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The moon was shining bright. It was a winter night. Chillness was passing down her body. Her heart was beating faster than usual. She could hear nurses shout at her. Tears filled her eyes not daring to roll down. She thought, the moments are going to change life.
She hears different voices. “Push”. “Keep trying”. “Baby is coming”. “Don’t sleep”. Someone beat her cheeks.
Amidst all this, she started feeling numb. She did not know if it was her heart or her body. But she knew she was feeling numb.
Then she hears the baby cry. She hears the murmurs. There is no one outside waiting for them. Let the baby be with her mother.
And then she hears, its a girl. She smiles and gets into a deep sleep.
She could hear the continuous cry, and she tried to get up from bed. The nurse says to be careful and place her baby on her chest. She rolls down the tears that she has been holding for a while. She hugs her baby close.
She has been waiting to invite another human being to her house. She was prepared for this day. She had decorated her house. She had a room all set with toys for the baby. She was all excited to enter in to their house, holding her baby.
She knew life is going to be difficult. But she looked at her baby, she thought
” We will sail through the waves together and make this life prettier.”
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Meet Renuka Jagtiani – a name that’s been making waves not just in the world of business but in our hearts as well. A woman who, at the age of 38, joined a retail empire with zero prior experience.
We’ve all heard those stories of self-made men who started with nothing but a dream and a dollar. Well, this one’s a little different but no less incredible. Renuka Jagtiani, our leading lady, is the Chairwoman and CEO of the Landmark Group, a colossal multinational consumer conglomerate based in Dubai, founded by her late husband, Micky Jagtiani.
Now, I know what you might be thinking—she inherited it all, right? But oh, honey, it’s not that simple. Renuka’s journey from “newbie” to a powerhouse in the business world is filled with determination, passion, and a fair share of challenges, leading her to debut in the Forbes India Rich List in 2023 at 44th Rank.
So, what’s her story? Let’s dive in.
Renuka’s late husband, Micky Jagtiani, began the Landmark Group in 1973, starting with a baby products store in Bahrain targeted at South Asian immigrants. It’s this very vision that laid the foundation for Baby Shop, the brand we know and many love today.
So, what did Renuka do? Imagine stepping into a world where you know nothing about the landscape. At 38, Renuka did just that. She joined the Landmark Group, a realm dominated by her husband’s vision, with zero retail experience.
Well, her husband and mentor suggested she venture into the young fashion segment, and she founded Splash in 1993 and spent the first 12 years of her career building the brand from scratch, from buying and merchandising to building stores. We often hear about the sweat, tears, and sleepless nights that go into building a brand from scratch. Renuka Jagtiani’s journey seems no different.
The iconic Splash, which started as a small seed, has now grown into a giant oak tree with more than 200 stores across 11 countries in the Middle East and Africa. In 2004, she handed the reins of the Splash business to Raza Beig.
In 1999, she ventured into an entirely different challenge – setting up the Landmark Group’s India business. This venture was an entirely different challenge compared to the Middle East market, and Renuka spent 20 years nurturing and growing the Indian business, teaching herself how to work long-distance in a vastly different and challenging environment.
You see, life has a way of throwing curveballs, but it’s how you swing that bat that matters. And oh, did Renuka hit it out of the park. Over two decades, she nurtured and grew the India business, which now boasts 900 stores across various formats. Lifestyle, a department store chain, Home Centre, and Max have become household names across the subcontinent.
As Landmark Group continued to flourish, Renuka’s role evolved. She became the Vice Chairperson in 2011 and later took on the responsibilities of Chairwoman and CEO. It was a dual role, overseeing a diverse business portfolio, and it had its fair share of challenges, especially during the pandemic.
But 2022 saw a transition in her role as she decided to step down as CEO, focusing more on her role as Chairwoman. Her primary focus? “To further enhance the strategic vision for the company and take the business to new heights.”
Passing the baton to the next generation, including her three children—Aarti, Nisha, and Rahul, each with their strengths and experience, planned to ensure a smooth succession.
The Landmark Group, under Renuka’s leadership, has established businesses across various categories, catering to a diverse population. From food, kids, and apparel to home and electronics, they’ve got it all covered. They introduced and grew new businesses, such as VIVA, the UAE’s first food discounter, and Styli, their first online-only fashion offering. As we enter 2023 and beyond, Renuka outlines three major focus areas for Landmark Group in her interview with RetailME.
