100 Years of Wow-man
EXPRESS FEATURES SERVICETags : International Women’s Day, 100 Years,Sonakshi Sinha, Onir, Girija Devi,Posted: Tue Mar 08 2011, 23:36 hrs
The International Women’s Day is a 100 years old today. That’s a century spent fighting for equality, to study, vote, work and get equal pay. Agitations, battles, deaths, births, triumphs... the decades wore on and the International Working Women’s Day, as it was first called in Copenhagen in 1910 by an international conference of socialist working women, became the chirpy IWD. Now it is a laborious cliché like modern womanhood itself. An obligatory consortium of ruminations and pledges, new promises to mask old broken ones, honours for women who make a difference and pink, pleasant hopes for those who don’t. In India, for some of us, realities have drastically changed, but for many, gheraoed by inequalities, the essence of the day still rings hollow. In that emptiness too, there is a story as IWD is a pop culture idea more open to interpretation than it ever was. To fuse a definitive script out of scattered accounts, Talk invited 13 well-known Indians to interpret modern Indian womanhood in any way they pleased. Through a caricature, a memory, a poem, a sketch, a dress, a film poster, a painting, a song... Here then, is the story of Everywoman who is 100 and counting.
Dr Prakash Kothari, sexologist
Madhubala suffered from congenital heart disease, but lived her life fully in 36 years. She excelled in her career and had a complete love life. Her beauty, versatile talent, iconic position in films and courage made the legendary actress my ideal of womanhood. I have saved this ticket for 49 years after watching Mughal-E-Azam at Golcha cinema, Mumbai in 1962.
Makrand Deshpande, actor
A modern woman does not have to say that she is a modern woman. A modern woman is anyone who can speak her mind. Modern women have gone beyond thinking about suppression. In the present age, Sanjana Kapoor is a modern woman. But we had modern women in the past as well like Barina Bai Chaudhary (a Marathi poet) who spoke her mind in her time.
A modern woman does not have to say that she is a modern woman. A modern woman is anyone who can speak her mind. Modern women have gone beyond thinking about suppression. In the present age, Sanjana Kapoor is a modern woman. But we had modern women in the past as well like Barina Bai Chaudhary (a Marathi poet) who spoke her mind in her time.
Prasad Bidappa, fashion consultant
My ideal of womanhood is Nargis in Mother India. Somehow the pain and the suffering seem to continue through generations and it seems that however much things change, they still remain the same. We undervalue our women in this country and we do this at our own peril.
My ideal of womanhood is Nargis in Mother India. Somehow the pain and the suffering seem to continue through generations and it seems that however much things change, they still remain the same. We undervalue our women in this country and we do this at our own peril.
Rohit Chawla, Fashion photographer
An increasing minority of so-called modern women are weighed down by the demands of their formidable handbags. They willingly gravitate towards the tyranny of their stilettos and a self-inflicted Botox syndrome, often heaped upon by the media, which perpetuates a generation of bleached blondes as fresh caricatures of Indian womanhood.
An increasing minority of so-called modern women are weighed down by the demands of their formidable handbags. They willingly gravitate towards the tyranny of their stilettos and a self-inflicted Botox syndrome, often heaped upon by the media, which perpetuates a generation of bleached blondes as fresh caricatures of Indian womanhood.
Rahul Mishra, Fashion Designer
I propose a reversible creation for the modern Indian woman. One side is Kerala Neriyath mundu fabric woven by a Muslim weaver from the North and the reverse is Benarasi silk by a Hindu weaver in the South. This garment transcends centuries and dynasties.
I propose a reversible creation for the modern Indian woman. One side is Kerala Neriyath mundu fabric woven by a Muslim weaver from the North and the reverse is Benarasi silk by a Hindu weaver in the South. This garment transcends centuries and dynasties.
Mithu Sen, artist
I humorously emphasise on one’s identity as a human being, which is not dependent on gender. Everyone has their set of issues that are not necessarily associated with being a man or woman. The photo montage and collage titled Half Full has self distortions, with my face on a man’s body, that denotes a narcissistic element.
I humorously emphasise on one’s identity as a human being, which is not dependent on gender. Everyone has their set of issues that are not necessarily associated with being a man or woman. The photo montage and collage titled Half Full has self distortions, with my face on a man’s body, that denotes a narcissistic element.
Sonakshi Sinha, actor
It’s really inspirational to see my mother Punam put her entire life on hold to raise us. It takes a lot of courage and selflessness to do that. She’s a beautiful person inside out, graceful, humble and very giving.She’s always been a huge support to me in my personal and professional life and I’m thankful to her for that. Whatever I am today, I’m because of my mother. She’s had a huge influence on my life and in me becoming the person that I am today.
