Ladies of Virtue Outreach CIC (LOVO) is at the forefront of community empowerment, tackling challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and domestic violence. LOVO nurtures individual potential through its core pillars: Community, Growth, Gratitude, Self-Care, and Wisdom. The £10,000 donation from Tilda will fund LOVO’s English language programmes and the weekly global lunches for 12 months, expanding their ability to reach and support more women in need.
Tilda is proud to announce its partnership with Ladies of Virtue Outreach CIC (LOVO), a non-profit organisation dedicated to engaging, equipping, and inspiring women and their families. As part of this partnership, Tilda will donate £10,000 to support LOVO’s initiatives over the next 12 months. In addition, the partnership will involve multiple joint community initiatives aimed at celebrating cultural diversity and empowering women.
Ladies of Virtue Outreach CIC (LOVO) is at the forefront of community empowerment, tackling challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and domestic violence. LOVO nurtures individual potential through its core pillars: Community, Growth, Gratitude, Self-Care, and Wisdom. A cornerstone of LOVO’s mission is their weekly global lunch in Peckham, where women from diverse cultural backgrounds come together to share traditional dishes. Given that rice is a common ingredient in these meals, Tilda’s support aligns perfectly with LOVO’s celebration of cultural diversity and unity.
The £10,000 donation from Tilda will fund LOVO’s English language programmes and the weekly global lunches for 12 months, expanding their ability to reach and support more women in need. “This partnership with Tilda is a significant step forward for our organisation,” said Ola Olive Stephen, Founder & Director of LOVO. “The funds will enable us to reach more women and provide them with the tools and support they need to overcome their challenges and lead fulfilling lives.”
In addition to financial support, the Tilda x LOVO collaboration will include a series of community events in 2024, engaging local communities and providing valuable support and resources. The first joint event in June featured a vibrant community gathering in Peckham, with activities such as a Zumba class, a nutritionist talk, and a well-being session. Looking ahead, the partnership will continue with a second major event in September, promising to further amplify the impact of this collaboration.
“We are honoured to partner with LOVO on its mission to empower women now and in the future,” said Jean Phillipe, Managing Director of Tilda. “At Tilda, we are committed to supporting initiatives that align with our belief in the importance of strengthening our community and cultural diversity.”
Tilda’s B Corp certification in 2023 underscores its commitment to meeting high standards of social and environmental responsibility. This partnership marks a significant milestone in Tilda’s ongoing efforts to contribute positively to society by supporting organisations championing diversity. Together with LOVO, Tilda looks forward to making a tangible difference in the lives of women and their families, creating a future where life in all its flavours can thrive.
While GenAI can act as an equaliser for women in tech, only 35 per cent of surveyed women respondents felt completely prepared by their employers…reports Asian Lite News
A significant majority of women find it crucial to use Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) to boost their careers, yet only one-third are prepared by employers to use the technology, said a report on Thursday.
The report by the IT industry’s apex body Nasscom was launched on the sidelines of the Nasscom Global Inclusion Summit at Bengaluru.
The findings point out that women view Gen AI tools as a significant boost to their perceived competence. About 45 per cent of the surveyed women in tech roles experienced higher confidence compared to their non-tech peers.
In addition, the report outlined that Gen AI adoption is driven by efficiency and innovation, acknowledging its transformative potential.
About 95 per cent of junior, 96 per cent of mid-management, and 100 per cent of senior management women are ready to invest more time to achieve professional success in GenAI. And 1 in 5 women was also found to use GenAI tools almost daily with nearly 35 per cent of senior management women reporting daily usage.
While GenAI can act as an equaliser for women in tech, only 35 per cent of surveyed women respondents felt completely prepared by their employers.
Further, challenges for the lower adoption and usage of GenAI tools among women include limited knowledge, lack of trust, restricted access to these tools, and fear of competence scrutiny. From entry-level roles to the C-suite, women consistently point to knowledge gaps as the primary challenge in adopting Gen AI, the report said.
Despite significant progress in diversity and AI/Gen AI adoption, Sangeeta Gupta, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, Nasscom, voiced out the substantial gaps that continue to limit women’s full potential in the tech industry.
She noted that as “Gen AI is set to dominate the tech industry, it is critical to address key challenges, to empower women in these roles”.
Sreyssha George, Managing Director and Partner, at Boston Consulting Group added that while “globally, senior women lead in GenAI adoption, India lags with a 64 per cent gender disparity in AI leadership”.