Firstly, they are committed to growth and expansion in the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia. Second, sustainability and meeting the evolving needs of customers remain at the core. Lastly, they’re resolute about carrying forward Micky Jagtiani’s legacy of entrepreneurship.
Speaking of reaching the top, Renuka Jagtiani’s achievements haven’t gone unnoticed. In 2023, she made her debut in the Forbes list of 100 richest Indians, securing the 44th position with an estimated net worth of $4.8 billion. It’s a testament to her unwavering commitment, visionary leadership, and the enduring spirit that’s taken her from being a newcomer to a trailblazer in the world of business.
There you have it, the unique journey of Renuka Jagtiani, and as we celebrate Renuka’s accomplishments, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and unyielding spirit of women everywhere. Renuka’s journey has been one of immense learning. She’s observed that sometimes you have to unlearn things to grow.
So, take a leaf out of her book, chase your dreams, and remember that every challenge you face is just another step on the path to success. The sky’s the limit. Keep shining!
Recommended read:
Image source: CanvaPro
Starting pottery classes with my boys helped me see the value in recognizing and seizing second chances for a more relaxed attitude towards life.
Sometimes in life, all it takes is a wholesome new experience to bring home a sack full of wisdom and a bag full of smiles. Last week, I signed up for a pottery workshop along with my children, aged seven and five years.
I had expected that the squishing, pinching, rolling, and shaping of clay to their will, and creating something from scratch with their hands, would give my boys a sense of joy and accomplishment. What I discovered by the end was that, apart from teaching us how to coax clay into functional shapes, our pottery classes also imparted profound lessons for life.
Mothers always don the superhero cape for their children. Considering that I am the Ms. “Know it all” for my boys, it was rather surprising for them to realize that, as far as pottery was concerned, we were all equals, struggling at the beginner’s stage. They giggled with amusement as they watched me slog it out with clay as much as they did. Yet, this is when they deciphered that learning does not stop at any age, and each one of us is a constant work in progress.
As my children found comfort in the fact that there are many things that even the grown-ups have not perfected, engaging in pottery revealed to me the perils of perfection.
On the first day, I found myself getting frustrated over my inability to handle the clay. I was not very good at it, and began to wonder if I had made the right decision in engaging with this art form! I am certain that many adults like me have grown up learning to reward their successes and punish their failures. Failure has become so inexcusable to us that just to avoid the possibility of a botch, we hold ourselves back from trying something new.
Children, on the other hand, take their flights of fantasy with the pure purpose of creating and watching them work without inhibitions reflected upon me how dropping unnecessary hang-ups is the easiest path to self-evolution.
Clay is a forgiving medium, as it allows us to scrap our creation and reuse the material to begin again at any point in time.
Similarly, life throws many opportunities, granting us the ease of starting over, but we are so jumbled up in the vagaries of our daily routines that we often overlook these golden chances only to ponder over the “what ifs…” many years later.
The ease of starting afresh is what enabled me to work on my pottery piece without any pressure, and I could not help but wonder how my attitude towards life would be more relaxed if I could hone my ability to recognize and not let go of the second chances.
Another learning to take home was that while technique is important to succeed in making a beautiful piece of pottery, some of the best pieces get created when things take unexpected turns. My elder son, Karmanya, attempted to make an elephant on day two, but when the trunk looked more like a tail and the backside looked more like a snout, he improvised his piece and turned it into a Dalmatian.
The moral of the story here is that when life throws an unforeseen situation, one must try to figure out a positive twist to work around it. So when life gives you lemons, make lemonade; and when clay gives you a distorted tusker, turn him into a cute canine!
Just like pottery, there are certain lessons in life that you cannot learn on your own. Many of us think that we can battle all our life’s obstacles by ourselves. After all, our problems are ours alone. Pottery made me realize that while working with clay is a highly personal form of expression, you need the teacher to hold your hand from time to time to help you shape things better.
In fact, it was not just the teacher, but also my boys who held my hand occasionally to help me shape my creation. Stating the obvious here, but just like in pottery, having a helping hand in life never hurts.
One does not seem less capable by occasionally seeking help, and similarly, one does not appear to be less competent by choosing to slow down. There are many phases in the pottery process between starting with clay to holding a finished cup, and none of the steps can be rushed. If one rushes the prepping, there are bubbles in the clay. If one rushes the forming, there are cracks in the rims. If one does not wait long enough for the pieces to dry, they explode in the kiln.
