If you want to understand how to become better allies to people with disabilities, then join us at Embracing All Abilities: Including People with Disabilities at Work.
How does one measure a brain’s intellect by the subjects a child chooses in grade 10 or 11? Why are we as adults quick to judge when someone opts for a creative field as opposed to the IT or medicine sector?
“Mera beta engineer banega.” India’s infatuation with engineers, IT and doctors is actually hilarious on the world stage. It is like no other profession exists.
I agree that we have Indians heading the biggest companies of the world, and the largest hospitals. But how does that take away the aspirations of people who are creative or simply clueless.
You could be enrolled in an engineering course and mid-way decide that music really defines you and want to pursue that full time. Or you could be studying medicine and in your last year want to drop out to become a sommelier!
And if the above examples reign true with any of my Indian readers, I most definitely can associate to the high level drama that would have happened in your homes.
For once, you choose a subject, it is like you are tied down to it for life.
Right from junior school, it seems as if grades are the only way to add success to your child’s resume of life! Nothing less than 99.99% and yes, that is the cut-off rate for a lot of reputed colleges in India.
How is a child even supposed to compete with that score beats me, for text book education has no bearing to the complex situations we face in our life.
I am taking the liberty to generalize here, but very few of us Indians actually let our children choose their choice of career.
Needless to say – “Mera beta engineer banega!” has been the line of debate for many a Ted-talk or motivational speech. And it continues to be.
I swear by a quote I heard Warren Buffett say in a speech – “If you had no need for money, what is the job you would seek?”
And this is a question that every parent needs to ask his/her child. What is it that you want to do? What is it that makes you happy?
We are so engrossed in the rut of doing things that we often overlook our own children’s desires. It is important to steer them in the right direction, but it is also of extreme necessity to let them wander on that path until they find what they’re looking for.
We can’t really hand hold them for in doing so, all we are really doing is tightening our own power or our own insecurities on them.
In India, we live in families that span over three and sometimes four generations. And whilst it feels good to have everyone around— somewhere, the word adjustment stems in. And that is one word I strictly am against.
I am not a nut that needs to be screwed into its exact place and be bolted. Neither am I responsible for everyone’s moments of highs and lows. I want to hear of a relationship that thrives because of love and freedom.
I want to hear stories of people who live together because they have a deep fondness for each other, not because they are morally tied down in matrimony!
And likewise, I want to talk to children about their dreams and aspirations, not their parents’ unfulfilled desires!
Choosing a career does not imply that you are tied to it for life.
In fact, the whole world is abundant with so much possibility that it would be a real shame if you only stuck down to one and didn’t even bother to experiment.
I am a mother, a writer, a social media strategist, a speaker, an entrepreneur, a gemmologist and then some. And I am not even halfway there. So, what is to stop you from taking that one step towards the road less travelled upon!
Cheers!
Image source: Still from the music video of Premam |Aluva Puzha, edited on CanvaPro
Pooja Poddar Marwah is an Indian author and blogger. (October 22,1978) Her foray into writing began in a parking lot, whilst she was waiting for her kids’ co-curriculars to get over. Her debut read more...
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.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
What I loved was how there is so much in the movie of the SRK we have known, and also a totally new star. The gestures, the smile, the wit and the charisma are all too familiar, but you also witness a rawness, an edginess.
When a movie that got the entire nation in a twist – for the right and wrong reasons – hits the theatres, there is bound to be noise. From ‘I am going to watch it – first day first show’ to ‘Boycott the movie and make it a flop’, social media has been a furore of posts.
Let me get one thing straight here – I did not watch Pathaan to make a statement or to simply rebel as people would put it. I went to watch it for the sheer pleasure of witnessing my favourite superstar in all his glory being what he is best at being – his magnificent self. Because when it comes to screen presence, he burns it, melts it and then resurrects it as well like no other. Because when it comes to style and passion, he owns it like a boss. Because SRK is, in a way, my last connecting point to the girl that I once was. Though I have evolved into so many more things over the years, I don’t think I am ready to let go of that girl fully yet.
There is no elephant in the room really here because it’s a fact that Bollywood has a lot of cleaning up to do. Calling out on all the problematic aspects of the industry is important and in doing that, maintaining objectivity is also equally imperative. I went for Pathaan for entertainment and got more than I had hoped for. It is a clever, slick, witty, brilliantly packaged action movie that delivers what it promises to. Logic definitely goes flying out of the window at times and some scenes will make you go ‘kuch bhi’ , but the screenplay clearly reminds you that you knew all along what you were in for. The action sequences are lavish and someone like me who is not exactly a fan of this genre was also mind blown.
Recent footage of her coming out of an airport had comments preaching karma and its cruel ways, that Samantha "deserved her illness" because she filed for divorce.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu fell from being the public’s sweetheart to a villain overnight because she filed for divorce. The actress was struck with myositis post divorce, much to the joy of certain groups (read sexist) in our society.
A troll responded to Samantha’s tweet, “Women Rising!!” by adding to it “just to fall”. She replied, “Getting back up makes it all the more sweeter, my friend.”
Here’s another insensitive tweet by BuzZ Basket showing fake concern for her autoimmune disease. “Feeling sad for Samantha, she lost all her charm and glow. When everyone thought she came out of divorce strongly and her professional life was seeing heights, myositis hit her badly, making her weak again.” Samantha responded, “I pray you never have to go through months of treatment and medication like I did. And here’s some love from me to add to your glow.”
Please enter your email address