She stated that to “capture the $320 billion AI market, India’s tech sector needs diversity”.
“This will ensure effective systems by eliminating biases and incorporating varying ethical perspectives,” George said
To bridge the gender gap, the report called out organisations to play a pivotal role in driving GenAI adoption by creating environments that support and encourage these technologies.
Indians, particularly postmenopausal women, are at high risk of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis due to a deficiency in vitamin D, crucial for bone health. To prevent severe issues, it’s essential to seek medical help early, ideally at the first signs of weakness or bone pain. Ensuring high levels of vitamin D and vitamin B12 is the key to preventing joint problems…reports Asian Lite News
Bone and joint issues are increasingly common, especially in females and on National Bone and Health Joint Day, experts highlight the different causes and effects in males and females, necessitating tailored treatment approaches.
For males, higher participation in contact sports, occupational hazards, and lifestyle choices such as poor diet and smoking contribute to bone and joint issues, while in females, hormonal changes, autoimmune diseases and lower calcium and vitamin D consumption are primary contributors, which necessitates tailored changes for both genders during treatment.
“Males may be more susceptible to sports-related injuries, but females may experience chronic pain issues with long-term consequences. Both genders have unique problems in terms of bone and joint health. Males may sustain acute injuries, whereas females are frequently impacted by chronic illnesses caused by hormonal shifts. Understanding these disparities is critical for designing effective treatment options that are tailored to the unique needs of each gender. Recognising the intricate interaction of factors that influence pain in bone and joint health is critical for encouraging improved health outcomes for all,” Dr Aprameya Joshi, Orthopaedic at Ruby Hall Clinic, told IANS.
Indians, particularly postmenopausal women, are at high risk of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis due to a deficiency in vitamin D, crucial for bone health. To prevent severe issues, it’s essential to seek medical help early, ideally at the first signs of weakness or bone pain. Ensuring high levels of vitamin D and vitamin B12 is the key to preventing joint problems.
“70-90 per cent of the Indian population is estimated to have a deficiency in vitamin D, which is critical for bone health. Postmenopausal women are particularly at high risk, with 1 in 3 women over the age of 50 suffering from osteoporosis. Women, particularly postmenopausal women, are more susceptible to osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. To prevent such outcomes, ensure high levels of vitamin D (ideally between 80 and 90) and vitamin B12,” Dr Debashish Chanda, Lead Consultant, Orthopaedics & Joint Replacement, CK Birla Hospital, told.
Arundhati Bhattacharya emphasized the significance of comprehending why women exit the workforce and offering them flexible work schedules and locations to retain them…reports Asian Lite News
Former SBI Chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya on Friday raised concern over the fact that a very small percentage of women make it to the senior management in different organisations.
She made the comments while delivering her special address during CII’s Rajasthan Women Leadership Summit in Jaipur.
“The reason for this is that women often exit the workforce at various stages, such as during childbearing, when their children are between classes 10 to 12, or when they need to care for the elderly at home. The women workforce should be provided with flexible work schedules and locations,” she said and added that women should make up to 40 to 50 per cent of an organisation’s workforce.
To retain women in the workforce, it is important to understand why they leave and provide them with flexible work schedules and locations, said Bhattacharya.
Bhattacharya, who was the first woman chairperson of SBI, further cited the example of how introducing the concept of a sabbatical for up to two years for women in SBI helped more than 650 women retain their jobs.
Talking about skilling, she said that with the leap in technology, there is a need to keep learning, relearning, and unlearning.
“Skilling is a matter of initiative, as plenty of online courses are now available.”
Sanjay Agarwal, Founder, Managing Director and CEO of AU Small Finance Bank, emphasised the importance of enhancing the visibility of women in the workforce.
He acknowledged that while women are indeed working, their contributions and the time they dedicate to their jobs often go unnoticed or undervalued.
Agarwal stressed that it is crucial for organisations to recognise and appreciate the efforts of female employees, ensuring that their hard work is acknowledged and rewarded.
He also highlighted the need for creating a supportive and secure work environment for women, he said.
Nitin Gupta, Senior Director and Head of CII Rajasthan, said that the primary aim of the summit is to create a platform where women leaders would share their experiences, how they surmounted challenges on their leadership journey and what were the pivotal moments or the events that transformed them as individuals and leaders.
