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Arts & Culture Woman

JLF 2022 to celebrate the power of women

Described as the ‘greatest literary show on Earth’, the Jaipur Literature Festival is a sumptuous feast of ideas…reports Asian Lite News

Scheduled from 5th – 14th March 2022, the Jaipur Literature Festival is all set to return with its 15th edition with Women in Power being one of its highlights. Taking ahead the legacy, the ‘greatest literary show on Earth’ will celebrate trailblazing women who have broken barriers and forged their own paths through a diverse set of sessions.

The rich programme will feature, among others, a session that explores the boundless sacred feminine. The panel will be graced by award-winning author and poet Arundhathi Subramaniam, author of the remarkable book Women Who Wear Only Themselves: Conversations with Four Travellers on Sacred Journeys; art historian, curator, and author of Shakti: 51 Sacred Peethas of the Goddess Alka Pande who has worked extensively in the fields of gender identity, sexuality, and the traditional arts; and renowned academic and author Malashri Lal who has produced defining literature on women, gender, and the interpretations and manifestations of the feminine including In Search of Sita: Revisiting Mythology with Namita Gokhale.

Versatile writer and entrepreneur Koral Dasgupta, author of the Sati Series; historian and author of Song of Draupadi Ira Mukhoty; and author of bestselling novel Valmiki’s Women: Five Tales from the Ramayana Anand Neelakantan will get together to pay tribute to the women of the great epics, as they argue, plead, reason and assert, rising from the embers of myth, legend, and sacred texts that often focus only on heroic men. Moving on from historical fiction, medieval historian Katherine Pangonis, will discuss her latest book Queens of Jerusalem with Ira Mukhoty. The session will see them dissect the trailblazing women of the Crusades who were not passive transmitters of land and blood but formidable leaders with political agency and aspirations, integral to diplomacy, military strategy and even rebellion. Afghan-Canadian singer, media personality and women’s rights activist Mozhdah Jamalzadah is among the most powerful voices of her generation. In the session Voice of Rebellion: How Mozhdah Jamalzadah Brought Hope to Afghanistan, Mozhdah Jamalzadah will discuss her biography of the same name by Roberta Staley, and the power of dissent with journalist Jyoti Malhotra. Author of What We Talk About When We Talk About Rape Sohaila Abdulali; journalist and policy and culture consultant Pragya Tiwari; and author of India Moving: A History of Migration and Age of Pandemics.

(1817-1920): How They Shaped India and the World Chinmay Tumbe will evaluate the mobilisation of domestic violence shelters, organisations, helplines, and the governmental and social response to this insidious threat in conversation with social entrepreneur Amita Nigam Sahaya. In a session of readings and conversations, writer, poet, translator and activist, Meena Kandasamy will take the audience along on an arduous journey navigating through the dimensions of self, politics and gender. This Poem Will Provoke You will observe a vibrant and scintillating conversation between Kandasamy and Manasi Subramaniam, Executive Editor at Penguin Random House, where they will speak of the weight of words, beliefs, ideologies and the space in-between. Eminent author and journalist Lisa Taddeo’s debut novel, Animal, is a provocative exploration of female rage fuelled by male violence and savagery. In conversation with Ajio Luxe’s editor-in-chief Supriya Dravid, Taddeo will discuss the raw embers of female rage in a male-dominated society and the precarious intertwining of violence and memory.

Some legendary names set to feature in this year’s Festival include one of the biggest names in Indian journalism, iconic journalist Barkha Dutt; novelist and disability rights activist C.K. Meena; award-winning British-Turkish novelist and the most widely read woman author Elif Shafak; former CEO and Chairperson of PepsiCo Indra Nooyi; mother-daughter duo Nayantara Sahgal and Gita Sahgal; Deputy Executive Director of UN Women Lakshmi Puri; Hindi feminist author Mamta Kalia, who writes primarily on the lived experiences of rural, middle-class women; celebrated author of over twenty books and Jaipur Literature Festival Co-director Namita Gokhale; multiple award-winning translator, writer and literary historian Rakhshanda Jalil; feminist publisher and writer Ritu Menon, author of the ground-breaking text Borders and Boundaries: Women in India’s Partition; former television actress and current Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Govt. of India, Smriti Zubin Irani, author of her debut-novel Lal Salaam in a varied set of sessions, highlighting the many aspects of womanhood in today’s world.

