Raising a toast to women

They do not belong to illustrious backgrounds and most of them have earned it from scratch. dna in conversation with Kainaz Messman, Anna Singh, Ira Dubey and Kamal Sidhu about women power.

Do we still need a reason to celebrate?
As women world over struggle for their basic rights and dignity, one wonders if it is fair to dedicate just one day to the celebration of womanhood? Most would argue that International Women's Day has lost its charm but entrepreneur Kainaz Messman begs to differ. "If there is a Mother's Day, then why not have a Women's Day too?" she questions.

The brains behind Theobrama, this SoBo baker finds support in Ira Dubey, "As long as the day stands for something relevant, it makes sense," she argues. Dubey is of the opinion that if International Women's Day serves as a forum or a platform, where women can revisit and talk about the things that are important and relevant, it should be celebrated in all its glory. "It will bring in new perspective and help address issues that are relevant today," she adds.

As women's achievements world over are celebrated with glory and pride on March 8, there are a few like fashion designer Anna Singh who feel that the celebrations should not be restricted to a single day. "Women are celebrating themselves everyday. They are pretty empowered. There is no need to restrict ourselves to celebrating womanhood on just one day!" she points out.

On a philosophical note, Kamal Sidhu terms the day as an 'omnipresent state of mind' — a kind of affair within a woman, among women, mankind and the universe. "There should be no need for an alarm like reminder if we continually live in the present, be aware of the responsibility we have towards each other and the love that binds us together," she adds.

A man's world?
We live in no utopia. As one delves slightly deeper, you will notice that gender based discriminations are present in every profession. "The question of equal rights would be irrelevant; ludicrous in fact, as we understand from a place deep within our core that power over gender is futile," gushes Sidhu.

In most industries, the popular notion is that men are the money spinners. Nothing could be farther from the truth says Singh, "Look around you. There are so many leading ladies calling the shots in Bollywood." While Dubey is glad that there is a certain democracy in the space of theatre, she agrees that the rules in Bollywood still need to undergo a change of sorts."It should believe in the notion of star power—the star could be a woman, a man or a child. Great playwrights have written wonderful parts for women. Women have a voice of their own, we have as many rights as men do. However, I still get to read scripts by male directors in Bollywood, who still believe that a film is driven by a hero."

Ira adds, "Kudos to women who are breaking the starry space. It is gratifying to see women taking their craft seriously." She urges women to celebrate themselves, "I have made a conscious effort to focus on myself and grow into a better person every year. We women have a voice of our own and as many rights as men do. It is about being aware of these rights."

Each profession comes with its share of challenges and for women in the food industry, life can be tough given the late hours of work and the physical demands of the job. Messman says, "When I joined the food industry, it was completely male dominated. I have seen a shift in the last six-seven years with more and more women opting for food-related careers. Women feel the need to educate themselves and they are making an effort in spite of the physical demands of the job."

The Indian woman is on the cusp of change, but there's need for more support from men. The yin and the yang need to work together. "There are supportive men out there — my husband, father and brothers to name a few," says Sidhu, "We need men like these to continue to set the example. We do not need high profile men whining when women make as much money as they do, we require them to applaud it," she adds.