"Women are Always Beautiful"
~ Oscar Wilde.
On this 8th March, where the whole world is celebrating women power on the day of International Women's Day (started in 1975 in United States), I find my blog to be the most privileged place to thank a few real life known ladies, close to me, my soul and life. They have not only my inspirations, but also motivator and I am a great-time secret admirer of these real-world heroines.
Lady 1: Manjushree Tripathy
First in the list is none else than my Mom... My life giver, my lucky charm, my stress buster, my pout box for throwing my anger, my bad times companion. I not only owe my life to her, but I also feel proud to be her daughter. Had there been no Manjushree Tripathy, I would have been never into existence nor my blog.
She is a voracious reader of literature, a professor in rare language (Sanskrit), a hindustani classical vocalist, a TV and Radio singer, a mother of three, a knitty gardener, a warden of hostel with 500 girls..!
She is an all time workoholic machine. I have never ever seen her resting or wasting time.
And as she says the famous lines "No mother can be evil/ bad, whatsoever may be her kid (son)be!", I realize now she is the perfect epitome of a woman.
I know my mother is the best person in this world and will remain with me for-ever. I love you mom for being my mom..!
Lady 2: Soubadra Devy
I got the opportunity to interact with Soubadra (SD, I love to tag her with her initials) one fine evening. I still remember our first conversation. It was sometime during last year's summer (in May), when one fine evening she walked into my workspace and discussed about one job profile. Ever since I had heard of SD and her better half TG (T.Ganesh ) during my Pondicherry days, I was keen to work with both esp Soubadra, the butterfly lady in our field (ecology). She was one amongst the few names who work on plant-animal interaction (in particular pollination ecology).
Soubadra, from the 80's batch (if not wrong, 89 Batch, Salim Ali School of Ecology, Pondicherry University), is a field ecologist, a canopy scientist working in the tiger landscape at KMTR. Soubadra Devy has been a inspiration in many a ways. Before I knew her and after I have known her (since May 2010). First time I read her scientific paper for an assignment for Partha's Forest Ecology course, I was eager to meet her. And as we all know, nothing is impossible in the world. My settling in Banglore, getting the golden chance to work at ATREE, and that fine evening of last summer when the lady came to me with the job of working as an editor for her canopy book, all had been so perfect and unexpected. I thank god for finally making me work with SD on her one of the many books.
She has been a constant motivator, inspiration and good listener. Not to forget she loves my cakes a lot (like my work :P). Keeping my fingers crossed to get more opportunity to work with her in future...!
Lady 3: Jyotirmayee Dash
Meet this "small" lady..She must be 5' or so, dusky skin-toned, somewhat in early 40s of her life. She is an authentic cook (aah, how much I love those stuffed sweet fried rice balls, the special rice pudding.. she owns expertise in continental and typical oriya and indian food). She is my aunt and we love to gossip with her. She is more than a friend. A senior lecturer, married to my uncle (dad's younger bro), a mother of two girls, I really salute the way she manages her job, her ill health, her home and everything (not to forget her sarees, I love them a lots).
Kudi (in Oriya, for Chachi) ranks third in my list of inspiration and no doubt if I say I admire her a lots.
Lady 4: Anita Tripathy Lal
"Annani", that's what I call her. She is my second cousin). I rank her to be the perfect modern woman, who balances between work, kids, home, ailing parents, maids... what not to list when it comes to Anita Tripathy. She deserves 10 on 10 on my list of perfect woman.! A IIT graduate, MBA prof @ some famous B school in Delhi, Anita is a mother of 6 kids- her mom and dad (late Nira uncle), Vinni, Sherya, Sumit Bhai and her maids (that's what she told me when I had been to her place last time, sometime in Aug 2007). Wooah! so many kids with different demands and she manages to fulfill all of them without fail.
I salute her for being so versatile, flamboyant and super-energetic.
Lady 5: Deepa Pradhan Rath
Deepa Bhabhi is a modern era woman, a banker and a nice mix of old thoughts and new ventures. Married to my cousin, Deepa stays in Delhi with my brother, work for a bank. From the first time I saw her during the marriage till my stay in Delhi for 3 days, I realized Deepa bhabhi is so dynamic and a typical metro woman, having a good balance at home and her workspace.
By the way, not to forget, 8th March is her birthday and so I wish her many many happy returns of the day.. ! She is a true woman of spirits.
These were the famous five in my life.. What are yours?
PhotoCopyrights: Deepa-Asit Rath and Anita Lal- Anita Lal
(Rest pics © Amtrips' Photgraphy)
Photo Editing: Amtrips' Photography.
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