Women of Courage

Women of Courage 

Ramees Makhdoomi 

The theme for International Women’s Day, 8 March, 2022 (IWD 2022) is, “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”, recognizing the contribution of women and girls around the world, who are leading the charge on climate change adaptation, mitigation, and response, to build a more sustainable future for all.We in this edition bring the life journey and stories of four women of Courage who have inspirational  stories .
1.
Preethi Dsouza – Motivational Speaker and Event Organizer 
Preethi Dsouza is an symbol of courage as Despite many pains in personal life she has risen not just to aspire and inspire others but be a symbol of growth amid adversity  .She is an   inspiring and multi-talented human being . She is motivational speaker , sucessful model , stylist , event planner based in UAE. She has her roots in India and is  now aspiring actor too.She is a motivational speaker of par excellence  and via her speeches motivating one and all . She plans to go big in motivational speaking world especially when it comes to lifting those who have lost hope in life .Started modelling at age of 40, after she won the Misses India Globe 2019 at UAE and won award Iron lady, which reflected her  personality and life struggle . It was after divorce she focused on modelling career. She was chosen as a model by Punjabi singer  in the song lodev ,after that she didn’t stop herself from going phootshoot , and took the collaboration path since you don’t get paid as an amateur model.She has achieved  great things in Event organizing  world and is a fertile brain when it comes to organizing mega events whatsoever be there nature.  Event organizing successfully is her Forte and her strong point. 
She has during her journey always trusted fully God and started career and gave it flight. At Ajman a distant place from Dubai she  took one small rented flat . She  started freelancing in models and event hosting and started earning little money for fulfilling needs . SHE Wants  to empower women be they of UAE or kashmir . She  wants to teach women that they can come back anytime in life by self love and learning skills to survive . She wants to do many events in this regard . 
She wants herself rising in bollywood or Hollywood . She  want to spread the message of truth , respect and peace and love of God .Preeti Dsouza believes that self love is key to achieving  women Empowerment.  Her aim is to become very rich to slap all those inhuman faces who have Pained and hurt her  . She opines that  Money is not everything . Humanity is bigger thing  . Preethi Dsouza is certainly a symbol of utmost courage .
2. Farzana Mumtaz – Poineer of Women Journalism 
The Editor-in-Chief  of the prominent weekly News Magazine of Jammu and Kashmir  News Kashmir, pioneer of Women’s Journalism in Kashmir  Farzana Mumtaz  is a name to reckon with .

Farzana Mumtaz is a women of courage who has been face of women Journalism in Kashmir .She is among the rare women in our part of the world who runs a media institution .  In her two decades career as Journalist she has shined in diverse forms of media both via her pen and talent of speech. 

Pertinently, during her journalistic career since 2002, Farzana Mumtaz has a credit to attend several conferences and workshops both nationally and internationally as well, she also attended global conference in places like Delhi and Thailand .

On world women’s Day 2022 the message of Farzana Mumtaz is :” Women can achieve anything provided we do not loose the focus of our goal . Challenges  are bound to come and people will try to knock you down but iron will can help to solve all storms . Women should never leave the dream of achieving big and always have courage and grit to face this men dominated world .Journalism is a platform where you get many opportunities to do some social service. I love to help people. That adds up to your deeds and happiness. Through Journalism you can serve both  your passion and  Zest. “
Farzana Mumtaz adds -” As rightly stated by prestigious world bodies The empowerment and autonomy of women and the improvement of their political, social, economic and health status is a highly important end in itself. In addition, it is essential for the achievement of sustainable development . I once again appeal to women to remain focussed to achieve their goals and objectives . Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women’s equality.”
3. Kusum Kaul – Dynamic Business  Leader 
Kusum Kaul a proud Kashmiri Pandit is a women of multiple talents,  the first Kashmiri to head the women wing of prestigious Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industries GCCI .She is a experienced media professional and dynamic entrepreneur. 
 M.A in Mass communication and Journalism from Kashmir University, Srinagar.   B.Sc. in Zoology from Degree College for women, Anantnag, Kashmir University.    L.L.B. from Sir L. A. Shah Law College, Ahmedabad, Gujarat University.Kusum Kaul is Director – Transsphere Technologies Pvt. Ltd, Proprietor – Zest Worldwide Communication, Managing Trustee – Utkarsh Healthcare Foundation India. After having to leave from Kashmir as a result of Forced Pandit Migration Kusum Kaul believes having a spirit of firm determination and never giving up helps a human to negotiate any  sufferings and challenges. 
She is motivated to take her entrepreneur vision to all parts of country especially  Kashmir and credits accomdative nature of Gujaratis to its business successfully 