Described as the ‘greatest literary show on Earth’, the Jaipur Literature Festival is a sumptuous feast of ideas.

The past decade has seen it transform into a global literary phenomenon having hosted over 2,000 speakers and welcoming over a million book lovers from across India and the globe.

Our core values remain unchanged: to serve as a democratic, non-aligned platform offering free and fair access.

Every year, the Festival brings together a diverse mix of the world’s greatest writers, thinkers, humanitarians, politicians, business leaders and entertainers on one stage to champion the freedom to express and engage in thoughtful debate and dialogue.

Writers and Festival Directors Namita Gokhale and William Dalrymple, alongside producer Teamwork Arts, invite speakers to take part in the five-day programme set against the backdrop of Rajasthan’s stunning cultural heritage and the Diggi Palace in the state capital Jaipur.

Past speakers have ranged from Nobel Laureates J. M. Coetzee, Orhan Pamuk, Malala Yousafzai, Muhammad Yunus and Joseph Stiglitz; Man Booker Prize winners Ben Okri, Douglas Stuart, Margaret Atwood and Paul Beatty; Sahitya Akademi winners Gulzar, Javed Akhtar, M. T. Vasudevan Nair, as well as the late Girish Karnad, Mahasweta Devi and U. R. Ananthamurthy; along with literary superstars including Amish Tripathi, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Vikram Seth. An annual event that goes beyond literature, the Festival has also hosted Amartya Sen, Amitabh Bachchan, the late A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Bill Gates, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Oprah Winfrey, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Stephen Fry, Thomas Piketty and former president of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai.

The Jaipur Literature Festival is a flagship event of Teamwork Arts, which produces it along with over 25 highly acclaimed performing arts, visual arts and literary festivals across more than 40 cities globally.

For over 30 years, Teamwork Arts has taken India to the world and brought the world to India, presenting the finest of Indian performers, writers and visual artists in the cultural and art space in India and abroad.

Every year, it produces over 25 performing, visual arts and literary festivals in several countries including Australia, Egypt, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, the UK and USA, as well as many eclectic festivals across India. It produces the world’s largest literary gathering: the annual Jaipur Literature Festival; JLF international now travels to the US, UK, Canada, Qatar and Australia.

Even amidst the upheaval and unsettling times of 2020, Teamwork Arts successfully launched the digital series, JLF Brave New World and WORDS ARE BRIDGES, which were viewed by over 4.8 million people in their first season. Through its digital avatar, the Jaipur Literature Festival reached over 19 million viewers in January 2021 and brought together the world’s leading commentators and writers. The musical extravaganza, Bollywood Love Story – A Musical, continues to tour the world with sold-out shows everywhere it is held.

ALSO READ-JLF to expose art & culture through innovative initiatives

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-Top News UAE News Woman

UAE pushes for women’s economic empowerment at UNSC

UAE pushes for women’s economic empowerment at UNSC

UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment Mariam Almheiri chaired the debate which focused on women’s economic empowerment in conflict settings as a key to fostering inclusive dialogue and peace, reports Asian Lite News

The United Arab Emirates convened the first signature event of its presidency of the United Nations Security Council, a ministerial-level open debate to promote the importance of women’s economic inclusion and public-private partnerships to advance sustainable peace on International Women’s Day.

The debate, which was chaired by Mariam Almheiri, the UAE’s Minister of Climate Change and Environment, focused on women’s economic empowerment in conflict settings as a key to fostering inclusive dialogue and peace.

Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs and UAE Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, also attended the meeting. UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, and Moussokoro Coulibaly, President of the Network of Women Economic Operators in Ségou, Mali, briefed the UN membership at the meeting.

“Women are critical to recovery and relief efforts around the world, yet their inclusion remains undervalued, and their access to opportunities, resources, and markets remains limited,” said Mariam Almheiri. “Women must not only benefit from sustainable post conflict recovery; they must be in the driver’s seat as planners, decisionmakers, and implementers in all sectors of society to ensure sustainable peacebuilding.”