We can’t just do one thing at a time and feel good about it if we start applying the same principles to life, it’ll give us peace and joy and keep us from drowning in exhaustion. Pottery has taught me that multitasking is truly overrated and if not always, then at least occasionally, one must surrender to the pleasures of slowing down.
On the concluding day of our delightfully gratifying pottery workshop, my boys and I indulged in cocoa and conversation with our teacher, Ambika. Among other things, she revealed how it was more exciting for her to work with children as they were not confined by the shackles of conventional norms.
“Every child is an artist,” she said, “until he decides to grow up.”
Her statement brought me to a very pertinent question. How can I, as a mother, ensure that my children continue to engage with art once they grow up? What will happen to their creative streak after they step into adulthood?
The answer came from my younger son, Eklavya.
“Keep making the cup YOU want to make,” said the little one, surprising us all with his Zen wisdom.
To sum up his advice in the words of a grown-up, we must stop being inhibited by what others think of our actions and embrace the childlike wonder living inside us, no matter how old we get. Only when we rebuild our relationship with our inner child will we open the door to true happiness?
Now that ‘Animal’ reviews have taken a backseat, and Sandeep Reddy Vanga has decided to portray only toxic characters, I can share my version of an ‘animal’.
So… this man is an ideal one. He has an excellent reputation in society, I mean, before his friends, colleagues, and of course his family. Even after marriage, he has been able to retain his perfect image before his wife’s clan.
He is responsible, loyal, disciplined, and respectful of elders. Listening to his father’s advice, he married a woman of the city. Assuming, like his father, he could control her, he promptly agreed to the wedding. Unfortunately, unlike his mother, his wife was educated, observant, and married in her late 20’s. Hence, she could see through him.
“Ask any of my hostel mates, colleagues or friends…” He will often boast, “You’ll never get a better man than me!” Thus, he got upset with his wife for acting stubborn and ‘egoistic’.
Right after the delivery, he began to yell at her in front of the nurses, other patients, and hospital staff. The reason: why was she shivering? Didn’t she know this would happen? She should have informed the doctor. And the ultimate: what if his father came to know about this? He would scold him for failing to handle his wife. His reputation was at stake.
Very soon, the man discovered, how his wife was lazy and good for nothing. Compared to his mother and sisters, she wasn’t effective in raising her child. She didn’t have 4-5 children; just one- and, she was always complaining, lamenting, and crying. He lost his patience- quite natural! His father would work 16 hours a day to arrange for the dowry of his four sisters while his mother would look after the entire house without any help. How could she manage while his wife couldn’t?
His wife contracted severe dengue. It was a life-and-death situation for her; but he screamed, “What will I say to my father? He will be angry.” And, the wife coldly replied, “Don’t inform him anything about me- even if I die.” Wasn’t he responsible? O yes. He stayed there with her at night. He arranged for plasma. He arranged for fruits!
His father had contacted the best astrologer to improve his son’s life. He was given a clean chit while his wife was the main culprit. And, from then onwards, the wife started distancing herself from him- even before Covid occurred.
The wife contracted COVID. This time, he was stern. “You’ve to recover within 2 months for my parents will be coming to live with me.” He had to be duty-bound like his father. Hence, he constantly and loudly criticized her. He deliberately disrespected her in front of his parents and the house helps. His parents were enjoying live entertainment and he was satisfied to prove his sincere love for his father.
When the mother broke her leg, it was her wife who did as much as possible for her. And, when they started openly misbehaving with her, he simply sided with them. Even after her death, he behaved horribly with his wife. He blamed her for his mother’s death. He blamed her for ruining his hard-earned money. He blamed her- for everything.
Today, the father lives with his son, hale and hearty, manipulating his son so that he doesn’t go to his wife. The son discovers new reasons to continue with his screams. From attacking her family to her (verbally, and always in front of her), he leaves no stone unturned to see that either his wife kills herself or leaves the house. After all, no one will ever point a finger at the father and son. Such is their reputation! Even today, what his wife does is governed by how his father will take it!
This man’s love for his father makes him upright. He cannot tolerate injustice or any wrongdoing. But it is limited only to his wife, his child (though less), and her family! Well, even if his wife breaks this relationship (which doesn’t exist any longer) she is answerable. After all, she corrupts him, by triggering his animal instinct. This makes him behave badly with her. Well, he has several tensions and he shouldn’t seek help, for what will his father say? Therefore, she should be a doormat and a mere puppet in his hands.
