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Anupama, an idealist at heart, believes that passing on the mic to amplify suppressed voices is the best way to show solidarity with the marginalised.
Anupama writes with a clear vision of what she wants to say, and makes sure she explores all possible facets of the topic, be it parenting or work or on books.
An intelligent, extroverted writer with a ton of empathy, she is also one who thinks aloud in her writing. Anupama says that she is largely a self driven person, and her passion to write keeps her motivated.
Among her many achievements Anupama is also a multiple award winning blogger, author, serial entrepreneur, a digital content creator, creative writing mentor, choreographer and mother to a rambunctious 7-year-old who is her life’s inspiration and keeps her on her toes.
She is the State President (Telangana) of Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and is on the advisory board of several NGOs. She is a Karamveer Chakra (Silver) awardee which is a Global Civilian Honour presented by International Confederation of NGOs in association with the United Nations.
She says, “My work gives me a high she says, and it gives me a strong sense of being. It is just the madness of exploring and pushing my own self, and discovering things about myself I guess. However, I must mention here that my daughter has a huge role to play in my journey because I also want to set a good example for her.”
For Anupama, life is an open road and she believes one should be free to pursue their dreams and grow in any direction they wish to. Although she had always been passionate about her work, she took the courageous decision to quit her lucrative corporate job at Infosys and pursue other interests and grow in different directions.
Anupama had just resigned in January 2013 when the Nirbhaya incident occurred. Little did she know that this national tragedy would change her life. She explains, “Not many know that the Nirbhaya incident was also a huge trigger for me. I wanted to do something on the ground in the social space, and I volunteered with an NGO and got involved in the rehabilitation of human trafficking survivors.“
She describes the experience as life changing, taking her life in a different direction. “It also made me realise that when we do something for the betterment of the society, it is a privilege and the least we can do. Helping someone or making someone’s life better should make us feel humble, and not great.”
To Anupama, living with compassion for your fellow human beings and passing the mic to amplify suppressed voices is the only way forward for a better world. Every voice matters, no voice is too small.
Anupama began her journey as a professional writer in February 2016 when she came upon our website. “Later that year, while scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed, I chanced upon a post from Women’s Web which caught my attention. I visited the website and loved the posts, and submitted some of mine too which received a great response on the platform. The Women’s Web team was always so encouraging that eventually the community that we built felt like home.”
Anupama believes in the power of self reflection, empathy and introspection to lead a more fulfilled life. “A thing I have learnt in all these years is to never negate someone’s lived experience. If we truly want a better world, every voice deserves to be heard. Passing on the mic is one of the best ways we can show solidarity at times when we feel we cannot do anything else.”
“I think Women’s Web is an excellent platform which has empowered so many in these 12 years. I feel so fortunate to be a part of this inspiring, vibrant and safe community. I hope to be able to attend more events to connect more frequently with the team, readers and fellow writers.”
Like every woman, Anupama too has faced casual sexism in the world of entrepreneurship. “Once there was this gentleman who approached me asking for the Founder of Rhythms & Beats. When I told him it was me, he expressed surprise because he was expecting a ‘male’ founder and eventually, whatever collaboration he was reaching out for never materialised.
I guess every woman entrepreneur has such experiences from time to time. It is high time people start taking them more seriously. What we do is not ‘timepass’ or ‘hobby’ or ‘phase’. This is one of my biggest pet peeves – women entrepreneurs/writers not being taken seriously or their work being thought of as less important than corporates or big businesses.”
Her advice to women, especially new parents, is to live life unapologetically and mistakes are okay. And to focus on the most important relationship you have in your life – the one you have with yourself. “You are not answerable to anyone else but to your own self.
At the end of the day, it is between you and your conscience. It is ok to give junk food to your child when you are tired. It is ok if you forgot to attend a parent-teacher meeting due to workload. It is ok to want to have the piece of chocolate for yourself too. It is all ok.
Those who want to criticise you will never stop at one thing. So please focus on your support system and surround yourselves with those who truly care.”
Her most widely read story on our platform is one where she shares with us a conversation she had with a friend about female masturbation. She was surprised to learn that women even today feel guilty about taking charge of their sexuality. She encourages her friend to explore her body, and that taking charge of her orgasm may actually help her marriage! Take That Step Forward NOW, Towards An Essential Pleasure on female masturbation, exploring female pleasure.
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Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
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UP Boards Topper Prachi Nigam was trolled on social media for her facial hair; our obsession with appearance is harsh on young minds.
Prachi Nigam’s photo has been doing the rounds on social media for the right reasons. Well, scratch that- I wish the above statement were true. This 15-year-old girl should ideally be revelling in her spectacular achievement of scoring a whopping 98.05% and topping her tenth-grade boards. But oddly enough, along with her marks, it’s something else that garners more attention – her facial hair.
While the trolls are driving themselves giddy by mocking this girl who hasn’t even completed her school yet, the ones who are taking her side are going one step ahead – they are sharing her photoshopped pictures, sans the facial hair, looking nothing less than a celebrity with captions saying – “Prachi Nigam, ten years later”.
Doctors have already diagnosed her with PCOD in their comments, based on photographic evidence. While we have names for people shamed for their weight – body shaming, for their skin colour- racism, for their age- age shaming, for being a female- sexism, this category of shaming where one faces criticism for their appearance has no name. With that, it also has zero shame attached to it.
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