“International Women’s Day is a day for reflection, for renewed hope, and for increased action,” said Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women. “I welcome today’s focus on the role of the private sector and private-public partnerships as an underexplored area for innovation. We have the blueprint and the business case to support women’s economic inclusion.”

ALSO READ: Abu Dhabi’s Forbes 30/50 Summit highlights women’s achievements

“Women bear disproportionately the devastation of wars, and yet women are the best hope for peace,” said Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund. “Empowering women and reducing gender inequality in fragile or conflict situations can have powerful economic benefits. The IMF’s analysis shows that improving gender equality can raise economic growth, strengthen resilience, enhance financial stability, and reduce income inequality.”

“We know that without economic development, there is no lasting peace. We also know that investing in women’s empowerment generates social dividends both in the short and the long term,” said Moussokoro Coulibaly, President of the Network of Women Economic Operators in Ségou, Mali. “If you want to build peace and stability in the world, help women participate in economic recovery to make sure that the resulting peace is more inclusive and lasting.”

The Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda is a key priority for the UAE during its two-year term on the UN Security Council. The UAE, Albania, Brazil, and Norway have committed to advancing the implementation of the WPS agenda during their presidencies of the Security Council. This includes women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation in Council meetings and the inclusion of gender perspectives in the Council’s deliberations and outcomes.

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Business Woman

India’s 100 % women-owned FLO Industrial Park opened in Hyderabad

He promised another 100 acres for the expansion of FLO women industrial park, subject to the park’s focus on novel products. He also offered an additional 10 per cent subsidy for women entrepreneurs…reports Asian Lite News

India’s first 100 per cent women-owned FLO Industrial Park in Hyderabad began operations on Tuesday, the international women’s day.

Promoted by FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) in partnership with the Telangana government, the park announced commencement of operations by 25 women-owned and operated units representing 16 diverse green category industries.

The 50A acre FLO Industrial Park has been established with an investment of Rs 250 crores is the flagship project and first of its kind at a national level with participation open to chapter members, and the national members of FLO. The park has already garnered tremendous interest from women entrepreneurs to run and operate their business, FLO said.

The industrial park conceptualised in 2013 exclusively for women was formally inaugurated by Telangana’s Industry Minister K T Rama Rao in the presence of FLO national President, Ujjwala Singhania, FLO Hyderabad Chairperson, Uma Chigurupati, FLO National Governing Body Member, Jyotsna Angara and others.

From the electronic sector to packaging, medical devices, wellness, engineering, and food processing, the park is at its core to demonstrate the power of women in the industry. FLO and its members infused significant investment to build this park, wherein the government provided the roads, electricity, water, sewerage, and sub-station. The park has also created amenities to offer a home environment for women by keeping in mind the necessities of working women entrepreneurs, including designing creches and playschools.

Rama Rao urged the entrepreneurs to think big, start to think about emerging technologies and focus on aerospace, defence, food processing, and forge global partnerships.

He promised another 100 acres for the expansion of FLO women industrial park, subject to the park focus on novel products. He also offered additional 10 per cent subsidy for women entrepreneurs.

Principal Secretary, IT, Jayesh Ranjan, applauded the unique aspect of the FLO Park as it has a very diversified set of industry from manufacturing to services all in green areas. Creating opportunities across spectrum is another area the government will be keen to embark upon.

Singhania said the objective of the park is to propagate and encourage sustainable development and growth. She termed it as a significant milestone which will pave the way to create more integrated business townships linked to the Industrial parks and establish such projects at various chapters.

“The dream-to-reality of this project is the result of the support from the government of Telangana. We are happy to announce today the commencement of 25 green projects totally owned by women, with many more in the pipeline, we expect this industrial park to generate 1600+ jobs in the next 2years of operation,” said Chigurupati.

