combinations and embroidery patterns that she designs, but later, I figured out that it's just plain old hard work. She executes her work every day with the same amount of passion, no matter what happens around her, and therefore constantly keeps excelling in what she does best. Madhu teaches me that hard work is a big strength.

I won't be surprised if Iti herself is surprised to find her name on this list! For that matter, I can almost see her expression as she reads this in her office. She is the force behind the new women's wear label by her name—"Iti" (do check it out; she sells online too!)—which she launched a couple of years back. She was my co-worker at Trent and shows me every time I meet her how small things done every day can take you to great heights. She is still too young to recognize herself as the force I reckon her with. If I had to describe her in one word, it would be perseverance. Since the day I met her until this day, if she decides on a goal, she is not going to give up on it no matter how many times she is knocked down. She falls, brushes the dust off herself, and readies herself to strike back again and again until she gets what she wants. She is a very fashionable individual who is always completely updated with the trends and goings-on in the fashion scene.

My yoga story will be incomplete without her name. Kino is my inspiration, my beacon, guiding me through my journey towards excellence. Kino taught me that the limitations we put on ourselves are all in our heads. You are never as fat and as stiff as you think you are! You just have to be strong. Strong enough to chase your dreams, strong enough to shatter clichés, and strong enough to be happy. Kino is the first yoga teacher that I could relate to, as she embraces her form rather than fighting and changing it. I am yet to interact with her because she shares all this with me through her videos, but through them, she urges me every day to try a little bit more than what I think my capacity is and to improve every day in the process.

Abha is my newest friend. Someone I met very recently but who left a lasting impression. She puts a lot of devotion and dedication into her love—her family. Abha truly shows how 'Seva' can be strength too. The sheer amount of effort and enthusiasm she displays in doing what others might consider mundane household jobs is outstanding. The compassion and empathy that she holds within shine through her persona. Always willing to listen, always willing to help.

Last but definitely not least, Ruchi. She was the first person EVER who saw my practice and encouraged me to spread my wings, thus helping me find my way to Mysore. She shows how empowering others can be a form of strength too. A keen observer who acknowledges even little attempts put towards improvement. Ruchi will make the effort not just to thank but also to recommend when she has good experiences with people. She takes the time to stop and appreciate little insignificant details and, in the process, performs this selfless act of gently nurturing and helping people grow.

So there you go, Shaktis in my life. Women who empower and encourage me every day. There are many more such women who influence so many lives around them. I'm sure you would know them too! Look around and make sure you wish them a very Happy Women's Day EVERY DAY! Oh yeah, do remember to share :)