During her welcome remarks, Indian Women Network Chairwoman, Rajasthan, Tanuja Agarwal, said that the objective of the session is to discuss the role of women in nurturing organisational growth.
The Vote of Thanks on the occasion was proposed by Co-Vice Chairwoman, IWN Rajasthan, Nivedita Sarda.
The International Day of Yoga is observed with a yoga session attended by Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India, at the North Lawn at UN Headquarters.
Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed (centre of image) participates in the yoga session.
At left centre is Richard Gere.
According to experts, yoga promotes physical fitness by improving flexibility, strength, and balance, which are crucial for overall well-being…reports Asian Lite News
Regular practice of yoga offers numerous benefits for women in managing their health, such as it can help manage stress, anxiety, and mood swings more effectively, experts said on the International Day of Yoga (IDY) on Friday.
The International Day of Yoga is celebrated worldwide annually on June 21, following its adoption by the United Nations in 2014.
The initiative for “Yoga Day” was taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 2014 UN address.
According to experts, yoga promotes physical fitness by improving flexibility, strength, and balance, which are crucial for overall well-being.
“It also enhances cardiovascular health and supports weight management, which can be particularly beneficial for women at different stages of life. Beyond the physical benefits, yoga cultivates mental clarity and emotional stability through mindful breathing and meditation practices,” Dr Jyoti Kapoor, Founder & Director, Manasthali Wellness, told.
This year’s theme of IDY was ‘Yoga for Self and Society’, emphasising yoga’s vital role in fostering both individual well-being and societal harmony.
Emerging research showed that yoga can significantly benefit women dealing with neurological issues, the experts mentioned.
“Yoga encourages neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to reorganise itself, which can aid in recovery from neurological disorders and improve cognitive function. Yoga’s physical postures and relaxation techniques can reduce chronic pain by improving flexibility, strength, and pain perception,” said Dr Rajnish Kumar, Senior Director and Unit Head, Neurology, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Dwarka.
In addition, experts said that whether seeking relief from menstrual discomfort, managing conditions like PCOS or menopause symptoms, or simply striving for greater vitality, the regular practice of yoga provides a holistic approach to “women’s health that nourishes both body and spirit”.
Jawairia Merchant, chef and founder of Thai Naam, Mumbai, remembered how her initial inspiration for cooking stemmed from her mother, making Mother’s Day particularly significant for her…reports Asian Lite News
Mother’s Day holds a special place in most people’s lives. It is a day when families come together to acknowledge a mother’s love for nurturing and shaping the lives of their children.
As this auspicious day dawns upon us, let us explore how women chefs are honouring their mothers and what culinary delights they are preparing to celebrate the occasion.
Chef Gitanjali Verma, Senior Faculty (Culinary) at The Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development (OCLD), Delhi, said that her understanding of a mother’s responsibility deepened when she got to perform first-hand. She noted, “A day is not enough to celebrate the most important person in our life, for me every day is Mother’s Day.”
Sharing an anecdote, Gitanjali fondly remembered her childhood days spent in her mother’s kitchen, where she would often create delightful chaos. Despite the mess, her mother always encouraged her creativity, making the kitchen her sanctuary — a space where she could freely express herself through culinary adventures whenever she sought respite from her studies.
For the special day, Gitanjali is preparing her mother’s favourite, the Peruvian ceviche. A delightful dish, Gitanjali explained, “it typically consists of fresh raw fish marinated in citrus juices, primarily lime or lemon, which effectively ‘cooks’ the fish through a process called ‘denaturation’. The dish is then seasoned with onions, chilli peppers, salt and cilantro, creating a refreshing and tangy flavour profile.”
Jawairia Merchant, chef and founder of Thai Naam, Mumbai, remembered how her initial inspiration for cooking stemmed from her mother, making Mother’s Day particularly significant for her.
“As a child, my mother was my role model — always composed and unruffled, especially in the kitchen,” Jawairia said. “I have strived to emulate her calm demeanour throughout my culinary journey. She possessed a knack for quick fixes in the kitchen, always having a solution for mishaps. My mother remains my primary and most influential source of inspiration, shaping me into the cook I am today.”
Jawairia’s mother loves seafood, so the good daughter is preparing a mango fish curry for her on this occasion.
Juggling work commitments and family responsibilities can be challenging, but for Saraswati Devi Ahirwar, who serves as a chef at Fat Tiger in Gurugram, being a mother alongside her culinary career brings her profound happiness. Infusing her dishes with a touch of maternal care is her secret ingredient. She believes it enhances the flavours and makes her creations truly delightful.