Angara expressed the opinion that India can increase its targeted GDP from 16 per cent to a much higher number by enabling women to participate in the growth of the economy. “This is an opportune time, today being International Women’s Day, to convene action and not just a Dialogue on how to promote women’s economic empowerment. It is said that the one way to make sure women participate in the economic growth of the country is by creating a healthy eco-system for women entrepreneurs. Such Industrial Parks shall give a tremendous boost to the ecosystem.”

Established in 1983, FLO is a division of FICCI with its headquarters in Delhi and chapters in Mumbai, Chennai, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Ahmadabad, Bengaluru, Indore, Ludhiana, Pune, Guwahati, Kolkata, and Lucknow representing over 5,700 diverse members.

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Bollywood Interview Lite Blogs

‘Women should break the glass ceilings’

Ahead of International Women’s Day, Airbnb celebrated the role of women Hosts in its growing host community in India. The platform hosted a panel discussion featuring actress Sayani Gupta and Tisca Chopra, and Airbnb Host Ranjana Patil…reports N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe

The panellists spoke on #BreakTheBias, highlighting how they persevered in their unique journeys despite facing unprecedented challenges. This was exemplified by the stories of women Hosts on Airbnb that had begun their entrepreneurial journey on the platform, illustrating how tourism has played a key role in their journey to success as Hosts.

“I feel so proud and inspired to see how women across the world are breaking biases and dealing with various stereotypes. I have made some strong decisions in my life due to which, several challenges came my way, both personally and professionally. However, not backing down and ensuring that I put my voice out there, helped me get through every phase. I believe women should break these glass ceilings, take up any role that they truly desire and always aim to be financially independent,” says actress Sayani Gupta.

Read Excerpts:

To begin with why act? How did your family and friends react when you told them you wanted to start acting?

I’ve always been excited about theatre and dance. I have been a performer and worked in the theatre space all my life, so to my friends it was not a shock. My best friend who knows me all my life was extremely instrumental in convincing me to do something else in my life. So when I left my corporate job to pursue acting, none of my friends were really shocked.

When it comes to my family, it was of course a great shock to my mother. She reacted with a little bit of drama just like mothers do but eventually came around, she took a few years but now she supports me unconditionally. Acting is something that I love and I’m good at. I’ve been acting for soo many years that it became a part of me, it’s nothing that comes superficially.

Your favourite Airbnb and how your travels have aided your personal development?

The house in Veinna was also really cool; it was a really nice house. I’ve stayed at a number of Airbnb properties, each of which is unique and beautiful. I travel to replenish my soul, as actors, we are constantly pouring our souls and ourselves into our creative process. Only when you’re travelling, can you replenish your energy through the people you meet and places you visit.

Museums and admiring art is one of my favourite things to do. Seeing architectural genius, watching orchestra all of this is basically to replenish myself and it’s extremely important that I do it. Unfortunately, because of COVID it wasn’t always possible in the last two years, and I think I was just done with not being able to travel and this Europe trip came as a huge saviour; I can only thank Airbnb for that.

Women venturing into the entrepreneur space often raises eyebrows, what advice would you give from your experience to those striving despite all of the challenges?

There will always be people to tell you you’re gonna do something. All you need is to tell yourself that you can do it. There shouldn’t be any question because it’s your life and you decide what you want to do or can do. I don’t think if you really put your mind to something, you won’t be able to do it.

We are all human beings we have a decent amount of talent and aptitude, and hopefully education. It is never up to anyone else or anyone’s business, including your parents that it’s okay to do something or not okay to do it. So just go for it. Especially women we are fit for any professional life. I watch a lot of Shark Tank, it’s just so nice when all I see women entrepreneurs having struggled through and still able to make something incredible. It’s never easy and it shouldn’t easy, but to still be to do it is an incredible feeling.

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Sport Sports Woman

‘100 per cent cricket year of women’s cricket’ campaign launched on Women’s Day

ICC CEO Geoff Allardice said he was ‘proud’ of the initiative…reports Asian Lite News

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday launched the ‘100 per cent Cricket Year of Women’s Cricket’ campaign to coincide with International Women’s Day in order to further promote gender equality and empower women and girls through cricket.

