This year on the occasion of the International Women's Day which falls on March 8, THE WEEK which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, honoured 40 Sheroes - women frontline healthcare workers from Mumbai who played a crucial role in saving lives during the Covid-19 pandemic. Felicitating the Sheroes were five illustrious women from diverse walks of life who have survived their own battles and established a path of success for themselves. they continue to be role models of inspiration for millions of young Indian women from across the country's cities and hinterlands.
The five women stalwarts--singer and businesswoman Ananya Birla, actor Swara Bhasker, Commander (Retd) Prasanna E who was earlier with the Indian Navy, Dr Pragya Yadav who is the head of the ICMR's Biosafety Level 4 lab, Dr Kiran Coelho, a noted celebrity gynecologist and reproductive health expert -- whom THE WEEK felicitated, were also a part of a panel discussion on the theme: 'Indian women pathbreakers: Shaping a new dream.' The discussion was an enriching and an inspiring one as it touched upon subjects from breaking rules to following one's heart to negotiating a man's world with the grit and determination of pursuing one's dreams and more.
While Swara spoke about how she has been dodging trolls and death threats while continuing to pursue her goals and never shying to give out her strong opinions on socio-political issues, Ananya added on how important it is for women to believe in their own dreams and in themselves before they can even think of taking on society’s perspective of them which at times does not go beyond questions about love and marriage. Dr Pragya spoke about the way she and her team at the ICMR-NIV (National Institute of Virology) which is headed by a woman, burnt the midnight oil for months on end while they had to live away from their families for fear of catching infections, while Dr Kiran spoke about the absolute need and compulsion for women to get themselves checked annually for ailments. Commander Prasanna shared her personal story of how she, along with her band of five women warriors fought for the rights of women in the armed forces to have job security via permanent commission. Once approved, this will enable millions of young girls to join the navy and other forces on the Permanent Commission.
While the panel discussion ended on a high note of women-led aspiration, ambition and passion, one thing that ran common across the women in the room was the feeling of hope. Hope for a better tomorrow and for a better future for our girls and women in which they can live the dream they dream and don't have to bow down to rules which others make for them. Sponsored by Canara Bank, Jyothy Labs, Indian Oil Corporation, THE WEEK's tribute to women on Women's Day turned out to be a grand success.