WOMEN OF SUBSTANCE
The process of evolution always makes an interesting subject. And whoever
says that only Darwin`s Theory qualifies to be the forerunner of all
evolution theories, hasn`t really known the womenkind. And if it`s the
Indian Woman.
Her progress from the purdah to being leader in the millennium continues
to baffle and enthrall all around her. Every decade brings in a new leader
The breed of Indira Gandhi, Medha Patkar, Mother Teresa, Hema Malini, Zeenat
Aman, Mrinalini Sarabhai, Aparna Sen, P T Usha, continue to go on…
THE ETERNAL FLAME
India`s first woman astronaut leads the pack in leaps and bounds.
Kalpana Chawla`s story is the the stuff of a legend, and even in her
untimely and unnatural death, Kalpana shines like a beacon.
From Karnal to Karnieval goes the saying, every Indian woman can vouch
that it has been sheer determination, passion and perserverance for this
Indian lady to achieve her dreams.
Every Indian lady will vouch that they would rather give in to not only
the gender biases, but also the societal pressure and compromise their
dreams.
Inspired by J R D Tata, Patty Wagstaff, explorer Peter Matthiessen,
Kalpana Chawla often said, "When I read about these people, I think the one
thing that just stands out is their perseverance in how they carried out
what they wished to carry out."
The same can be said of Kalpana Chawla today. People, irrespective of
their gender or race, are inspired by the Kalpana Chawla story. "Her life is
an inspiration to us all," says Jillian Jayakumar of Concord.
"Dr. Chawla`s success showed us that a woman from India can overcome
great obstacles, become a great success and go to a place we can only
imagine."
Thus the `hero` to all womenkind across the world, died with her shoes
on, on that fateful day of the Columbia Disintergration.
"It`s amazing, addictive. The first view of the Earth is magical," Chawla
told a newspaper in India in 1998. "It is a very overpowering realization
that the Earth is so small. It affected me. I could not get over the notion
that in such a small planet, with such a small ribbon of life, so much goes
on."
Kalpana Chawla went where she always wanted to be - one with the
universe. But even in her death, she`s left a legacy of several budding
Kalpana Chawlas who can now dream of going where no woman ever dared to go.