It’s really inspirational to see my mother Punam put her entire life on hold to raise us. It takes a lot of courage and selflessness to do that. She’s a beautiful person inside out, graceful, humble and very giving.She’s always been a huge support to me in my personal and professional life and I’m thankful to her for that. Whatever I am today, I’m because of my mother. She’s had a huge influence on my life and in me becoming the person that I am today.
Bipasha basu, actor
It’s amazing how a woman of today can balance her work and personal life beautifully and without a complaint. She is an ace at all she does and studies show that we women are better than men in terms of playing multiple roles and in multi-tasking. I am proud to be born as a woman and I am happy to see that this day inspires women throughout the world to work towards equality. It is special because it marks the celebration of the economic, social, cultural and political achievements made by women over the years. Happy women’s day to all the lovely ladies in the world. Celebrate today and everyday.
It’s amazing how a woman of today can balance her work and personal life beautifully and without a complaint. She is an ace at all she does and studies show that we women are better than men in terms of playing multiple roles and in multi-tasking. I am proud to be born as a woman and I am happy to see that this day inspires women throughout the world to work towards equality. It is special because it marks the celebration of the economic, social, cultural and political achievements made by women over the years. Happy women’s day to all the lovely ladies in the world. Celebrate today and everyday.
Shruti Reddy, accessories designer
Madonna is the ideal image of womanhood for me; a timeless icon of women’s emancipation. She is relevant to Indian women today, because after decades of fighting for our own space, we are being able to reinvent ourselves, revel in our independence and be our own power houses.
Madonna is the ideal image of womanhood for me; a timeless icon of women’s emancipation. She is relevant to Indian women today, because after decades of fighting for our own space, we are being able to reinvent ourselves, revel in our independence and be our own power houses.
Lushin Dubey, theatre actor
Who better to share your definition of womanhood with than with your progeny —a part of you that you leave behind !
Who better to share your definition of womanhood with than with your progeny —a part of you that you leave behind !
And so, I say to my two beautiful daughters, “There is always a new reality and a new definition as we live in a world of change. To prove oneself in a man’s world, one need not desperately hang on to one’s feminine qualities only — one who can strike the right balance is the real, ultimate woman. Men find women complex they say, but it is precisely this intriguing cocktail that draws them to us, that intoxicates them! When you sit next to a person who is self-effacing and humble, allow yourself to soak it in. When you sit next to one full of himself/ herself, metamorphose into a patient listener. Womanhood is a celebration of the intrinsic strength and grace we possess. My daughters and I speak in unison when we say this:
I want to laugh more than I want to cry
I want to embrace pride
I want to live a hundred times a day
I want to live rather than say die.
I want to embrace pride
I want to live a hundred times a day
I want to live rather than say die.
Onir, filmmaker
This is an image that, for me, portrays the strength of a modern Indian woman. I am always amazed that they not only brave our crowded trains and jeering men every day to come to office, but one knows that apart from being working women, all of them have to go home and take care of husbands, sons, fathers, brothers. The women have stepped into modernity with dual roles, men mostly are yet to step into modernity by stepping in to help their working wives with household work.
This is an image that, for me, portrays the strength of a modern Indian woman. I am always amazed that they not only brave our crowded trains and jeering men every day to come to office, but one knows that apart from being working women, all of them have to go home and take care of husbands, sons, fathers, brothers. The women have stepped into modernity with dual roles, men mostly are yet to step into modernity by stepping in to help their working wives with household work.
Girija Devi, thumri singer
Even in mythology, it is not just Radha who felt the pain when Lord Krishna left Vrindavan. Krishna did not set foot in Vrindavan again but the parting was equally painful for him. He missed his spiritual inspiration with all his heart and that is when he must have sung this. I dedicate this thumri to the women of today.
Even in mythology, it is not just Radha who felt the pain when Lord Krishna left Vrindavan. Krishna did not set foot in Vrindavan again but the parting was equally painful for him. He missed his spiritual inspiration with all his heart and that is when he must have sung this. I dedicate this thumri to the women of today.
Ghir aye hain kaare badariya
Radhe bina laage na mora jiyara
Chin jamuna tat, chin kunjan mein
Viraha vyatha se dahat man
Radhe bin laage na mora jiyara
Radhe bina laage na mora jiyara
Chin jamuna tat, chin kunjan mein
Viraha vyatha se dahat man
Radhe bin laage na mora jiyara
(source: India Express)
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