It's March time and 2 things come to my mind immediately. One is the tax month with no salary on hand and the other is Women's day. WOMEN: I have always spent time with them since the moment I entered this world. Right from the nurse who helped me to out, to my mother, to the aunts, sisters and finally to my wife and daughter. It looks like I cannot exists without them. They have been there to shape me to what I am today. But I have a strong reservation about this women's day. Born into Vaishnavism, I find that its strange to celebrate just one day for them since the entire preaching of Vaishnavism is based on श्री (ஸ்ரீ - Shri). A tradition that believes in श्री (ஸ்ரீ - Shri) to be the most the important one and is celebrated on a daily basis. Nevertheless, for this Women's day I wanted to express what I felt about them. Who are those women who have inspired me in my life in one way or another. So I start with my Wife & my Mother. I had to spend a lot of time deliberating on whom do I type first but then found it's tough to decide between the right & left eye. These are the two women who have constantly steered me in this world (even now as I type). My mother has taught me the 3Ps - Perseverance, Patience & Peace. These 3 qualities have come only from her, most of the time through indirect teaching. My wife has taught me the 3Cs - Compassion, Commitment & Control. If I exhibit any of these qualities, then it is they who have inculcated the quality inside of me. I would like to list a few of those who have truly inspired me till today, there is no logical order to it. MS.Subbulakshmi: Many of them do philanthropy by earning a lot and giving a bit of it but here is a person whose sole aim of earning for was giving it all. I always say - "many earned and gave, she yearned for giving". The quality of giving is what inspired me most after her devotion. Padmavati Anthagopalan: She was my first guru in Karnatic music and it's where I learnt the complete meaning of the guru-shishya relationship. While the class was on, she was a terror but the moment it was finished she was more than a mother. I can never forget her warmth in passing on the skill which she possessed to all children alike. Meenakshi Ammal: I would have spent many a days going without food in the US but for her book. I have never met her, but she has been my guru in cooking. Her book "ஸமைது பாற்" [Samaithu Paar or Cook & See] was my Bible. In fact if I can make the entire traditional south Indian meals delicacies [source; my wife] it's because of her and her style of writing which brings the cook inside everyone. Neethi Ravindran: Most of the younger generation of today may not know her but she was my inspiration for better diction and pronunciation in English. This new reader in Doordharshan was my benchmark in my school days and remain so till now. Shakuntala Devi: I was never good at maths (not claiming that now!!) and was very slow. It was only her book which prompted me to become faster in calculations. The books too were not abundantly avalialbe as today, had to borrow it from my friends and copy some of the quizzes and do it later. Remember those were era prior to the calculators. Hence, more the inspiration and effect was there on me. P.T Usha: If I have gained knowledge about time management it is from this person only. It's still vivid in my memory, the LA Olympics,1994 Women's 400m hurdles and she lost the bronze by 1/100th of a second. No one would be a better guide to time management then her. Every time when I feel "I don't have time" she appears in my mind to say - you have lots than what I had. Enid Blyton: My generation would be the last one which could connect with Enid Blyton stories, the kids of 1990s would have moved to Harry Potter & Artemis Fowl. I grew up with vivid imaginations from her famous five & secret seven series which was the only enjoyment during summer holidays. Even know when my daughter is reading the Wishing Chair Adventures, I also get transformed into that kids space. I think some of my creativity comes from this cognitive space. Dr.V. Shantha: I have never met her and for most of my first 20 years never even knew her name. It was when Cancer struck my immediate family did the name crop up and did I come to know of the famous institute in Adyar. She inspires me in her continuous effort to fight a deadly battle like Cancer and never is she perturbed by that deadly disease. I try to use this same logic as her for many of the fire-fighting escalations at my work place. Manorama Aachi: Only her name is enough, she embodies the entire film fraternity in one. Versatility is her middle name and that what inspires me in her. I have never seen a role played by her which is either not gripping or enjoyable. She lived and breathed acting as her sole passion, which was her success formula. Gabriela Sabatini: She connects with me in the aspect that she could never become No.1 since she was playing against GOD of tennis - Navratilova, Steffi, Monica Seles etc. I had throughout my school days 4 of my friends who always took the first 4 ranks. I always wrote exams to get only from 5th and downwards. It was her perseverance to play and loose like a champion against them which inspired me a lot. [why hide - its also her looks!!!] Malavika Sarukkai: She started learning at the age of 7 and went on to perform at 12 and still going on at 58. It's her single focus on perfection and continuous improvements which inspires me in her. Each of her performances are never the same and the quality keeps improving as time goes by. She has dedicated her life to dance and is so versatile in other forms of dance too. Ingrid Bergman: I have no reason but yet whenever I am down - I get positive energy seeing some of her Hitchcock movies with Cary Grant. Maybe her troubled childhood and how she struggled in her early life could be a reason but am not sure. I tried to figure out the reason why I picked here, I could have gone for Greta Garbo or Marilyn Monroe or anyone else. Still figuring it out - will update if I get the answer. J. Jayalalitha: Of course being in Madras one can't forget the Iron lady. What inspired me in JJ was her complete authority over the place. Even now I feel that she was the only person who gave it back to Karan Tapar [Referring Hard Talk interview in BBC] with style. Although I do not acknowledge all her actions but am truly amazed by her leadership skills. Imaging she has to manage more than 150 bunch of unruly men in her party and 235 in the legislative assembly standing all alone. Irom Sharmila: Imagine if a person can smile after fasting for around 700 straight weeks. This is what this women has done - for a public cause. She really inspires me and in fact should inspire every male on this planet. What a resolve and iron mindset that she has, it is something that I am still trying to achieve the similar focus and mindset. Savithri Ganesan : This is another person whom I have no specific reason but ignites some positive vibrations in me - especially when I see the movie Maya Bazaar. A very versatile personality with a charming face - an excellent actress, good singer and a decent director. There is some motherly compassionate attraction in her body language which makes me remind myself that I need to be compassionate to all (वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम - Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam) Kiran Bedi: The first lady in India to enter the IPS and in my school days was the most famous Police figure for us. Her actions to clean a very dirty system inspires me to say - nothing is impossible. Imagine she cleaned up the Tihar Jail system - its not an easy task. The other aspect of her is that she is ever smiling and always has a positive outlook. Have never seen her on the other side - angry and negative. Finally I have my school English teacher Mrs.Rajeshswari miss. I do not have her photo but have her entire teachings imprinted my memory. She was the one who encouraged me to start writing. My vocabulary used to be very low, horrible grammar (still is) and a very unfocused mind. She took extra efforts in me to such an extent that I can write blogs on good content today. She was the motivator for me to write skits for school/college plays which has finally transformed me into an aspiring to be blog writer. There are many more women and to all of them I pay my வந்தனம். Note; Except for my guru & English teacher - I have not met any of them in person and they still inspire me. Excerpt from Manusmriti 3.56 यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवता: । यत्रैतास्तु न पूज्यन्ते सर्वास्तत्राफला: क्रिया: ।। [Yatra Naryastu Pujyante Ramante Tatra Devata । Yatraitaastu Na Pujyante Sarvaastatrafalaah Kriyaah ।।] Meaning: "Where Women Are Honored , Divinity Blossoms There; And Where They Are Dishonored , All Action Remains Unfruitful." Thanks a lot for providing with this opportunity. Happy Women's Day (though belated)
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AuthorVasudevan is a Leadership Mentor and an Executive coach. I run an online website geared towards helping creative entrepreneurs and future managers to build their dreams. Archives
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