Well… when the brutal ‘animal’ is accepted such warmly by society, I wonder how will this man be treated. He is a saint, who is multi-tasking just to see his family happy. After all, the victim (wife) is always guilty. Isn’t she destroying the peace in the house, by not obeying his commands, an by daring to breathe without his permission?
Skimming through the pages of the Economic Times last week, the headline ‘Empower Her’ caught my gaze. It was an eye-opener as I admired the thought process behind the initiative. What dawned further was how diversity and inclusion as a concept have begun to seep into workplaces. So when an Indian company propagates a cause for inclusivity for women, it is a paradigm shift. Mumbai-based, Insure Efficient, an Indian homegrown company makes an impact through the initiative of Empower Her.
The views of the Chairman, Pravin Patil are inspiring. He goes on to say, “To empower more women from all walks of life, we need to create an atmosphere with resources that help them flourish and focus specifically on their needs.” A powerful statement indeed. When the organization throws open its doors and welcomes this niche it brands itself as a pioneer in the cause of DEI.
The story writer in me throws this example up. What happens when the bakery owner in the marketplace invites you to try a new recipe that you have been ogling at on every visit? Smiling sheepishly, I wouldn’t mind trying what is on offer. Similarly, only when opportunities are created and made available, will women get the confidence to walk into those doors and try them. Reading through the article I also got a sense that not just their hiring strategy but also several initiatives will circle and support the initiative.
What is heartening is that when the MD and Chairman talk about it, then it is serious. It is a reflection of the vision of the organization. The MD and Founder, Mr. Rakesh Rathi goes on to say that he has experienced the indomitable strength that women bring in character in his personal life. This is what motivating him and the idea of this initiative was birthed. So incredible!
What is Next?
The declaration will be put into action as the company has unveiled two new branches. The doors have been opened and the stage is set. This will provide growth to many women within their present structure and as these women move to higher echelons, many more will follow navigating the career crossroads.
What is Unique?
As they announce the initiative, the company doesn’t just leave it by making a declaration for creating a supportive environment for women to excel. They go on to specify that the program will cater to tailor-made solutions and career opportunities focused on women both colleagues (employees) as well as clients. So they take one step forward to widen the definition of inclusivity to the clients.
My perspective on providing tailor-made solutions will imply that succession planning for women will happen at a separate pace that creates an opportunity for them to balance the role of personal commitments as well as career commitments. Secondly, it can also extend to structure internal development plans for the female workforce which they can complete at their own pace. This gives them the flexibility to continue self-development even when they choose to take career breaks owing to several reasons at any point in their career. Additionally, I also see an initiative of this scale exploring alternate hiring pools which can include women looking for openings to return from a career break and women hesitant but willing to begin a second career. As more women move up and move in the organization, it reflects positively on the already skewed women representation at leadership positions. Another laudable achievement.
I laud the thought and conviction behind framing this initiative and wish Insure Efficient all glory in making this step toward inclusion a resounding success. At the same time, to all the women contesting stereotypes but passionate to forge ahead, please, I urge you to rise with courage, conviction, and a strong sense of self. The wisdom to find answers and solutions is all within you.
Reference Source: The Economic Times, Dec 19, 2023
Be the kindness you wish to see in the world.
Today, I had an at-home salon appointment with a professional from Urban Company.
When she came over, I asked the professional whether she wanted water or another beverage.
Her face lit up with a smile, but she politely declined.
While doing my facial, she spoke about how she was raising her son on her own. I asked her where he was now, to which she replied that he was playing in the playground in our apartment complex.
We started talking about her work. She loved the flexibility but added, “Ma’am, even though most clients are kind, some are so rude. It feels terrible to be treated that way.”
She related an incident where she called a client to confirm the address. The client was so rude and harsh that she was scared and silent the whole time she was with that customer.
It reminded me how she’d also called me last night to confirm. A friend was nearby. He said, “Don’t answer their calls. Just message and ask them to check the address and come. Why can’t they follow instructions given on the app?”
I didn’t listen to the friend. I confirmed the time and also helped her understand the direction better.
I am not writing this to say I did something extraordinary. I just did the bare minimum.
But my question to people who refuse to show even basic politeness and courtesy to service professionals:
Don’t you always expect your bosses and clients to treat you with kindness and empathy?
Have you never asked a “silly” or an “obvious” question at work?
I know I’ve done it many times and felt grateful when my colleague explained it to me instead of deriding me for not being able to follow “simple instructions.”
