• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

The Sentinel CMYK CMYK JULY 14, 2018 POTPOURRI Jennifer & Divyanka Slay in Pants Useful Apps & Websites Sight & Sound Recipes from the Retrica, KineMaster, Tango - Live Jaya Seal Bags Best Award Winning Author Video Broadcast and others Actress For 'Alifa' Mridula Baljekar Saroj Khemka Her Voice of Silence Indrani Medhi A Woman of Substance We have thousand years of history and practice of interpret and narrate. By redefining whose voice is silencing women voices. The mechanism of wom- valued, we redefine our society and its values. But en suppression is embedded in our very culture. as women, we tend to quiet our voices when we Girls are taught early in their lives to always be most want to be heard. polite and "carefully regulate" their speech. "Nice In a similar context, I would like to refer to a movie girls don't talk back, don't say anything negative, that I had recently watched. The movie - Veere Di put a smile on your face", are some common preach- Wedding, which is about four friends dealing with ings taught by parents to young girls. Girls and life, love, marriage and heartbreak. But what makes women who often express their opinions with con- it a unique prospect is that the pack of the four fidence are seen as aggressive and dominant, and ladies who make their choices, stand by them, speak they’re not respected. In many patriarchal and out and have the guts to live their life they want. misogynist societies, a girl talking back is worse There’s nothing holding back the four gutsy girls. than almost anything we can dream about. And, They speak their mind out with fearless abandon, later, when boys enter the picture, a girl should while they’re talking about sex before marriage, "talk about his interests and never disagree." It is the lack of it post marriage and even more. They giggle and laugh over it and analyse their own situations in life with a certain objectivity, which many may or may not agree with. It’s refreshing to see a film present its women char- acters, in not just a progressive light, but also with umpteen flaws and cracks. It gives them the freedom to make mistakes and move on and that’s the beauty of it. The girls are un- abashed using cuss words to express their angst or get high and happy to let their hair down. They don’t feel compelled to explain them- selves or justify their actions, and that is one of the highlights of the film. They are like any other millennial girls who live their life care- free. We’ve rarely seen women on screen who believed that speaking out or sharing her mind in are so uninhibited about their life, sexuality and public erodes a women's self respect. Our society desires. In that respect, ‘Veere Di Wedding’ is a is accustomed only with women with imprisoned brave effort indeed. tongues. The historic and contemporary demand for female Gendered speech norms and the suppression of silence stems directly from the fear of what wom- women’s speech are extremely pervasive in India. en’s voices can do. If women start to speak to each New research confirms that women’s voices often other and to the world at large, the ideas of women Saroj Khemka is a woman of abundant power, determination, What is that one thing in each business model that appeals to you go unheard in the workplace; but men win for be- would threaten to influence and mould our society courage and humbleness. She is a serial entrepreneur and a the most? ing assertive. Women are not judged in the same from the top down in the same way that men’s social worker. She has made a foray into many enterprises and Running a fast-food centre "Gems": It helped me to reach out to way as men. When a woman speaks in a profes- voices have done for centuries. This fear—the fear industries. After her life partner's early demise, this woman of people; whether its kids, youth, adults, or elderly - and it turned sional setting, she walks a tightrope. Either she’s that women would influence our culture on social substance brought up her three children alone while managing me into a known face of Guwahati as I came to be famously known barely heard or she’s judged as too loud and aggres- and political levels—is rife and leads directly to her husband's business. With her confidence and hard work she as 'Gems Aunty'. sive. When a man says virtually the same thing, heads nod in appreciation for his fine piled up shingles over shingles attaining milestones. And at the Trading in Silk: The Exports helped me broaden my outlook of same time, she has been strikingly striking a balance of both idea. As a result, women often decide that business beyond our country. And thus, it helped me create a saying less is more. Almost every time they personal and professional lives. niche for myself. This doesn't end here. She has been proactively involved in a start to speak, they are interrupted before Manufacturing Silk machines for spinning and reeling of Erie and finishing their pitch. At work, when male variety of welfare and charitable organizations, actively Muga yarn: It facilitated easy access to the rural area all over the contributing towards the betterment of the society, but she doesn’t employees contribute ideas, they get signif- north-eastern states. icantly higher performance evaluations. But like to show it much. Here's another cue for your guess work, Other Manufacturing units for Hume pipes, tiles and blinds: Each though you can look at her photo, she is the "Gems" Aunty (fast female employees who speak up with equal- helped me to understand the government machinery and to handle ly valuable ideas do not impress their man- food centre). She served smiles right from there. Presenting Saroj better all the facets of the manufacturing process. Khemka, one of the founder members of FICCI Ladies agers’ perception of their performance. Also, Organization - Northeast Chapter, who was honoured with 2018 You established and rowed the boat of business, successfully and the more the men speak up, the more helpful FICCI FLO North-East Women Achievers Award of Excellence at the same time, you brought up up your children, all alone after their managers believe them to be which is For outstanding contribution in the field of Serial your husband left the world. You’re still doing that. How did you no way relevant in case of women. Entrepreneurship. Trust us, there is lot more to Saroj K, a woman strike that chord of balance? What kept you strong and going? Public speaking or opinion on politics is stereo- oppression and violence upon women. Then, of substance. Get to know through this interaction. My husband always inspired me to work boldly and with courage. typically associated with masculinity defining at- what’s the solution to it? I was absolutely devasted after my husband’s demise, but his tributes of maleness. In ancient Rome, a woman Today, it is high time we find ways to interrupt Tell us about yourself. inspirational words and the need to give my children a good future with views on politics was not considered a wom- gender bias. Women around the world seek for sup- I was born into a renowned business family in Shillong, which always gave me a strong motivation to keep going and perform. an by any definition. Silence is that allows people port today in speaking up and leading as who they was then capital of Assam. My parents, Ratanlal Singhania & The support from my parents, my brothers and my children always to suffer without recourse, that allows hypocri- truly are, rather than feeling like they have to sup- Mohini Devi Singhania gave me and my six siblings, good values kept me strong-willed to work against all odds. sies and lies to grow and flourish, crimes to go press a part of themselves in order to fit into a and instilled in us a bold and With a special reference unpunished. If our voices are essential aspects of masculine world of leadership. But, how can wom- Independent temperament. to your products' sale humanity, to be rendered voiceless means to be en ensure their voices are heard? The time for pub- I did my B.A. (Hons) in Political and popularity, give us a dehumanised or excluded from one’s humanity. lic speaking and leadership training that under- Science from St. Mary's College clue for the demand of Women oppression is often against our voices. It stands the feminine mind, and how it works, has and passed with a First Class in Assam silk or textiles in is a refusal of our voices, and of what a voice means come. Our world has never been more ready, or in 1974. I got married to Industrialist the past and now? - the right to self-determination, to participation, such deep need, of full throttle expression of fem- Sarat Kumar Khemka, at Muga was extremely to consent or dissent; to live and participate, to inine intelligence. It is the need of the hour now. Guwahati and we were blessed popular for foreign with three beautiful children - buyers in the past. They Aditi, Gautam & Mayank. were always in awe of the A FLASHBACK (ICONIC ACTRESS) All of them are married and now, natural Golden Silk. Its B. Saroja Devi opposite N.T. Rama Devi was married to Sri Harsha, I am a proud grandparent to 5 durability was also B.

Load more

  1

Copy Link