On this Mother’s Day, Saraswati is cooking a mouthwatering vegetarian pasta, the red hot arrabbiata, for her mom.
Saraswati outlined her recipe for red hot arrabbiata. She explained, “First, I will cook some penne pasta until they are just perfect. After that, I will cook some minced garlic and chopped onion in olive oil until they are perfectly soft. After this, I will add some diced red and yellow bell peppers and cook them until they are nice and tender. Then, I will add some chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, and a blend of dried oregano and red pepper flakes.”
Concluding her recipe, Saraswati said, “After letting everything cook for a while, I will mix them with the cooked penne pasta until it is well coated with the sauce. And finally, I will garnish the dish with freshly chopped parsley on top for a burst of colour and freshness.”
For Ashna Mehta, chef and co-founder of Cafe 49, Mumbai, “Mother’s Day is all about celebrating the real superwoman in our lives — the one who has raised and nurtured us, and stayed up all night, taken care of our tantrums and ensured we never went to bed hungry.”
Continuing her ode to her mother, Ashna added, “She is a true force of nature, an epitome of selflessness and love, the rock of the family who possesses unwavering strength that keeps everyone together.” And to treat her mother “as the queen she truly is”, Ashna is whipping up a Hazelnut Teacake.
For Singapore-based celebrity chef Sarab Kapoor, Mother’s Day is not about receiving material tokens of affection. What matters to her is knowing her children feel loved and supported and that they have someone they can always rely on.
Sarab, sadly, lost her mother recently, but she plans to honour her memory by preparing Gajar Halwa and Phirni. “Cooking these desserts is not just about satisfying my cravings; it’s also a way for me to feel closer to my mother and to keep her memory alive through the flavours she cherished most,” Sarab said.
Chef Megami Mehta, a junior sous chef at The Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi, said her mother has been incredibly supportive of her culinary journey and is always willing to taste-test her crazy food experiments.
On this special day, Megami is preparing a chicken casserole for her mother. It is her way of recognising the immense role that mothers play as “pillars of strength in our lives”.
Reflecting on moments shared with her mother, Megami said, “Countless times, my mom and I have shared hearty laughs over spilt ingredients or unplanned kitchen blunders. Through it all, she has instilled in me the value of embracing cooking with a positive spirit, even amid chaos. Her lessons extend beyond recipes; they underscore the significance of infusing every culinary endeavour with love and care.”
Calcium – 45 percent of the bone mass is attained during the adolescents and hence adequate calcium intake is important during this stage. Dairy sources like Milk, Yogurt, Cheese, Panner and seeds like sesame seeds are rich sources of calcium…reports Asian Lite News
The nutritional needs of a female body differs according to the various phases of life — adolescent (teenage) stage to an adult woman; and finally up to the elderly person (geriatrics). And therefore, one has to be really mindful of taking an adequate amount of nutrition for healthy living.
Sheela Joseph, Senior Dietician, Sparsh Hospitals, underlines the different nutritional needs and their sources.
Adolescent:
Adolescent or teenage years is a transition between childhood and adulthood, this is about the same period puberty sets in young girls (10 to 13 years). Adolescence is characterized by growth spurts.
Nutrition deficiency experienced during this critical period can have adverse effects on their adult life – malnourished young girls turn to malnourished young women, who then give birth to unhealthy underweight babies.
Energy protein, calcium, and iron are the most important nutrients in this stage. The sufficient amount of whole grains, serials, pulses, and nuts from a balanced diet meets the energy requirement. Proteins from animal sources- eggs, meat, fish, chicken are of higher biological value and are better observed and utilized by the body. Plant-based proteins from dairy such as milk, yogurt, cheese, paneer (cottage cheese), and proteins from whole pulses, nuts, and soy (tofu, tempeh, miso) are recommended.
Iron is vital for the transportation of oxygen in the blood, the deficiency of iron causes anemia which can cause breathlessness, giddiness, fatigue, confusion, and weakness. Adoldesnces is a stage for rapid growth which increases the blood volume and muscle-mass and hence an increased requirement of iron. Menstruation causes young girls to lose blood and if they are not taking a healthy diet they will become anemic.