So, why do some of us forget to be kind when our turn comes?
I told the salon professional, “When I am at work, I hope to be treated with care and respect. So it is only natural that I pass it on to anyone providing me with a service.”
She replied, “Ma’am, how I wish everyone thought the way you do.”
Your behavior can make or break someone’s spirit. Empathy costs nothing but makes the world a better place.
If you want to be treated well in your professional and personal lives, remember that so does everyone else.
Photo by Mei-Ling Mirow on Unsplash
With OTT platforms garnering the support of a large audience, it is important to ensure that the content out there doesn’t portray female characters as inherently vulnerable and in constant need of male aid to rescue them from their perils. With a plethora of problems lurking behind the four walls constructed by society, all sorts of representation are crucial. Female characters do not have to be perfect; they just have to be real. With the current generation’s shifting perception of gender and gender associated stereotypes, many writers are headed in a different direction, shouldering the responsibility their profession confers. Many series are portraying women for who they are and who they can be, instead of giving them empty characters with no substance.
Here are a few such series.
This series follows Anjali Bhaati, a sub-inspector, played by Sonakshi Sinha as she unravels the mystery of inexplicable deaths of women in public restrooms in Rajasthan. A combination of a riveting crime drama and a social commentary, this series manages to convey an important message without boring the viewer.
The series also provides us with a breath of fresh air by being very forward, given the rural setting. Both Anjali, and her male boss are quite progressive by nature.
Streaming on Prime Video
This work of fiction laced with anecdotes that r plot somehow never fails to pique the audience’s interest by exploring the ever-changing dynamics between Nella, who was initially the only black employee at Wagner Books, and Hazel, another black employee who joins the publishing house. The initially thrilled Nella later starts questioning Hazel’s intentions, eventually leading to several revelations regarding the brand’s dark history. The nuanced portrayal of ubiquitous racism and publishing house politics garners the audience’s support.
Streaming on Disney+Hotstar
Set in the foreseeable future in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, this sci-fi thriller is about people gathered for a major event on the island being thrown into a tumultuous situation when the outbreak of an unknown disease occurs. The outbreak isolates them from the rest of the world. Only the doctor-in-charge, Dr. Saudamini Singh, is willing to investigate the cause and bear the brunt of it. Dr. Saudamini Singh is aided by a group of women who make great sacrifices in the process.
The vivid portrayal of a world in crisis makes it a series worth watching.
Streaming on Netflix
Prime Video’s latest Tamil original is a beautiful amalgamation of three women’s desires for independence and their hesitations, making it the perfect slice of life series.
A quirky mother-in-law, a docile daughter-in-law and an ambitious granddaughter embark on an impromptu road trip in pursuit of different things when they are fed up of being dictated by the men in their lives. This trip serves as the perfect bonding experience, allowing them to introspect, rejuvenate and gradually break societal norms of what they are expected to do and feel. It is a heartwarming series that feels close to home.
A prequel of Netflix’s Bridgerton, this show portrayed a love that was far from normal. With Charlotte being the first person of colour in the royal family, she changed the scene of the high society.
The show not only talks of the mistreatment and objectification of women back in the day, but also deals with people’s perceptions of mental health through King George’s disorder. The supporting characters were also assigned pivotal dialogues, contributing to the overall success of the show.
Though her name literally translates to being a married woman, Srimathi is a proud unmarried woman hailing from East Godavari. This Telugu series shows how three generations of women rise to their circumstances with grit. Humour is used to shatter several stereotypes in this seven-episode long show starring Nithya Menen.
Starring Máiréad Tyers, this show uses quirk and silliness to explore the constant feeling that one is not enough, especially as a young adult. When everyone around her gets assigned a superpower at 18, Jen, the protagonist, remains powerless.
The feeling of not fitting in, of not being enough and of not being perfect are highlighted through her interactions with her best friend, her stepsister and her mother. Though titled ‘extraordinary’, this show is about normalising being just ‘normal’.
After the superb season 1 that focused on the 26/11 terrorist attack on Mumbai, the financial capital of India, 2023 saw Mumbai Diaries Season 2, which focuses on the incessant week long rains and the 26/7 Mumbai floods in which so many people lost lives.
The action happens this time also at Bombay General Hospital, taking the story arcs of its main characters ahead with some getting redemption and some resolutions, alongside the main storyline. Worth a watch.
