Strong Women

I came across the picture of Sarojini Naidu in an exhibition recently. It was an exhibition about the Indian National Movement and I was reminded of her remarkable career and life. People often forget that she is one of the few women who gained national importance during the freedom movement. She was one of the framers of the Indian Constitution. She was the first woman Governor in India (of the state of UP). Today she is totally overshadowed by Indira Gandhi.

 

She did her higher education in UK and yet she became an activist in the Indian freedom movement.She married a south Indian, a non-brahmin, which at the time was completely unacceptable. She led a normal married life and had 4 children. And today very few people would mention her when they talk about successful Indian women.  

I liked to look at the simple black and white photos at the exhibition which showed true and honest faces. They were not touched up or made up in any way. And what a contrast we have today when women in power have to constantly change their looks or style in order to look contemporary. Sarojini Naidu was a strong and intelligent woman who knew her mind and took her own decisions. She did not care for accolades or attention. Today, the importance has shifted only to the appearance of the famous women of power, not the substance. Whether it is Priyanka Gandhi or Michelle Obama, there is more attention given to their attire than their attitude.

Inspite of all this feminist talk, I find that I still  teach my daughter to be obedient and well mannered. Even when the child is most naturally well mannered I do check her behaviour when she expresses her disappointment with the world at large. I wish to rise above those conventional ideas and let my daughter assert herself and show her anger if she so wishes. Outward appearances and behaviour are not as important as the will power or internal strength of the person. Ultimately it is not niceness to others that matters as much as truth and honesty with your own self.