The global governing body for the sport said in a statement on Tuesday that, “The 100 per cent Cricket Year of Women’s Cricket campaign has been introduced to help drive transformative change and be part of accelerating the growth of the game.”

Using the #IDeclare hashtag, the ICC is urging cricket fans worldwide to show what they can do to “further promote gender equality and further empower women and girls through cricket”.

ICC CEO Geoff Allardice said he was ‘proud’ of the initiative.

“Cricket has an incredible power and reaches to raise awareness and effect change and we’re proud to partner with UNICEF as part of 100 per cent Cricket Year of Women’s Cricket to #IDeclare our commitment to empowering women and girls through cricket,” said Allardice.

“We are committed to gender equity and using the platform of our sport to promote equal opportunities for girls and boys is a great way of doing this. We will also focus all of our Cricket 4 Good efforts on this too, ensuring we’re giving as many women and girls the chance to grow through our game.”

Cricket stars currently competing at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand got behind the new campaign, with India captain Mithali Raj one of the first to show her support.

#IDeclare — “I declare that I will scout and train as many young girls as possible to take up this wonderful sport,” Mithali said.

Pakistan Captain Bismah Maroof and Bangladesh seamer Jahanara Alam followed suit shortly after.

#IDeclare — “I declare I will encourage my daughter to play cricket,” Maroof said.

#IDeclare — “I declare I will work hard and play good cricket to set an example not only for Bangladeshi girls but also all over the world,” Alam added.

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-Top News UAE News Woman

UAE advances women participation in diplomacy

UAE advances women participation in diplomacy (WAM)

The Women in Diplomacy Index 2022 also highlights the efforts that the UAE has made to advance female participation in diplomacy…reports Asian Lite News

To commemorate International Women’s Day, the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA), launched its latest ‘Women in Diplomacy Index 2022’, at the Women’s Pavilion, in Expo 2020 Dubai.

Following the launch of the Index, the UAE’s leading entity that trains current and future diplomats, hosted a panel discussion with leading diplomats and speakers from the UAE and from around the world. The session, titled ‘Breaking the Bias: Women in Diplomacy,’ shed light on the topic of gender equality in foreign policy and the diplomatic corps.

The panel discussion, which was moderated by Nickolay Mladenov, Acting Director-General of AGDA, saw the interactive participation of Marcy Grossman, Ambassador of Canada to the UAE; Ambassador Thomas Greminger, Director of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy; Celina Lezcano, Minister for Women for the Republic of Paraguay; and Afra Al Hameli, Deputy Director of the Strategic Communications Department at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC).

Nickolay Mladenov said, “Our Academy is honoured to launch the 2022 edition of the Women in Diplomacy Index, which was compiled by a team consisting of AGDA faculty and our students and future diplomats. We are confident that by continuing to document the number of women ambassadors appointed worldwide, we can monitor progression over time and provide Ministries of Foreign Affairs a way to benchmark themselves against their peers.”

Mladenov noted, “Diplomacy has traditionally lagged behind many other sectors when it comes to gender balance, especially in leading positions. The importance of gender balance in the workforce has long been on the agenda of organisations in many countries around the world. Although progress since 2018 has been achieved – with only a slight improvement since 2021, as presented in the Index – it remains clear that diplomacy needs to become a more gender inclusive field.”

The Women in Diplomacy Index 2022 maps the percentage share of women ambassadors representing the countries of the 40 largest economies in the world and the European Union (EU). The Index focuses on ambassadorships, in order to gauge the degree to which women assume some of the most prominent leadership positions in the world of diplomacy. The 2022 report constitutes the third edition of the index and covers the bulk of global ambassadorial appointments.

Out of 4,293 ambassadors currently appointed in the sample, only 927 are women, as revealed in the report. This indicates that the total share of women ambassadors stands at 21.6 percent for 2022, a slight improvement from the 20.7 percent share recorded in 2021.

ALSO READ: Abu Dhabi’s Forbes 30/50 Summit highlights women’s achievements

Meanwhile, the percentage of women in ambassadorship positions in the Asia region (excluding the Arab world) is 13.7 percent. The percentage for the Arab states in the sample (Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE) stands at 7.4 percent, with the UAE scoring the highest percentage share of 10.9 percent.