Jagruti Pathak, played by Karishma Tanna, is an established crime reporter. However, like most women who make it big, she also has to hear people say that she didn’t get her position on her own merit. This doesn’t really bother her until she becomes the principal suspect for the murder of fellow reporter Jaideb Sen.
The plot explores how women are always made the scapegoat even in situations that do not concern them in the least.
Katherine Wyler is appointed as ambassador to Britain to handle an international military crisis in the first episode of this series. This strains her marriage with a manipulative Hal who is not used to seeing his wife outshine him. The cliffhanger endings of each episode keep the viewers hooked.
Karan and Tara, the founders of ‘Made in Heaven’ are back. However, with Tara undergoing a painful divorce and Karan still dealing with the aftermath of coming out, things aren’t as smooth as they could be. Karan’s mother refuses to love her son and accept his sexuality even while on her deathbed.
There are several other notable female characters that added a spark to the series.
Bulbul Johari plays a feisty businesswoman who is initially disliked for her brutal ways. Eventually, she gains praise for her business acumen. However, it is her parenting style that truly stands out.
Jazz who plays a chirpy middleclass girl, struggling to make ends meet with her drug-addict brother and elderly parents, adds a rather refreshing touch to the show considering how loaded most other characters are.
Meher Chaudhary’s character increases LGBTQ+ representation in the show without trying hard. Her character blends seamlessly into the plot.
Similarly, Pallavi Menke played by Radhika Apte, is a Dalit Activist who stands her ground and ensures that she gets a no-discrimination Buddhist wedding.
Rani, a matriarch, runs a drug cartel after being forced to place business first with the murder of her husband. The story explores raw feminism and is one of a kind. A struggle for succession coupled with the threats resulting from the minister’s son being overdosed forms the main plot.
An adaptation of Alderman’s 2016 novel, this series explores the possibility of a world where women could generate electricity in their bodies and electrocute anyone at their whim and fancy. The reversal of traditional gendered power dynamics provides for a lot of insight into present day power struggles that women face. Portraying a female-forward society, this series endorses potential equity.
Sushmita Sen respectfully portrays Shreegauri Sawant, trans rights activist and social worker based in Mumbai. The story is set in 2014 leading up to the historic Supreme Court judgement. Gauri’s narration to a journalist is interwoven with several anecdotes of her troubled past.
Streaming on Jio Cinema
Revolving around the impact of Claire’s unprocessed trauma that stemmed from the early death of her mother, this show dissects how she puts her wisdom and guilt from early loss to use by working on the local column ‘Dear Sugar’. She pours her heart out and helps others with information that she was unable to apply to her own life. Gradually there is a shift in her viewpoints, with her slowly withholding from playing the victim card and the blame game.
The show focuses on what it means to heal, to move on and to let go.
A portrayal of a real-life tragedy, this series is about Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy who unfortunately lost their children to a man-made fire in a cinema theatre in Delhi, caused by the callousness of the Ansal brothers.
This series dives into the 26-year long struggle of the parents for justice against the negligent owners of the cinema hall. Neelam’s perseverance despite her immense pain made her fight continually, not just for her children but for all the victims of the catastrophe.
This season, like the first, primarily rests on the mother-daughter duo. The revelation of several sinister secrets from Georgia’s past causes her relationship with her daughter to get more and more strained. With Georgia’s obsession with sugarcoating everything and Ginny’s longing for just a morsel of truth and normalcy from her mother, this season explores familial bonds amidst several other themes.
This regal period drama’s sixth season focuses on Charles’s wedding to Camilla and the final weeks leading up to the death of Princess Diana. However, it has also covered the initial phases of William and Kate’s relationship at Scotland and the death of Princess Margaret among other such events. Elizabeth Debicki steals the show as she portrays Princess Diana in her last few hours. The Princess is seen declining Dodi’s ‘Dis-Moi Oui’ ring before their impending death.
Actress Imelda Staunton brought life to Queen Elizabeth by playing a pivotal role in the series. This period drama never falls short of vibrance and colour.
This eight-part series stars Brie Larson as a chemistry genius whose journey in academia is jeopardised by 1950s sexism. She is forced to leave university before finishing her PhD and she winds up working as a lab assistant and coffeemaker for a team of misogynistic male scientists. Her progressive nature makes this the perfect watch for every feminist!
