"Future is nowhere, but in our own hands. Enough running
after petty material things; let's start counting the uncountable. "
Diversity issues have plagued
our nation. There was a time when India was known for being hospitable but this
image is gradually being tarnished with ongoing disturbing incidents of rape,
sexual harassment in workplace, deliberate
physical attack on tourists, and now racial discrimination - as we have seen in
the recent case of two Manipuri girls being attacked in Delhi.
These crimes are always talked about. But
crime and social violence does not end here. Girls have to endure a lot more.
Discrimination in the name of color is another concern that has never been
addressed to. Be it matrimonial or print and TV advertisements shamelessly
claiming that fairness is the only path to success and getting the perfect
suitor, women with darker complexion are compelled to feel demoralized. Even
family members don't attempt to spare them from crude comments on their color.
Over the years we have come
across many people from whom we can learn a lot. Anjali Sarkar, aged 21,
hailing from Bangladesh is one such example. She is a student of Dhaka
University, Dhaka. Her story has every bit of emotional depth that could
reflect on the Indian story. I have taken an abstract from her story. Maybe
some of the readers will be able to take a leaf out of her life.
"When
I was born, my complexion was quite dark and that made my parents worried. In
Bangladesh, everyone prefers girls having fair skin color. Relatives and
neighbors used to tell that my father would need to pay a large dowry in my
marriage. I grew up hearing such comments. I felt sad, worried, and even ashamed.
From a very young age I was desperate to make up for my not-so-beautiful look
through my works. I studied hard; I tried singing, dancing, painting, and what
not. I tried frantically to be the best, so that no one can look down on me
because I lack beauty.
Eventually,
all those hard works started to pay off. Successes rushed in my life, one after
another. When I was 18, I got admitted into the most prestigious business
school in my country, which made me even more desperate for achievements.
However, things started to change gradually. Earlier my world was very small;
school, home, family and a few friends. In university, I met hundreds of
people, who were hankering after achievements, jobs, money and social status.
I
talked with more people and tried to discover the exceptional things, events
and people around me who are different from the crowd. I looked for people who
were living happily, working hard to fulfill their dreams, helping others and
contributing to the society. Gradually I realized what kind of future I want.
I was
a typical business student, waiting to work in giant multinational
corporations, earn a fat paycheck at the end of month and live a luxurious
life. But when I realized what really matter in life, I choose not to follow
the crowd and design my own destiny. I decided to be a social entrepreneur and
established a startup that provides rural poor with safe sanitation.
When I
learned to acknowledge the small blessings in life, I understood that to
achieve true success, we should cooperate, not compete. So I started motivating
my classmates and juniors. I shared my thoughts with my teachers. At first
everyone considered my wish to work for the poor a short term fantasy. They
advised, forbade and even ridiculed me. But I followed my heart. As I set my
priorities right and gave importance to the small things that matter, nothing
could discourage me.
Now I
am 21 years old. My heart is full of passion, my eyes sparkle with confidence.
No more confusion, no more inferiority complexes, no worries for not being a
beauty queen. I am ready to do something for my country and the world through
what I love- social business. Every social business aligns people, planet and
profit simultaneously. I love to work in my social business, but I love even
more to help other entrepreneurs to establish their own ones! That's how
happiness is created in a community and spreads itself. I inspire young girls
to come out of their cocoons and see the world, as I am doing now. I am a free
bird and now I am encouraging other birds to break their cages!"
Anjali is the winner of
Goipeace Foundation's Essay competition 2013, held annually in Tokyo Japan.
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