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.
Micromanaging housework and making healthy meals for family members while juggling a work schedule is nearly impossible without some assistance.
Biswarup Chatterjee, executive chef at Hilton Garden Inn, New Delhi, shared helpful advice and recipes for women on the go who want to maintain a healthy diet while advancing in other areas of their lives.
Try the following recipe to enhance your holistic diet experience:
Aushadhi Concoction
Ingredients:
• 10 gms Ashoka
• 10 gms Shatavari
• 10 gms Ashwagandha
• 10 gms Lodhra
• 10 gms Garcinia
• 01gms Saffron
• 10 gms Lemon grass stem
• 15 gms Turmeric fresh
Method:
• Take 500 ml of water and soak all the ingredients overnight. Boil everything together for at least 10 minutes and strain it through a muslin cloth. Enjoy hot.
Raggi Idly Burger
Ingredients:
• 500 gms Raggi flour
• 10 gms Yeast
• 1 kg Soya chunks
• 500 gms Grated fresh coconut
• 50 gms Roasted chana dal
• 20 gms Green chilly
• 5 gms Black mustard seeds
• 300 gms Lactose-free cheese
• 200 gms Rocket lettuce
• 200 gms Tomatoes
• 200 gms Chipotle mayonnaise
• 50gms Onions red
• 30 gms Garlic peeled
• 50 gms Cajun spice
• 200 ml Olive oil
• Salt as per taste
Method:
• For raggi idly make a batter of raggi and 300 ml of water and yeast. Cover it with a plastic wrap and keep it overnight to ferment. Use an idly mould and steam the idly.
• Take 100 ml of olive oil in a pan, add onion and garlic and sauté till translucent. Add the soya chunks in that and keep cooking for 10 minutes and add Cajun spice and salt as per taste.
• Continue cooking till all the water has been absorbed. Run the mixture through a mincer to get it finer and make patties of 150 gms each. Grill the patties in a pan till it gets crisp from outside.
• For the coconut chutney- Take 50 ml olive oil in a pan add mustard seeds, chana dal & green chillies and sauté it. In a mixer grinder add the mixture and fresh grated coconut and bled it with 50 ml of water.
• Arrange the burger- Spread the chipotle mayo on the idly and top it up with, tomato slice patty, rocket lettuce & cheddar cheese.
• Serve the idly burger with freshly grated coconut chutney.
Norwegian Salmon Gravlax & Sous Vide Egg Benedict
Ingredients:
• 500 gms Salmon fillet
• 10nos Organic eggs
• 250 gms Lactose-free butter
• 250 gms Multigrain loaf
• 100 ml Olive oil
• 20 gms Crushed pepper
• 20 gms Dill leaves
• 30 gms Lemon juice
• 500 gms Himalayan pink salt
• 400 gms Sugar
• Salt as per taste
Method
• Marinate the salmon with dill leaves and lemon juice. And cover it completely with sugar and Himalayan salt and keep it for 24 hours.
• Remove the salt and sugar coating and the moisture released from the fillet. Dry it completely using a paper towel. Slice it thinly.
• Sous vide 5 eggs using sous vide machine and food-grade plastic bags at 70 degrees centigrade for 30 minutes.
• Make hollandaise sauce using lactose-free butter, lemon juice, and crushed black pepper.
• Toast the multi-grain bread in olive oil, and top it with sliced salmon, eggs and hollandaise sauce. Use a dill leaf for garnishing.
Hair Bless Granola Bar
Ingredients
• 100 gms Almond
• 100 gms Peanuts skin less
• 100 gms Walnuts
• 250 gms Sunflower seeds
• 50 gms Flax seeds
• 100 gms Rolled oats
• 100 gms Cornflakes
• 100 gms Fruit loops
• 200 ml Floral honey
• 15 gms Cinnamon powder
• 100 gm Brown sugar
• 200 gms Mixed dried berries
Method
• Crush the sunflower seeds and remove the outer shells, take all the nuts and seeds in a tray and toast it. Crush the mixture roughly and keep it aside.
• In a pan take honey, sugar and cinnamon powder and cook it until it gets lightly caramelised. Mix everything and roll it into a slab. Bake it at 140 degrees centigrade for 15 minutes and let it cool.
• Cut it into a bar shape and serve.
Raspberry Indulgence
Ingredients:
• 500 gms Sugarfree dark chocolates
• 1 L Almond milk
• 100 gms Fresh raspberry
• 250 gms Cream cheese
• 100 gms Icing sugar
• 200 gms Oats
• 150 gms Dry berry powder
Method:
• Blend all the aforementioned ingredients till it becomes smooth. Garnish with fresh raspberry and icing sugar, and serve it in a glass. The recipe is for a minimum serving of five portions.
Despite their potential and aspirations, small businesses with limited capital often grapple with strategic investment in products and inventories…reports Asian Lite News
The restaurant industry in India has witnessed a notable increase in women taking charge of cafes, restaurants, kitchens, and eateries, showcasing their culinary expertise and adept management skills. This surge is attributed to many women stepping into these roles, driving the growth of women entrepreneurs in the restaurant industry.