Streaming on Apple TV+
Shrikant Roy, seeks a debutant actor to work on his movie ‘Sunghursh’. Jamshed Khan is deemed fit for the role. He, however, has an affair with Sumitra Kumari who happens to be Roy’s wife. The couple contemplates fleeing to Karachi while Binod Das, Roy’s trusted aide, is sent to bring them back to the studio. It is only after Binod’s true intentions are unveiled that the plot begins to unfold.
A spicy blend of betrayal, affairs and a hunger for stardom makes this 1940s-50s Hindi period drama set in a time when women often called the shots, before the ‘male superstar’ became a thing, is a must watch series.
These series depict the lives of a myriad of women resulting in the assimilation of varied perspectives. Several women battle sexism and oppression while some battle their own inner demons. These series are a breath of fresh air amidst conventional shows that lay emphasis on the macho man, subverting the importance of female characters if any. Directors must continue to make more such shows in order to bring about much required egalitarianism.
Tips on grooming and behaving in a gentle and feminine way
You tell me to forgive,
you tell me to forget,
All my pains are stupid
All because you want him to be invited…
And where do you want him to enjoy?
To MY wedding, of course,
The happiest day of my life in the darkest shadow of my past,
Why do you hate me so much, o mother?
Why don’t you want me to last?
In front of the love of my life,
Is standing my predator,
The one who ruined my childhood with his eyes,
And now he awaits my happiness’s demise…
And yet you will invite him,
Not just to the wedding, but to every event possible,
”A little bit of touching doesn’t matter”,
”And maybe he wouldn’t even get a chance with all that clamour”…
Can I base my life on a “maybe”?
Should this invitation be ignored by me?
Should I forget everything and move on?
And hope that nothing happens here-on?
But what if it does happen?
Will you be there to protect me, dear parents?
Or slap that pimp in his stupid face?
No dear, this won’t happen ever, and only you will need to hold a mace…
Let this Navratri teach us a lesson,
That every woman is indeed a goddess,
no matter who tries to ruin her,
She will face and slay her perpetrator…
And for those parents who tell its “okay to be touched a little”,
It is also okay to cut that person a bit,
and maybe even apply some haldi with chillies in it,
Then even Gods would rejoice and shower petals beneath…
What is alpha male or rather who is an alpha male?
To understand who are alpha males we need to back to the primitive era, the stone age. That was the time when humans stayed in green lashed jungles like the other wild animals. To satisfy the basic need of hunger humans would hunt. Since they stayed in jungles they had to protect themselves from other animals who could hunt them down. So basically humans had to fight with other animals for their survival.
But humans are different from other animals as we can do inventions and discoveries; our basic nature is to explore. In the quest of one such exploration we invented fire. Now this fire was used to scare away other animals. We started developing our own weapons like a bow and arrow or a javelin. These weapons started getting used to hunt down the ferocious animals. With weapons we became better fighters than the animals.
Now the fights shifted between humans. The male humans would fight with each other to woo the female gender. After all the female gender wanted a man who could protect them from the wild world. The man who won the fight became the partner of this potential woman. If we say that all wars have been fought because of women there is nothing wrong in this.
Slowly humans started becoming advanced and they started exploring earth. The strongest person became the king and he started conquering land. The people of particular region were defeated and that region was acquired by the king. The king would also get into relationship with the women of that land.
Ruling the world became prime motive of humans. Modern day weapons were developed. Now the fight was no more with bow and arrow, swords, or javelin. Slowly guns started getting used. We humans showed our capability and developed the deadliest atom bombs. We have even developed missiles
For long countries were captured and the people of the captured countries became slaves. The idea was more countries were captured more resources could be exploited and at the end it would generate revenues. Slowly countries started fighting with each other and the world witnessed 2 world wars.
As the modern day weapons started getting used. Now the man had to strategize how he would fight the war. The king would select the best person who could lead the soldiers and win wars for him. The king might not be physically strong but he needed to be a good strategist to win wars.
However in the current time the ways to woo a woman has changed. Now no more a man who fights and kills someone is considered a potential partner. However movies still show that a man fights with 10 goons and wins the girl’s heart. Has the idea of protection subsided? Not really. Women still prefer men who can give them protection. But since laws have come in place the idea of protection has changed.
Now what does a woman want? Well every woman has defined her own alpha male. The idea of alpha male which worked in stone age might not work today.
In animals the idea of alpha male still remains the same. The strongest gets to mate with female in their group. Whether it is a lion, tiger or dogs and cats the males fight among themselves for that female in their group.
What really is alpha male as per you?
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