Successful Women

I asked the women today to tell us about some women they consider to be successful. The women they talked of are as follows:
Indira Ghandi -- first woman Prim Minister in India. She gave land rights to the poor people and gave women the right to vote. She was Brahmin but married a Moslem. She was broad-minded, brave and fearless. She did politics without "pressure" of men (ie. she wan't just pushed into it by father, uncle, or some other man -- it was her choice.)

Queen Luxmibai: Her husband died and the British East India Company didn't want her baby, adopted son to ascend to the throne. They wanted the kingdom. She was a famous freedom fighter in the uprisings of 1857. She fought the British with her little baby son on her back. A British solder sliced across her right shouder and chest. She switched the sword to her left hand and continued fighting until she died. The kingdom of Jhansi was named for her -- it is now part of Rhagistan.

Kiran (sunlight) Bedi: An Indian Police Service officer who did many good things for prisoners in jail. She thought they were human and had many circumstances surrounding the crimes that took them to prison. The prisoners were treated by the government as animals. She started meditation camps and prayer for the prisoners, let them listen to music, take dance classes and other training. She resigned when a man was put in the highest position in the Service instead of her. She resigned and started an NGO working for women. She also started a series on TV in which she is the actress and solves cases.

Prativha Patel -- the current first woman president of India.

Sonja Ghandi - President of the Congress party.

I asked the women what characteristics successful women have. The qualities are as follows:
Education, independence, self confidence, considers others as equals, is concerned for and acts for the poor and oppressed, selfless, capable of making decisions, thinks for herself rather than having her thoughts based on what family or government says, brave, accepts challenges, and becomes like whomever she is working with (e.g. if she is working with children, becomes like a child; if she is working with poor, becomes as they are.)

I also asked if a woman had to do big things like becoming Prime Minister to be successful. The unanimous answer was no, that their mother's were successful. Their mothers were brave enough to see that their daughters studied English even when others said, what will that girl do with English. Their mothers face hardships because of the time the women take to come to learn English. Their mothers have faced and do face many difficulties and don't want their daughters to have to face the same ones, but want things to be better for their daughters. The women are the heart of the family and hold things together.

I was much moved by the womens' view of success. What wonderful qualities to aspire for and to be developing in themselves!!!!