Driven by India’s unique demographic advantage, it is becoming more diverse with an increasing number of women initiating their ventures or managing existing ones. According to a report from the last two years suggest that women are more likely to start a business than men. Despite anecdotal evidence indicating that women-led businesses are often highly successful, they are less likely to survive. Government initiatives have also played a pivotal role in supporting women entrepreneurs.
However, the journey is particularly challenging for many women entrepreneurs, especially in tier 2 and tier 3 cities with well-established culinary traditions, where established players dominate, leaving little room for innovation. Food delivery platforms like Swiggy emerge as essential allies, accelerating the ambitions of these entrepreneurs and supporting their need to succeed, grow, and make an impact.
Hear from four incredible women-owned restaurant businesses from across the country.
One such story is Tuljai Swayampak Ghar in Aurangabad, run by Renu Mulik, a visionary young woman who embarked on her entrepreneurial journey. Initially, Renu faced challenges in establishing her online business in a competitive environment. She recalls, “I knew nothing about running a business, let alone a restaurant, so when I onboarded with Swiggy I was clueless. But I am thankful to them for patiently teaching me the ways of working. Never did I imagine that life would bring me to this point. Back then I would only receive 3-4 orders from the platform in a day, soon it turned into 18-19 orders and that number kept increasing.”
Despite their potential and aspirations, small businesses with limited capital often grapple with strategic investment in products and inventories.
Krishnapriya Hariharan, the founder of E=mc2 from Kozhikhode, started to run out with orders clocking no more than 10-15 in a day. Krishnapriya recalls, “Working with Swiggy has benefited us in numerous ways. We are now more aware of our sales and our customers, and the best part is that delivery is handled. Swiggy’s support allowed us to invest more strategically in our products and inventories, helping us regularly update the menu with new dishes over the past two years. This also gave us a chance to develop and launch a new brand, Burg 99, which is exclusively available through Swiggy.”
Similarly, Priya Sharma, Owner of Bonfire Pizza in Rishikesh, shares her journey, “When I started my online venture, we were making just 30 pizzas per month, and I considered quitting. That’s when Swiggy’s Account Managers came to the rescue. With their expert strategies, we started doing 300 pizzas per month. Swiggy’s support renewed my confidence, and I’m now eager to explore more expansion opportunities.”
Managing the complexities of online platforms, from maintaining menus to running ads and meeting customer expectations consistently, is another challenge.
Owners like Debjani Sahu of Garam Masala in Bhubaneshwar and Suviggya Bansall of Gopaljee Café comments, “We started with small basic checks, ensuring the menu, pricing, and descriptions were updated. Later, when we ran our first campaign – an ad carousel – the business picked up faster. Customer expectations improved as they received what they saw on the app.”
Despite challenges in non-metro areas, quick commerce platforms have emerged as essential allies, empowering visionary women entrepreneurs propelling the growth of dynamic women entrepreneurs in the Indian restaurant industry.
According to the talent management platform foundit (formerly Monster jobs), this exponential increase can be attributed to the convenience that the gig economy or the freelancing industry offers to participants…reports Asian Lite News
With improving ease of access to information and technology, more women investors are investing in mutual funds, the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) said.
The share of women in mutual funds’ assets under management (AUM) has shot up from 15.2 per cent in 2017 to 20.9 per cent in 2023.
This pace of growth is more prominent in the hinterland as compared to the urban centres, with the share of women’s folios and assets in the B-30 cities increasing from 15 per cent to 18 per cent and from 17 per cent to 28 per cent during the period, respectively, the AMFI said.
The age analysis of women investors indicates that almost 50 per cent of women investors fall in the 25-44 years age group, as compared to around 45 per cent for the overall set of individual investors.
Goa boasts the highest share of women in the mutual fund industry at 40 per cent, followed by the northeastern states with high 30s percentage. Chandigarh, Maharashtra, and New Delhi also have over 30 per cent share of women in the industry’s assets under management, as per the AMFI data.
Most women continue to invest through the regular plan route in mutual funds and stay invested for longer when investing through a mutual fund distributor.
The number of women mutual fund distributors has steadily increased, nearing the 42,000 registration mark as of December 2023, managing over Rs 1 lakh crore in AUM.
Meanwhile, the number of women opting for freelancing jobs in India doubled over the past year, jumping from 4 per cent in February 2023 to 8 per cent in February 2024, a new report showed on Monday.
According to the talent management platform foundit (formerly Monster jobs), this exponential increase can be attributed to the convenience that the gig economy or the freelancing industry offers to participants.
There has also been a 56 per cent increase in jobs for women candidates in February this year when compared to February last year.
“Female workers play a major role in the success of a company. They are proven to be hard-working and creative,” said Sekhar Garisa, CEO, foundit, a Quess company.
“Female leaders often demonstrate transformational leadership qualities, and having more women in a team promotes diversity and inclusion in the workplace,” he added.
Moreover, the report revealed that the IT/Computers-Software sector leads in offering opportunities to women, comprising 36 per cent of its workforce.
The Recruitment/Staffing/RPO sector (24 per cent) has the second-highest share of women in the workforce, followed by the Banking, Financial, Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector (23 per cent).
The participation of women in the workforce has been positive and steady across the metro cities of Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Pune.
In addition, the report suggested that there has been a noteworthy increase in leadership opportunities for women, with 9 per cent of job postings specifically targeted towards leadership positions in February this year.