The Women in Diplomacy Index 2022 also highlights the efforts that the UAE has made to advance female participation in diplomacy. Around 41.5 percent of the employees at the UAE’s MoFAIC are women. Today, Emirati women hold ambassadorial roles in various countries including Denmark, Latvia, Finland, France, Germany and Poland, while the Assistant Minister of MoFAIC for Political Affairs, Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, is both an Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the UAE to the United Nations in New York.

AGDA is a strong advocate of gender parity within the field of diplomacy. Since the launch of its diplomatic training programmes in 2015, a consistent 60 percent of AGDA’s total graduates have been women.

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-Top News UAE News Woman

MBZ praises pivotal role of women

MBZ praises pivotal role of women

On International Women’s Day, Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed has met with women’s groups that represent several UAE-based entities, reports Asian Lite News

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, highlighted the pivotal role women play in raising better, more conscious generations capable of overcoming future challenges and contributing to their countries’ development.

During his meeting on Tuesday with women’s groups that represent several UAE-based entities, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed said that women are highly regarded and respected in the UAE, noting that the appreciation of women in the country is a steady long-standing approach.

MBZ praises pivotal role of women

Sheikh Mohamed congratulated the women of the UAE and the world on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

He explained that women carry the great responsibility of rearing children and ensuring good upbringing, especially as with the UAE’s focus on the qualitative leaps that set nations apart by preparing future generations that can bear the torch and the responsibility and contribute to driving development and adding to the country’s achievements.

ALSO READ: Abu Dhabi’s Forbes 30/50 Summit highlights women’s achievements

Sheikh Mohamed said that the UAE’s leadership, led by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, continues to follow in the footsteps of the Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in terms of supporting and empowering women and providing them with equal opportunities; an approach that played a key role in their success and excellence in all fields and enhancing their role in the development of the UAE and its community.

Held at Qasr Al Bahr, the majlis was attended by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, H.H. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Ruler’s Representative in Al Ain Region, H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, H.H. Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Zayed Al Nahyan, H.H. Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office, and a number of sheikhs, officials and female leaders.

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Lite Blogs Woman

‘Women not dependent on men, rather stand on their own’

Indian content has undergone a sea change in the past few decades where now women are not hired in films or audio-visual content purely based on pretty faces…reports Asian Lite News

On the eve of International Women’s Day, Bollywood actresses Neena Gupta and Madhuri Dixit shared their thoughts on the changing landscape of Indian content with regards to female artistes and how this change could bring about a more inclusive space.

Commenting on the occasion, Neena Gupta opined that the evolution of entertainment space has been in perfect sync with the changing society, “The entertainment space has evolved, alongside our evolution as a society. As women become breadwinners, led businesses & teams, and became a central figure in every aspect of life, the roles that were offered to me became central to the story. In today’s scripts, roles for women are not dependent on a man, rather stand on their own.”

Speaking on the sidelines of streaming platform Netflix’s women’s day programme ‘Stree-ming’, she further said, “I love that every day I get to see more stories that reflect the lives of incredible women – portraying all their layers, shades, and flaws. It’s safe to say there’s no going back. We are not just a part of the story, but we are the story.”

Adding onto it, she said as to how a lot of change in Indian content has come from women who hold the fort behind the camera to craft compelling narratives, “More women writers, directors, producers have also acted as a powerful driving force behind this change. Behind the screen, inclusivity is critical not only in amplifying voices that are not always heard, but also because it creates opportunities for stories that might not otherwise have been told.”

Indian content has undergone a sea change in the past few decades where now women are not hired in films or audio – visual content purely based on pretty faces. Instead, its their ability to put up powerful performances that sets the roadmap ahead for a more just society one frame at a time.

Voicing her opinion on the subject, Madhuri Dixit said, “There has been an evolution, and the evolution has been tremendous. Women are no longer just pretty faces or avenging angels. Today women are viewed as whole people, playing different characters from different professions – whether it’s a mathematician or a sportswoman or a housewife with unfulfilled aspirations, women are taking on different roles every day and it’s fascinating to see this change in the industry.”

