limca Book of Records dedicated its silver jubilee edition to women achievers from different walks of life. Four awardees narrated their overwhelming stories and shared what kept them going while breaking barriers at every step. By Karan Bhardwaj
If one dedicated her life to animal welfare, the other braved tear gas and lathis while demanding equal rights for men and women. Each woman present at the Stein Auditorium to celebrate the silver jubilee edition of limca Book of Records had a brave account to share. Their passion and commitment to their causes have reasons, shocking revelations and inspiring tales behind them. We interacted with three such women.
WINGS TO FlY
Deepa Malik, para-athlete
Whenever I set records by jumping into rivers, driving cars on mountains, other women often asked me, ‘Are you allowed to do itIJ Does your husband and in-laws let you do all thisIJ’ I am forced to think that women empowerment in real sense is the ability to walk free. It is achieved when family and friends not only let you do what you want but also stand as a supporting system so that you don’t falter at any point. I suggest women to give up excuses. Bahano par jeena chhod do. I get up early for training, prepare for motivational lectures, cook for my kids, indulge in social work, drive myself and rehearse for sports. If I can do it all everyday on a wheelchair, why cannot othersIJ
The biggest challenge in my life was to accept my own disability. Overnight, I was paralysed below the chest. I underwent three major spinal surgeries and got 183 stitches between shoulder blades in 1999. I learnt about the new body, adapt to it not just physically but also emotionally. Everybody around me had an impression that I would die lamely inside a room. But I wanted to reclaim my life in a magnified manner. I was doing everything at home, being a mother and wife but it was not recognised. I was still considered a patient. Initially, I didn’t find a single woman who could tell me how to dress well sitting in a wheel chair. Was it alright to go out for workIJ There was no institution to tell you how to retain your own persona post trauma. It was a quest for my own identity. I want to convey that life is the only festival that you can celebrate. Why do we live on excuses, why do we choose depression over happiness and why don’t we identify those things which can rejuvenate us and make us a better human beingIJ
I recently made a national record by covering Chennai-Delhi in eight days driving across 3,278 kms. I am currently preparing for forthcoming Asian Games and has also established NGO called Will on Wheels (WOW).
‘ANIMAlS HAVE A HEART’
Geeta Seshamani, animal welfare activist
When I was four-year-old, my father gifted me a puppy (Himalayan mastiff). From then on, I had got a sense of responsibility which I felt even for a tree outside my house or an animal at my doorstep. At the moment, we have over 1,300 animals in four centres of Friendicoes and Wildlife SOS. While dealing with animals, I am amazed to see how sensitive animals are to their owners. I have seen dogs dying of heart breaks. Animals have taught me about love, communication, acceptance, patience and forgiveness. Even if they are bad-tempereed, there is honesty in their feeling which is absent in most of human beings.
Wildlife conservation has a scientific basis and is well-founded concern for environment and forests with a huge lobby talking about it whereas animal welfare is based on compassion which is difficult to explain. There is a huge man-animal conflict that is happening in urban areas. We are so impatient with cats, dogs, monkeys and birds. There is an overwhelming sense of fear and superstition associated to them. I can understand the farmer who’s upset if elephant takes away his hard work (crops) of three months but it is amazingly difficult why in urban setting, where people have utmost convenience at hand, cannot show a degree of patience for animals in their backyards. While cats, nilgai, reptiles, monkeys, dogs — all are struggling to survive, they have shown great resilience. Even though we play havoc with their living conditions, they are just trying to adapt to what is being served. Impatience comes from lack of respect. There is a total ignorance of what wildlife and nature is giving to us.
SEXUAl CONFlICT
Anjali Gopalan, lGBT activist
The joy of my life lies in the fact that I have been able to renew things in life. I am into animal welfare, HIV awareness, fight for lGBT rights. It has given me new lease of life. I have always believed that everyone has a right to adjust in equitable society. During my journey, I sensed that HIV is an incredibly political virus. It slaps on your face everyday and forces you to think what you are.
I will never forget the event that inspired me to fight against Section 377. A young man was given electric shocks in one of the leading hospitals in the city, because he was gay. I still remember that innocent face. Violation of rights is a normalcy in this country. Right now, I am going through a disappointed stage in my life because of Supreme Court’s latest decision of criminalising lGBT community. I would never come to terms with the verdict. You cannot decriminalise people and criminalise them again.