Women's Day Special: Meet The Women Sparking Change

From activism to awareness, gardening to grandchild bonding, older women across India are sparking change and how!

On International Women's Day, we want to highlight the achievements of older women who have come together to share their wisdom, preserve our heritage, and inspire us with their life lessons. These women are not only shattering ageist stereotypes but also proving that activism, social media, and making a difference are not just for the young generation. Social media in particular has seen a surge of older content creators who are using their expertise and experience to educate and entertain us. Even off social 

Women Power Combined

Meet Hutokshi Rustomfram, Shubhada Nikharge, Hutoxi Arethna, Dr Sheila Tanna, and Katie Bagli. They are members of the Save Rani Bagh Botanical Garden Foundation, a group of older women who are not afraid to don the activist hat. Rani Bagh, located in Byculla, is Mumbai's largest and most visited public green space next to the zoo with over 4000 trees from more than 250 different species. The garden is a heritage green lung the city cannot afford to uproot, with trees that are over 500 years old. In 2007, the women who often came here for nature walks were shocked to learn about the BMC's proposal to turn Rani Bagh into an international-style zoo and night safari experience. This would have meant the loss of this piece of nature.

The women swung into action, formed the Save Rani Bagh Botanical Garden Foundation, campaigned, filed public interest litigations and made people aware of the heritage they would lose. They have worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the garden's beautiful history since then by conducting nature walks and doodling workshops at the garden to maintain that interest. The group has also published a book of photos to celebrate the anniversary of the garden. Through their efforts, they hope to ensure that Rani Bagh remains a green oasis for generations to come.

Speaking of strong women coming together, we must mention Shubhamastu in Kolkata, an all-women team of priests that has revolutionised religious rituals by eliminating patriarchal traditions like Kanyadaan, all supported by reason and a profound knowledge of customs and ceremonies. Shubhamastu is a charitable trust run by Dr Nandini, a Sanskrit professor and theatre actor and the brain behind this concept. Together with her fellow priests, many of them above 60 like her, they have broken gender stereotypes and even conducted Durga Puja rituals in Calcutta, inspiring a movement towards gender equality in religion. We also adore how older and younger women have come together to make this change.

The Grandchild Bond

It's common to see grandchildren these days helping their grandparents to showcase the skills and talents they have acquired over a lifetime. One such example is the grandmom-granddaughter duo, Sheila and Yukti Bajaj, who run a business called Caught Craft-Handed. Another star is Urmila Asher, who goes by the name Gujju Ben Na Nasta on YouTube. Sheela Bajaj creates the products, and her granddaughter Yukti takes care of marketing and finance. It's heartwarming to see how a grandchild has helped her grandparent, who has been through losses in life, to showcase her talent and earn an income, giving her a sense of purpose.

The ever-smiling Gujju Ben would have blessed your Instagram, Facebook, and other social media feeds by now. She was a Masterchef contestant and is also a motivational speaker. Despite the loss of three children over the years, Urmila's enthusiasm, energy, and incredible zest for life continue. It's not easy to become a YouTuber at 77, but with the support of her grandson, she has not only found her own fan following but also helped him rebuild his life after an accident. Find her story here on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwR6_ais5aI

Wisdom of the Years

Lalitha Chelluri Rao, a gynaecologist with several years of practice, runs an Instagram account named Fifty and Fab. Along with sharing pictures of her lovely saris, she also provides information about important issues that affect older women such as menopause and coming from a history of strong working women. Her account is an honest depiction of the hard work and rewards that are part of a busy doctor's life.

Adity Chakrabarti is the author of the coffee table book "Rehaish—At Home in Lucknow" and runs an Instagram account named Decor by Adity. She had a small role in the Mira Nair-directed series "A Suitable Boy", but it was her book that caught Nair's attention and inspired the houses used in the series. Through her account, we get a glimpse of her beautifully kept and styled vintage home, very useful home decor and gardening tips, and the old-world charm of Lucknow. Adity also showcases Lucknow's architectural heritage and timeless traditions. For instance, did you know that Gulabo Sitabo was not only a film starring Amitabh Bachchan but also a traditional puppet show from Lucknow? Check her account to know more about this fun fact!

We love how older women are coming on their own by showcasing their talents, challenging beliefs in many cases and highlighting their talent through various mediums be it by coming together in their activism, or, as is very common these days, sharing their life and what they do on social media. All of them have lessons for many of us to emulate and a great way to incorporate knowledge and lifelong learning into our own lives.

Here is a special women's day nod to all of them.

Note to our readers: We have only highlighted a few women here. However, if you know of more pathbreaking older women who are forging their trail, grannies on the gram who are taking over social media and cracking down on stereotypes or older women who are turning the tables upside down anywhere, please share with us on editor@silvertalkies.com

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