Including foods rich in iron like eggs, meat, etc. are better observed by the body as they are from animal sources. Greens, whole grains and legumes and millets, dates, figs, raisins, jaggery, are few common foods rich in iron and should be consumed on a daily basis. Squeezing a lime over the cooked foods rich in iron before consumption will help the observation of iron by the body as vitamin c from line helps in the observations of iron.
Calcium – 45 percent of the bone mass is attained during the adolescents and hence adequate calcium intake is important during this stage. Dairy sources like Milk, Yogurt, Cheese, Panner and seeds like sesame seeds are rich sources of calcium. Greens, dals, pulses, and millets are also good sources of calcium. Vitamin d is a very important factor necessary for the absorption of calcium. Exposing large body surface area to sunlight for about fifteen minutes between 10 am to 3 PM helps in the formation of vitamin d in the body.
Good food sources of Vitamin D from food are cod liver oil, salmon, tuner, liver, egg yolks, and sardines. Other sources include certain mushrooms, fortified orange juice, and Soya, almond milk fortified with vitamin D.
Nutrition in an adult woman:
Here the challenge is to maintain a healthy weight. One has to reduce calories from fats and carbohydrates and increase the consumption of vegetables and fruits.
A good exercise is very necessary to ward off the extra weight which starts piling on if one is not careful.
As an adult woman, her body needs to be healthy for childbearing. Pregnancy and lactation make more demands on the body of a young woman. The recommended daily allowance for pregnant and lactating women is more when compared to a normal adult woman, in terms of calories, proteins, calcium, and iron.
Older-woman: Body composition changes with advancing age and these changes affect the nutritional needs of an older woman. As women grow older they need fewer calories to maintain the weight, the choice of low fat and high fiber food is a must. Cooking oil to be reduced to 15 to 20 gms per day.
Foods cooked with hydrogenated fats like shortcrust pastries (puffs, croissants, etc…), bakery products should be avoided.
Salt used in cooking per day can be reduced to half to three fourth teaspoon per day (2.5 to 3 gms/ day). All naturally salted foods like papads, pickles, chips, etc.. to be taken in a very limited amount.
In postmenopausal women, estrogen level fall and this hormones’ protective function of the heart decreases and makes the women most susceptible to heart diseases. Lowering of the estrogen levels in the elderly woman also causes bone loss. So, older women have to take care to avoid osteoporosis. calcium intake through diet and or supplementation is a must. Strength exercise or resistance training is a must to increase bone density and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Whole grains, millets, pulses, high-fiber vegetables, fresh fruits, low-fat curd or paneer and seeds like sunflower seeds, flake seeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds and nuts like almonds and walnuts/ are to be regularly included in the diet.
The association between previous falls and fracture risk was observed to vary by sex, with men exhibiting higher predictive values compared to women…reports Asian Lite News
A recent study titled “A meta-analysis of previous falls and subsequent fracture risk in cohort studies” found links between self-reported falls and increased fracture risk, as well as a slightly greater risk of fracture in men than in women.
Published in Osteoporosis International, this international meta-analysis of data pooled from 46 prospective cohorts comprising over 900,000 individuals also recommended that previous falls are a factor that should be included in patients’ histories used by fracture risk assessment tools like the FRAX (Fracture Risk Assessment) Tool to calculate a person’s likelihood of getting a fracture over the next decade. FRAX is the most commonly used assessment to predict fracture risk.
“FRAX was developed using longitudinal data from studies around the world. Although previous falls have long been recognized as a significant risk factor for fractures, until now, they have not been factored into the FRAX algorithm,” said Douglas P. Kiel, M.D., MPH, director of the Musculoskeletal Research Center and senior scientist at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife, a nonprofit, Harvard Medical School affiliated institution. “In this newly updated FRAX dataset, previous falls were included as a risk factor and were found to increase the risk for fracture. These findings underscore that falls are an important contributor to fracture in both men and women, but interestingly, slightly more in men.” Key findings of the meta-analysis include
Increased Fracture Risk: Individuals with a history of falls within the past year were found to have a significantly higher risk of any clinical fracture, osteoporotic fracture, major osteoporotic fracture, and hip fracture. One or more previous falls were significantly associated with an increased risk of death among women and men.
Sex Disparities: The association between previous falls and fracture risk was observed to vary by sex, with men exhibiting higher predictive values compared to women.
