West Bengal, India: As India enters its 76th year of Independence, it aims to reclaim its status of Vishwa Guru by 2047 where the role of women leaders is crucial in the diverse fields of our society to create a balance. With a drive to encourage women empowerment, Partha Ghosh Academy of Leadership at IIT Kharagpur organized the first of its kind Women’s Leadership Conclave from 26th to 27th November 2022 on “Women – The Backbone of Society,” in Netaji Auditorium. Eminent women guest speakers like Dr. Kiran Bedi, Ex. Lt Governor of Puducherry and a Megsaysay Awardee along Smt. Premlata Agarwal, Padmashri, National Adventure Awardee; Smt. Phoolbashan Bai Yadav, Padmashri, Social Worker, Smt. Manoshi Roychowdhury and Dr. Tessy Thomas (Missile Woman of India), Director General Aeronautical Systems DRDO, who shared their insights and experiences on leadership roles of women in the 21st century.
In opening remarks of the conclave, Shri Partha Ghosh, the man behind the Partha Ghosh Academy of Leadership & Distinguished Alumnus of IIT Kharagpur stated, “The leadership conclave is about collaboration and compassion that the woman in our society symbolizes. He adds that the Academy of Leadership was based on Vedic philosophy at the core with dynamism of western strategy and western training. This is the fundamental shift. The centre of the solar system is not the western architecture which has been a zero-sum game, it would be the Vedic architecture which is plus-sum game. We need a new revision of the leadership model that is existing for more than 500 years ago.”
While addressing the conclave, Dr. Kiran Bedi, Ex. Lt Governor of Puducherry and a Megsaysay Awardee remarked, “Empowered women who reach tough or unconventional positions make choices not sacrifices. All women work and are working, but very few are salaried. The IITs must do, as a part of training and grooming of how men and women both should work together, serve together and nurture together when they go back home. This is a very vital training that the academic institutions, especially IITs must do. Today women must be assertive and collaborative. Women empowerment is inclusive which should not be confused with feminism which is isolation. Women must work on the TEA MANTRA – Trust, Empowerment & Accountability. Every emotion is your choice, volunteerism and responsible behaviour in citizens is what lacks among people. In modern times a man has to recognize the women in them and the women has to recognize the men in them.”
Dr. Tessy Thomas, Missile Woman of India & Director General, Aeronautical Systems, DRDO cited, “Women perform 60% of the world’s work and earns just 10% of the world’s income. Women lack real role models and mentors. When we think of changing the house, it has to start from your own house, initiated at home, propagated during school days and it has to be promoted while you are performing your job. That is how we can create a different and that is how the social and behavioural changes would come.”
Smt. Manoshi Roy Chowdhury, Co-Chairperson, Techno India Group said, “Study in a good college, get good marks, get a wonderful job but if you go outside the country for higher studies, take the best but do come back to serve your nation.”
Smt. Phoolbashan Bai Yadav, Padmashri, Social Worker said, “Connect with employment and with each other, even if it very small in nature. We should not always go to the government asking for help, we are independent enough to run an organization. Even if we save Rs. 1 then for 2 lakh women it becomes Rs. 2 Lakh which could be raised in one day. Today the rural working women in Chhattisgarh have a brand named Gaonwali where they sell the daily household essentials.”
Smt. Premlata Agarwal, Padmashri, National Adventure Awardee stated, “I climbed the highest peak of North America Mount Denali at the age of 50 with a load of 90kgs. As a Mountaineer, passion and desire should be guided with the vision to see the flag of your country on the highest peaks of the world. That is the goal of every Mountaineer. Disciplined life, hard work, honesty, time management, passion, teamwork and patience are the qualities required for being a Mountaineer because the mountains don’t know whether a Mountaineer is a girl or a boy, it’s the tenacity of the individual that counts. When I got the Padmashri, I dedicated it to my family, my guru, my parents because without their motivation, I would not be here.”
Prof. V K Tewari, Director, IIT Kharagpur remarked, “Swami Vivekanda said that, if you want to know the growth and development of a country, you must see the treatment that is given to its women.” Men and women are the two wings of a bird, it cannot fly without the either one of them. We have these wonderful women icons who are Social Entrepreneur, Eminent Educationist, Missile Woman of India, Padmashri winners etc. who are inspirational to the world and as a country we should be proud of them. Just go ahead with integrity, if people believe in your integrity they will follow you.”
A panel discussion was also conducted by Commander V K Jaitly with Prof. Manoshi Roy Chowdhury, Co-Chairperson, Techno India Group; Prof. Padmavati Manchikanti, RGSoIPL; Prof. Parama Barai, VGSoM; Prof. Sudeshna Sarkar, Dept. of Computer Science and Ms. Cherry, a student who actively worked with the organizing committee that includes Prof. Shailendra Kumar Varshney, Chairman, Partha Ghosh Academy of Leadership, Prof. Trilok Singh, Vice-Chairman, Partha Ghosh Academy of Leadership and Commander V K Jaitly.
