The International Womens Conference organised by AOL in Bengaluru was a telling sign of

the increasing power of women, says K Geethanjali

Everything in this universe has a purpose and we have a higher purpose. Recognising this, and
valuing life, is harmony, said Smt. Bhanumathi Narasimhan, the chairperson at the 6th International
Womens Conference in Bengaluru on February 7, 2014, at the Art of Living International Centre. The
theme of the conference was creating harmony in the midst of opposites.
Highlighting the premise, she said, A jasmine can be near a lotus or a rose. They dont compete, they
simply are beautiful. When we all come together like this, it is harmony. The IWC is not about men
bashing. It is about opening the male mind to the issues that women face. Whether rural or urban, the
womans voice is not heard. The aim of these conferences is to let the world hear the voice of the
woman.
The event had a special significance in the wake of a pan-India awakening on the prejudice against
women in Indian society. A wide spectrum of women coming from every part of the world painted the
ashram in a riot of colours as they discussed ways to create a more harmonious world.
Religious and cultural differences were forgotten as they came forward to understand each other
better through open dialogue, driving home the point of our oneness and mutual interdependence.
Though a wide section of women are still struggling, there are women who have broken through all
barriers, and have made a mark for themselves in their respective fields. Such women shared their
uplifting stories with everybody at the conference. They shared and cared, laughed, and wept
together (as when the documentary on the Iraqi war widows was shown), danced, complimented each
other and made faces to look younger!


Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairperson, Biocon Ltd celebrates womens nurturing powers
Their stories differed from each other, but their emotions were the same.
When Sheila Sri Prakash, an architect from Chennai, related that her professors remark during an
entrance exam, that a seat would be wasted if a girl got selected, inspired her to work harder rather
than give up, the audience cheered.
Asha Bhonsle demonstrated the power of music in connecting and healing people when she took
centrestage after being awarded the prestigious Vishalakshmi Lifetime Achievement award. Receiving
a standing ovation, the much loved singer spoke about how she found harmony and peace through
her music.
Her thoughts on impermanence of life were echoed by the former Sri Lankan President Mrs
Chandrika Kumaratunga. She said that the seminal Buddhist philosophy of annica (the doctrine of
impermanence) along with the Buddhist principles of metta (loving kindness) and karuna
(compassion) have helped her face life with equanimity. After surviving an assassination bid, she
invited the terrorists who opposed her for peace talks two days later, demonstrating that one could
remain centred in extreme situations.
Women talked about the scars and stars they encountered in their journey of life. Politicians like
Chandrika Kumartunga, former President of Sri Lanka; Dr. Husn Banu Ghazanfar, minister of
womens affairs, Afghanistan; social activists like Dr Kiran Bedi, Vimla Mehra, director general, Tihar
jail; and Hijran Huseynova, chairperson of the state committee for family, women and children affairs
for the Republic of Azerbaijan, all spoke on the theme of harmony in the midst of trying
circumstances. They agreed that one could balance both the polarities, and live life from the centre by
accepting the situation and taking positive action.
Assume your rights

Social activist Kiran Bedi receiving the Vishalakshi award from the Chairperson of the International Womens
Conference, Smt Bhanumati Narasimhan
The time has come for women to stop asking for freedom and just step into their rights. Ms. Vimala
Mehra trenchantly expressed herself. Why keep demanding and demanding? Let us just assume our
rights, she said.
BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi too expressed a similar view when she quoted Sri Sri Ravi
Shankar, Dont wait to be given power, just assume it, in her speech. She and her Congress
counterpart Rita Bahaguna Joshi practically demonstrated the ideal of finding harmony through
differences, when they shared the dais at the conference.
Role of parents and teachers
The responsibility of teachers and parents were considered to be of crucial importance in shaping up
children and moulding young minds, the creators of a harmonious society of the future.
Harmony comes from within, and it needs to be cultivated from childhood, said Sri Sri Ravi Shankar,
to the 800-odd delegates from over 59 countries, attending the three-day conference.
Parents have to be responsible for their children! thundered Kiran Bedi in her interview to the press.
Spirituality is about values. Health and character is built at home and school. Men who abuse women
have not had a proper upbringing. Every parent is responsible and accountable for the conduct of his
children, she stressed.
Ms Parveen Gill, professor at Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Canada,
spoke about how she introduced the values of love and compassion even in her business
management courses. She stressed upon the importance of doing regular meditation to attain inner
harmony which gets translated into outer harmony. Also an Art of living teacher, she emphasised the
significance of watching ones breath in order to transcend the anxiety that women face while juggling
roles and combating social pressure.
Humour heals
Is humour an essential ingredient for harmony? For Paula Schargorodsky, an Argentinean filmmaker,
humour is about making a choice. Her famous documentary, 35 and single, was born of her having to
make a choice when she found herself alone at Christmas. The last in her circle of friends had got
married. Paula realised that either she could indulge in self-pity, or approach it in a humorous way.
She decided to make a humorous film on this theme, and the rest is history. Through her
documentary she realised that all she needed in life was to fall in love with herself. It became the
mostwatched documentary worldwide in the last two weeks of 2013.
Power of media
While Ms. Narayani Ganesh, editor-in-chief of The Speaking Tree, called for making good news
saleable and urged the media to focus on the positive aspects of a situation, panelists agreed that
along with the power came the responsibility of spreading harmony in society.
Be your own journalist, urged journalist Kathrine Aspaas from Norway. Everyone has the
responsibility to tell a different story. People can use social media like facebook to spread love and
share stories of hope, she said.
The era of the heart
Only the heart energy can bring about a beautiful world. Women as natural nurturers are now at the
forefront of changing society. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, managing director and chairperson of Biocon
ltd, stressed on the role of women in changing the order of things, at the conclusion of the three-day
event. We are the chosen ones in society who know what nurturing is, she said, to cheers from the
gathering.
As the three-day conference came to an end, the delegates and the speakers dispersed with a wealth
of knowledge to ponder on and put into practice till the next biennal conference in 2016. The theme of
the next conference was announced as Life A Mystical Journey, by the chairperson Ms Bhanumathi
Narsimhan. The challenges of the 21st century require innovative solutions. A mind that is positive
and equanimous, that sees all problems as healthy challenges. Spirituality is now helping us move
into a space where we find that all answers lie within our own heart. With the logical masculine energy
being balanced with the nurturing feminine one, as the divine feminine gives birth to a new world, one
wonders, isnt a harmonious brave new world closer than we think ?