Independent Risk Factor: The increased fracture risk linked to previous falls was largely independent of bone mineral density, emphasizing the standalone significance of falls as a risk factor. A previous fall in the past year confers a significantly increased risk of any clinical fracture, osteoporotic fracture, and hip fracture with the increase in risk varying between 36 per cent and 59 per cent depending on the fracture outcome and sex. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating previous falls into the FRAX algorithm,” Dr. Kiel added. Integrating this information into tools like FRAX can enhance their predictive accuracy and ultimately help healthcare providers to more accurately predict fracture risk and tailor preventive strategies accordingly to improve patient outcomes. (ANI)
Maneka Gandhi, who originally belongs to Delhi, is the senior-most MP among these women, having won her first election in 1989 on a Janata Dal ticket. She later joined the BJP and has always chosen Uttar Pradesh to contest elections — first Pilibhit and then Sultanpur…reports Asian Lite News
Uttar Pradesh has strong and established women leaders but, ironically, the majority of this ‘Nari Shakti’ does not belong to this state.
Barring a few, most of the women leaders have come from other states and after contesting several elections, they have consolidated their position in Uttar Pradesh.
Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi leads the brigade of political talent imported from outside Uttar Pradesh. A native of Italy who was living in New Delhi with her in-laws, the Gandhi bahu made her political debut from Amethi in 1999 and then contested and won the Rae Bareli seat from 2004 to 2019.
Sonia Gandhi began campaigning in Amethi from 1984 when her husband Rajiv Gandhi made his political debut.
When Sonia Gandhi finally took a plunge in politics after the former Prime Minister’s demise, she chose the family turf, Amethi.
The former Congress President was at one time seen as a prime ministerial candidate, though she never claimed the position.
Another woman politician who was seen as a prospective prime ministerial candidate is BSP supremo, Mayawati.
Mayawati was born in Delhi but her political ‘karambhoomi’ became Uttar Pradesh when the first SP-BSP government came into existence in 1993 in the state.
Circumstances propelled Mayawati into the Uttar Pradesh chief minister’s chair in 1995 and over the years, she has emerged as a politician who cannot be ignored.
Actor-turned-politician, Hema Malini, who is seeking her third term from Mathura, belongs to Tamil Nadu and has spent most of her life in Mumbai.
She contested and won the 2014 and 2019 elections from Mathura. Hema Malini calls herself ‘Krishna ki gopi’ and claims to have a divine connect with Mathura.
Among others in this list is Smriti Irani, who is seeking her second term from Amethi and originally belongs to Delhi.
However, after winning Amethi in 2019, she calls herself ‘Amethi ki bitiya’. She has even built her home in Gauriganj in Amethi and is well versed with local politics and the local people.
Maneka Gandhi, who originally belongs to Delhi, is the senior-most MP among these women, having won her first election in 1989 on a Janata Dal ticket. She later joined the BJP and has always chosen Uttar Pradesh to contest elections — first Pilibhit and then Sultanpur.
Jaya Prada, another actor-turned-politician, was born in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh but chose Uttar Pradesh to kickstart her political career even though she had earlier joined the TDP.
Jaya Prada successfully contested the Rampur Lok Sabha seat in 2004 and 2009 elections on a Samajwadi Party ticket. Later, she joined the BJP in 2019.
Dimple Yadav, senior SP leader and wife of Akhilesh Yadav, originally belongs to Uttarakhand but made Uttar Pradesh her home after her marriage to Akhilesh.
Dimple Yadav began her career by losing a bypoll to Raj Babbar of the Congress from Firozabad in 2009 but won the Kannauj seat in a 2012 bye-election. She won the Kannauj seat in 2014 but lost in 2019.
However, Dimple Yadav won the Mainpuri bye-election after the demise of Mulayam Singh Yadav in 2022.
Among all these women leaders, it is only Union Minister Anupriya Patel of Apna Dal (S) who was born and brought up in Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh.
Interestingly, even in the past, several women leaders who made a mark in Indian politics were born outside Uttar Pradesh but chose to contest polls from the state.
Former Lok Sabha Speaker, Meira Kumar, made her debut in politics when she won a bye-election from Bijnor in 1985. Meira Kumar, who is the daughter of late veteran politician Jagjivan Ram, was born in Bihar.
Former Delhi Chief Minister, late Sheila Dikshit, won her first election from Kannauj in 1984. She was born in Kapurthala in Punjab.
Freedom fighter Sucheta Kripalani, the first woman Chief Minister in India, who headed the Uttar Pradesh government, also belonged to Punjab but won the Assembly polls from Mehdawal in Sant Kabir Nagar.