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Abu Dhabi UAE News Woman

Abu Dhabi’s Forbes 30/50 Summit highlights women’s achievements

Abu Dhabi's Forbes 30/50 Summit highlights women's achievements (WAM)

High-achieving women from around the world, including political advisors, investors, entrepreneurs and media personalities, are speaking about their achievements, experiences and ideas at the Forbes 30/50 Summit in Abu Dhabi…reports Asian Lite News

Coinciding with International Women’s Day, the Summit is organised by Forbes and is taking place until 9th March with talks, panel sessions and networking events taking place at multiple locations across Abu Dhabi, including Louvre Abu Dhabi and Zayed University, as well as virtually.

Attendees and speakers at the event include Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, Lamia bint Majed Al Saud, Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, celebrity and TV media personality Tyra Banks, ARK Invest founder and CEO Cathie Woods, and beauty influencer and entrepreneur Huda Kattan.

Noura Al Kaabi said, “The UAE prides itself on an impressive list of outstanding women and female leaders whose work has been praised globally. Thanks to our leadership, Emirati women are advancing with confidence and strength, and the government is driving this through systematic policy changes to achieve tangible results.”

ALSO READ: BSF’s 36 women bikers begin their drive from Delhi to Kanyakumari

Moira Forbes, Executive Vice President, Forbes Media and Publisher, ForbesWomen, said, “As women stand at a critical inflection point globally, the first-ever 30/50 Summit in Abu Dhabi brings together a community of powerful women and visionaries who are architecting a better future that can move the world forward.”

The summit will take place in Abu Dhabi annually until 2024 and continue to provide a platform for successful and extraordinary women to share their stories, highlighting the city’s efforts in fostering an environment that is empowering to all.

Abu Dhabi’s Forbes 30/50 Summit highlights women’s achievements (WAM)
Abu Dhabi’s Forbes 30/50 Summit highlights women’s achievements (WAM)
Abu Dhabi’s Forbes 30/50 Summit highlights women’s achievements (WAM)
Abu Dhabi’s Forbes 30/50 Summit highlights women’s achievements (WAM)
Abu Dhabi’s Forbes 30/50 Summit highlights women’s achievements (WAM)
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India News News Woman

BSF’s 36 women bikers begin their drive from Delhi to Kanyakumari

The Border Security Force (BSF) on Tuesday flagged off its all-women daredevil motorcycle team to Kanyakumari on International Women’s Day…reports Asian Lite News

BSF Seema Bhawani Shaurya Expedition “Empowerment Ride – 2022”, an organisational mission for empowering women, was flagged off from India Gate by the BSF Wives Welfare Association (BWWA) President Nupur Singh.

The BSF women troopers are also known as Seema Bhawani.

Organised in association with Royal Enfield, 36 members of BSF Seema Bhawani All-Women Daredevil Motorcycle Team led by Inspector Himanshu Sirohi embarked on a grueling 5,280 km ride traversing through major cities all the way to Kanyakumari and onward to Chennai spreading the message of Women Empowerment across the nation.

This expedition is to travel through the length and breadth of the country, covering historical landmarks beginning from India Gate in Delhi leading to the Wagah Attari Border in Punjab and Statue of Unity in Gujarat before finally culminating at Royal Enfield’s India Technical Centre in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

“The expedition will pass through Chandigarh, Amritsar, Attari, Bikaner, Jaipur, Udaipur, Gandhinagar, Kevadia, Nasik, Solapur, Hyderabad, Anantapur, Bengaluru and Kanyakumari before reaching its final destination in Chennai on March 28,” the BSF said.

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The team will also be interacting with school children, NCC volunteers and youth, various riding communities and audiences with an intent to sensitise and bring forth an awareness about the capabilities of women while emphasising freedom from bias, stereotypes and discrimination.

On this occasion, BWWA President Singh highlighted the important role of women in the development of the country and appreciated the efforts of the force in the field of women empowerment.

This expedition also aims to forge positive visibility of women, so as to encourage young girls and women across the country in stepping up for taking on major roles in shaping the future of the nation as well as to join the ranks of BSF.