Most Vital for a Woman is to identify and acknowledge her Desires #WomenEmpowerment #BlogchatterA2Z

Prema owns a tiny gift and stationery shop in the society I live in. On special occasions, we also book her to apply the traditional Indian mehndi or henna on our hands which is her passion as well as her source of extra income. She is a true artist and is near perfect at the art. I love the way she clads in her Rajasthani lehengas and works extra hard to retain her clients. 

She belongs to a small village in Rajasthan and was the only child of her parents till she was fourteen and they fondly called her Prem. This was when her younger brother was born and a wave of unparalleled happiness spread in the family. As is still a tradition in many Rajasthani villages she was married off at an age of seventeen and she came to Pune with her husband. 

They both had together rented this small shop and work extra hard to grow their business. While her husband handles procurement she handles sales which is ideal for them because while she never fails to impress me, my first encounter with her husband was a total fiasco, he missed the basics.

Prema is all of nineteen now, she comes to my house often to apply henna and asks me a million questions. She is raw, unabashedly ambitious and a bundle of energy. She is also very honest though not very practical which is acceptable as she is still in her late teens. 

She is a school drop out but now realizes the value of education and has resumed her education and often asks me her doubts on Whatsapp. She believes it is never too late to begin. If you go to her shop, you will see her reading. It warms my heart and I always motivate her, sometimes I also unnecessarily buy something from her shop to lift her spirits further. She says she also wishes to do masters in business management one day. What is heartening is that though her husband who is just a few years elder to her and who himself doesn’t like studying is supportive of her zeal and efforts.

Isn’t it really nice? I know she has miles to go before she sleeps. Coming from a small village she could have easily got lost in the ocean of the big city but she instead adapted to its ways and wants to rise and shine. Ironically next to her shop, is the entry to a posh college where many her age, are still trying to discover the purpose of their lives.

Her example shows that India is rising from a deep slumber where women were often suppressed and were denied the power to dream and fulfill their dreams. Every time I see her, my eyes twinkle with joy, yes, the women are on the right path to empowerment. She is a lesson to many of her age. It is most vital for us to identify and acknowledge our desires because this realization is what solely gives us the right focus to march ahead.

This is my thirteenth post for my 4th consecutive Global #AtoZChallenge and #BlogchatterA2Z. You can read my earlier post in this Women Empowerment Series here: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L

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