OCTOBER 25 - 31, 2020 HERE . NOW UNLEASHING WOMEN P 3,4 POWER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 SUNDAY POST OCTOBER 25-31, 2020 MIXED BAG Manoj Mishra, one of the fearsome villains of Odia film industry, recently wrapped up shoot for his upcoming web series ‘Anthony’ and is currently shooting for an untitled Hindi movie. The National School of Drama (NSD) alumnus loves to show off his culinary skills on non-working Sundays. Socialisation No gym I have very limited friends. On non- Though I am a fitness working Sundays, we organise small enthusiast, I make a get-togethers to have a gala time. conscious effort not to burn calories on Sundays. I give my body rest by not hitting the gyms. Film buff Being a part of the film industry, my Sundays are Manoj with fans incomplete if I don’t watch some meaningful movies. I enjoy a couple of Rest day good films on Sundays. If Monday is for blues With veteran actor Anupam Kher and Thursdays for throwback, Sunday is the day of joy. For me, a Mommie dearest Sunday well spent brings a week of contentment. My mother is my best friend forever But actors hardly get (BFF). Due to hectic shooting non-working Sundays. schedules, I hardly get opportunities When I don’t shoot on to spend time with her. On Sundays, Sundays, I like to relax. I make it a point to be with her. With actor Anu Choudhury Chef by choice On Sundays I love to don a chef's apron and cook a few unique chicken dishes to satiate my taste buds. With actors Atul Kulkarni and Tanikella Bharani RASHMI REKHA DAS, OP TIME FOR A BREAK A PROUD MOMENT LETTERS Sir, I liked the cover article Navaratri Legends Sir, Being an Odia, I am excited to learn that published in the last edition. Though people from Bhubaneswar-based banker and social activist across the country celebrate the occasion with pomp Rosa has won the Opera Mrs India Global 2020 and gaiety, they hardly know the significance of the title beating sixty other finalists in an online festivity. Women, in particular, keep fasting and follow beauty contest held last week. I would like to other spiritual practices during this period. They congratulate Rosa for making the state proud. abstain from eating non-veg dishes. My mother too I was really impressed by her answers when the follows all these rituals. However, she has not much jury asked Rosa on how she would deal with rape knowledge about the legends behind celebrating the cases if she is made the Prime Minister of India. festival. Then, I searched on the Internet and got to Her plan of settling such cases in fast track know that Navratri or the ‘nine nights’ is that time of courts in three months since the laws on rape the year when you get the chance to experience deep and sexual harassment are not stringent in India A WORD FOR READERS rest. This deep rest brings freedom from all kinds of shows her astuteness. She was also pragmatic in Sunday POST is serving a botherations. Fasting, meditation, prayers, and other her response when she said self-defence training platter of delectable fare every spiritual practices performed during this period help will be made mandatory in schools. week, or so we hope. We want bring about this deep rest. I loved the article because readers to interact with us. Please it depicted the legends behind the festivity. RUDRA PRASAD SAHOO, SAMBALPUR send in your opinions, queries, comments and contributions to SUBHASHREE KANUNGO, CUTTACK [email protected] B-15, Industrial Estate, Rasulgarh, Bhubaneswar – 751010, Orissa. Phone (0674) 2549982, 2549948 SUNDAY POST OCTOBER 25-31, 2020 COVER UNLEASHING WOMEN POWER Rajalaxmi Das, 63, decided to remain a spinster all her life to take care of her ailing parents and work for the wellbeing of the inmates of a Bhubaneswar-based leprosy colony RASHMI REKHA DAS, OP none to look after her ailing parents. stopped doing businesses. Situation compelled being of leprosy patients. Every girl wants to settle down in life, me to sell stationery items for a living,” she “I started celebrating Republic Day, urga puja is the festival of the feminine have kids and a good life partner. But Rajlaxmi said while narrating the roller coaster ride Independence Day and other festivities at power or Shakti, the source of all decided not to get married to take care of of her life. Leprosy colony. Thanks to my efforts, the Dcreation and energy on the earth her parents. “I had lots of responsibilities. Rajlaxmi was an excellent cook and her children of leprosy colony started going to and goddess Durga took many different My