Anushree Rabadia completed her BVA in Painting from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara, and is currently pursuing her MVA in Painting from MSU Baroda…reports Asian Lite News
Voices of Women presented by Art Garde is a contemporary art exhibition under the Young Collectors’ Pop Up umbrella initially launched in 2022. This exhibition showcases works by emerging and middle-contemporary women artists from across the country. The exhibition highlights the flourishing practices of women artists across mediums. While equal representation between men and women artists is still not a reality, there is a steady increase in exhibitions and platforms like this one that seek to address this disparity. In 2023 the Art Basel and YBS Survey of Global Collecting drew attention to the fact that women collectors are now collecting more than men, and many of them focus on this disparity and address it by actively collecting women artists exclusively.
Through a showcase of diverse mediums, styles and experiences, the show eliminates stereotypes associated with women artists. This curation intends to move away from stereotypes that are often limiting the expansion of women in fine arts today. A similar approach has been taken when also curating the subject matter represented. For instance in art universities across the country, the female nude is still not taught in live drawing classes. Historically, specifically within the South Asian context women have been associated more with handicrafts, as opposed to fine arts. However, the adaptability of women when they engage with fine arts offers a unique glimpse at the intersection between physicality and painting. This exhibition does not intend to purport that women are intended to belong to a certain style of art. It provides a stage for women engaging in traditional and non-traditional, expected and unexpected. It is a curation of contemporary women artists across the spectrum today.
A common theme amongst the works displayed is how each woman responds to contemporary stimuli that impact that in a personal or general societal way while respecting diversity. The exhibition will take place from 9-15 April at A2/22 Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi.
Participating Artists:
Malavika Rajnarayan studied painting at the College of Fine Arts, Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath and at the Faculty of Fine Arts, M.S. University of Baroda. Alongside her studio practice, she works as an arts resource person with the Azim Premji Foundation. Her works have been exhibited across India and abroad, most recently in the Seattle Art Museum in 2022. She has been an artist-in-residence at The Collective Studio Baroda; The Contemporary Artists Centre, Troy, New York: at CAMAC Centre for Art in Marnay sur-Seine, France, and a collective residency as a member of Surfatial at ZK/U, Berlin. She was the recipient of the Nasreen Mohammedi scholarship for post-graduate study in 2005. Malavika’s paintings use the human figure to create narratives that are infused with a feminine sensibility. Her background in Indian classical music as well as her interest in the progression of Indian and Asian knowledge traditions form the basis of her inquiries. Her visual language is informed by miniature painting traditions, where the poignancy of ideas are conveyed through beauty, grace and poetry.
Tanushree Sarkar is an acclaimed and award-winning art director of films like Parineeta, Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, and Eklavya. As a kid, she had always been interested in painting and fine arts. She started her career at Ogilvy & Mather, a media company. After spending about four years and being a cinema enthusiast. she joined a newly opened production house. As her career progressed, she felt that her art was left behind. So after Gabbar, she decided not to do films anymore and dedicate more time to her art. She participated in the Indian Art Fair, at Nehru Centre. Her work is heavily inspired by Indian history and culture.
Anushree Rabadia completed her BVA in Painting from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara, and is currently pursuing her MVA in Painting from MSU Baroda. She was awarded the Jeram Patel Award, Faculty of Fine Arts, The Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara, 2020-2021. Anushree’s works are conceptually derived from her environment, nature, and the necessities of daily existence. She manipulates the materials according to the feel of the subject to communicate these observations. She uses pattern, flow, texture, rhythm, softness, sensitivity, and an interest in optical illusion to portray the intensity of her artwork, which enables her to produce 2- dimensional pieces on a mount board. She draws inspiration from India’s rich textile history for her own creative interpretations. Anushree lives and works in Vadodara, Gujarat, India.
Ekta Singha pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts in Painting from the Government College of Art & Craft, Kolkata, India, She graduated with an MVA in Painting Faculty of Fine Arts, MSU, Baroda, Gujarat, India. Ekta captivates audiences with her ingenious blend of mediums and materials. Drawing inspiration from Mughal, Persian, and Rajput miniature painting traditions, Ekta has crafted a unique artistic identity. Influenced by her roots in Bangladesh, memories of her ancestral home infuse her work with depth and resonance. Ekta’s art reflects an intriguing fusion of two distinct traditions: miniature painting and Pata scroll paintings. While the former lends intricate visual elements to her work, the latter allows for expansive storytelling, imbuing her art with a sense of dynamic movement. Through her evocative use of materials and forms, Ekta Singha invites audiences on a journey of discovery through her captivating creations.