Kusum Kaul is not just running successfully her Ayurvedic business but taking the knowledge of Ayurveda to world .
She states that her   childhood days were spent in a carefree atmosphere like a tom boy with her cousin brothers, where school was not a burden, homework used to be fun (would do the homework of her cousins too as they were in the same class).She states :””I have cleaned, colored and drawn lines on Mashak (wooden slate), would do my maths and lessons on that. Life was fun as a child, swimming daily with fish under chinars in the freshq serene waters of Nagbal (freshwater springs of Anantnag).  I would race with other boys and girls along with the fish under water, trying to catch the long green fish. The heavy canopy of chinars would make the water look dark and also scary sometimes. Jumping from a cliff of the temple, diving into the water would be a daily exercise and fun. Going to Eidgah with others girls on every Eid was a regular feature of childhood as there was no Hindu/Muslim rituals restriction from my family’s sides (conception of Eid being a Muslim festival), till we shifted to Baramulla. Life took a drastic change from a joint family of thirty people to a single family of four, from a Kashmiri medium to English medium school. The transition wasn’t smooth but I settled down in some years in St. Joseph H.S. School, where I was groomed to what I am today. The discipline, modern life, sports, debates and my father’s modern outlook to life made me what I am today: sincere, dedicated, strong, living in the present and disciplined.
She adds that :” Academically I was a first class student, trying to understand things rather than trying to score marks, I never learnt how to get marks ,rather I was a sportsperson not interested in getting marks, but was in watching movies.
Indira Gandhi has always been my role model.Women should never loose hope, and are key to global peace. “
4.
Jalpa Joshipura- Rising women Entrepreneur  leader of India 
Jalpa Joshipura who started her diverse and dynamic career as a successful Banker is now slowly and steadily translating into a successful  women business leader of country. 
Based in Gujarat she is founder of Evolv which has quite dynamic features – A women’s community ! A one stop solution for WOMEN Entrepreneurs to Network, wherein they Find Support, Advice, Learn and Grow their business with other women Entrepreneurs.Jalpa Joshipura  wants to make Evolv a one stop solution for the women  Entrepreneurs of the country. *The focus is to build up a much needed eco system for women entrepreneurs *
She believes women should never loose focus of their career path and need to show unity in achieving the goals of career. For Jalpa Joshipura providing the young women of Gujarat a quality business knowhow and platform are the main areas of work and concern. 
Flea Market conducted by her able leadership at Ahmedabad on 8 January and 9 January wherein women Entrepreneurs  showcased  different products was a grand success .
Flea Market 2022 was their first edition, from now on they will do it on regular intervals. 
Jalpa  Joshipura  believes that when the women Entrepreneurs  of Gujarat and other parts of the country  connect and brainstorm on an United platform it would ensure success of both women as well as economy. *It’s the time now that women starts contributing to the growth of country’s GDP* 
Jalpa Joshipura  believes that knowledge  sharing and building quality networks is the key to new age world of entrepreneurship .She opines that pent up demand getting the desired means would boost the Indian and global economy in post covid world.
She may have still to travel to many journeys but Jalpa Joshipura  is becoming a name to reckon with among the women Entrepreneurs  of the India.5Sabina Kamal 
Sabina Kamal is among the sucessful muslim women of India.  A brilliant techno-creative thinker, has been architecting Digital Products and Solutions for over 20 years, she is currently COO & Founder of Prestigious MobiQuest / Paytm m’Loyal ; India’s largest SAAS based Loyalty & Rewards platform.Her message to humanity is that Let’s together strive to give meaning to our lives as individuals and as humanity learn to coexist with each other with love and kindness and appreciate diversity and establish peace such that when we return to our Lord, we have no regrets and redeem the rewards collected in this journey of life. Would like to quote Iqbal sher “Khudi ko kar buland itna ki har taqdeer se pahlay khuda banday se khud poocha, bata teri Raza Kya hai”. She states : I would like to appeal to the people of my country and globally to all of humanity is to  drop social cliches and prejudices against Islam, against my Muslim Sisters specially this whole thing against Hijab. Live and let live. Go research. Form your own opinions. Respect the freedom and free will given by God to do what each individual wants and to be what they want to be.
On my future plans, I see a gap in India being non Arabic as a Native Language community for good Quran Recitation Academies, I would like to start or help setup one some day for children & women in different parts of the country on a blended learning format. 
I intend to someday be able to use gamification to teach Children the meaning & purpose of life in a fun self exploratory way. 
I have had the opportunity to be a part of the open source Oxygen/ Med Tech community Oxikit/Pillar Tribe during the Pandemic and after a challenging Covid recovery and am glad that my efforts helped to train, inspire the Tech/ Manufacturing/building community to manufacture locally and contribute towards building a Self Reliant Country inspired by the United  Nations Sustainable Development Goals. I’m not sure how yet, but I hope to contribute towards environment conservation and work to help build a greener planet. 

Women of Courage