elder sister tried to help me but couldn’t culinary skill brought her close to former school. They were given water and electricity avatars depending on the need and situation due to the pressure from her in-laws. That Chief Minister Biju Patnaik. connections too. Besides, pucca houses were she was presented with. Every woman reflects made me realise that I would not be able to “I have cooked at many of his functions provided to 39 families of a colony,” said a this trait in her daily life, smoothly transforming serve my parents properly if I get settled and became quite close to him. Once I got proud Rajlaxmi. In the meantime, she secured from wife, to mother, to employee to sister down. So, I decided to remain a spinster to an opportunity to talk to him when I suggested a degree in law and joined the Odisha State and to playing several other roles. An ordinary look after my parents.” him to provide free education to kids of Commission for Protection of Child Rights woman, much like Durga who fought fierce As her father’s pension leprosy patients. At that time leprosy patients after spending ten years at consumer forum battles against demon Mahisashura without was not adequate to meet were untouchables in the society. Getting as its member. She also works as a counselor support of any male, can unleash her power household expenses, she education was a distant dream for their kids. at Madhyam, a women support centre to and strike back when the need arises. ran a typing training insti- I wanted them to be educated. I urged Biju provide services including counselling, emo- Ahead of Vijaya Dashami, a day that tution apart from providing Babu to do something for the people who tional support and crisis intervention. marks the triumph of good over evil, tuitions to school stu- live in leprosy colony, Bhubaneswar.” Rajlaxmi has certainly faced a lot of Sunday POST profiles a few women who dents. She also set up Biju babu liked the idea and involved hurdles in life but managed to overcome have fought all odds with no partner by a dairy farm and Rajlaxmi in a project meant for the well them single-handedly. their sides and emerged victorious. started selling milk to supplement the Rajalaxmi Das family income. Rajalaxmi Das works as member expert Later, of Child Welfare Committee, Khurda. The Rajalaxmi bought 63-year-old decided to remain a spinster to a car in 1987 so take care of her ailing parents. But Rajalaxmi that her father could is not just a good daughter, she has changed be taken smoothly many lives over the years. to hospital for his “I was barely five when my brother died regular health check- in a road mishap at the age of 23. My mother ups. She used the car lost her mental balance after that tragedy. as a taxi and was able Then my maternal grandmother started to purchase two more looking after me and my two elder sisters. cars from what she When I was in Class V, my grandmother earned from the first too died soon after the marriage of my eldest car. The travel busi- sister in 1967. Left with no choice, my ness was about to other sister and I had to do household chores flourish when three and look after our mother.” people came Situation became difficult after her sister’s under the marriage in 1979. She took full responsibility wheels of one of her parents and had to make time for of her cars and studies. died in 1993. In the meantime, Rajalaxmi got the job “The in- of an airhostess and then she was also selected cident left me as a teacher in Kendriya Vidyalay. But she in a state of Rajalaxmi at a mass marriage ceremony couldn’t join any of the jobs as there was shock and I SUNDAY POST OCTOBER 25-31, 2020 COVER Kasturi Patnaik for society. Her father Nityananda Mohapatra Multitalented Kasturi was an agriculture overseer. She and her six Patnaik is another case in point. siblings were leading a comfortable life till She is a special educator to children her father quit his job to look after her grand- with hearing impairment, an Odissi father’s business. But it didn’t work and he dancer and a super chef. She had a suffered huge losses. But he didn’t let his love marriage but unfortunately the re- children discontinue their studies. lationship turned sour after a few days. “It was difficult for him to run a family Failing to reconcile, she got separated of eight. When I expressed my desire to from her husband. Expectedly, many didn’t pursue Plus II, he asked me to join ITI. take it too kindly. But people’s criticism However, with financial help from my didn’t affect her morale.