Maitreyi Desai, born in Valsad, Gujarat, Maitreyi Desai pursued her Bachelor’s degree of Visual Arts in Painting and Master’s degree of Visual Arts in Print-making from the M.S. University, Baroda. Maitreyi’s artworks feel ageless, like the bark of that hundred year old tree; and yet it is also deeply personal, ethereal in its delicacy. Through these interconnections with nature, she wishes to assert her own identity; an identity synonymous with rootness, and groundedness, to a home, a family, and if we can expand our consciousness, to nature. These are the layered metaphors in her work. The intricacies in her artworks are not just aesthetic representations of nature but also emotive, the essence of what it means to make a home, layer by layer, line by line is seen here. Maitreyi is currently based in Vadodara, Gujarat.
Neha Luthra was born in India and raised in Warsaw, Poland. She obtained her BA in Art History and Management from the University of St Andrews, Scotland, and an associate degree in Surface Pattern/Textile Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York. Neha studied painting under the mentorship of Despina Sevasti in Athens, Greece, and is currently part of The Royal Drawing School’s 2024 cohort for their Drawing Development Year. Her current art practice draws on her own photography and life experiences as subject matter. She resides between Warsaw & Jaipur.
Sareena Khemka is a talented visual artist known for her work in mixed media, particularly drawing, painting, and sculptural installations. She has a strong focus on exploring urban landscapes, often weaving together narratives of the past and future of cities. Sareena holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan, India. Throughout her career, Sareena has participated in numerous exhibitions, showcasing her artwork in galleries and art spaces across India and internationally. Some of her notable exhibitions include ‘Future Foundations, ‘Walk-in Studio,’ and ‘Build & Grow. She has also been a resident artist at esteemed institutions such as Space 118 and The Piramal Art Foundation in Mumbai. In addition to her artistic practice, Sareena is passionate about art education and has conducted workshops with various organizations, including The Kiran Nader Museum of Art, Art 1st Foundation, and the Mohile Parikh Center Mumba. Sareena Khemka currently resides and works in Bangalore, where she continues to create thought-provoking and visually captivating artwork, pushing the boundaries of her artistic expression.
Astha Patel is a visual artist based in Vadodara, Gujarat. She draws inspiration from topics related to nature ecology and memory. Her practice primarily involves oil on canvas works, and tempera, gouache and watercolour on paper. She completed her Master’s in Visual from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara in 2022. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from the same institution. In 2017 she received an ERASMUS Scholarship and completed a semester at The Universidad de Politecnica de Valencia, Spain 2017. In 2019 a collaborative project that she worked on with Pranshu Thakore, Rahi De Roy, and Savitha Ravi was displayed by the Tate Collective. She has also been a part of Residency Programmes at Space Studio Summer Residency, Vadodara 2021, as well as the Students’ Biennale at the Kochi Muziris Biennale. In 2023 she collaborated with the Mumbai-based luxury apparel brand, Aroka.
Vijaya Chauhan received her postgraduate in sculpture from Indirakala Sangeet University, Khairagarh, Chhattisgarh (2011). She was awarded ‘Kalasankranti Puraskar National Award. Vijaya’s practice is inspired by her experiences with learning braille, her works often include encoded messages in the same. Each work invites the viewer to engage both visually and through its tactile nature. She currently lives and works between New Delhi and Vadodara with her husband and son.
Tarini Sethi is a New Delhi-based artist. Tarini holds a BA in Political Science from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, and a BFA in Drawing from Pratt Institute, New York. Her artistic practice explores themes like human intimacy, body consciousness, and sexuality, and draws from folklore and mythology through a multimedia practice that includes paintings, drawings, and metal sculptures. Sethi has been featured in Architectural Digest India and many other Indian publications and has been a part of design shows like the Mumbai Urban Arts Festival, as well as solo exhibitions at the IIC Gallery and Chemould Colab. As a woman from India, existing in a space of extreme sexual oppression and constant scrutiny, she tries to focus as much as possible on the idea that bodies can exist as perfect vessels for exploration, action and sexual emancipation. In the world she creates, bodies are freed from the ideas attached to the conventional notion of gender, perfection and beauty. She is the Founder and Curator of The Irregulars Art Fair and has exhibited across the world.
