The Women Who Shaped Me

This Women’s Day, I find myself looking back at the women who have shaped me—not just in flesh and blood, but also those who came alive through stories, words and lessons whispered through time. Some were real, others fictional, but each left an indelible mark on the person I have become. Strength, resilience, wisdom and sacrifice—these women embodied them all, weaving their influence into my life in ways I only truly understand now.

What I Learned and Unlearned

Through all these lessons, one woman stood at the foundation of my life—my mother. As a child, I watched her bow before God every morning, whispering prayers that never included herself. When I once asked what she prayed for, she smiled and said, “The well-being of my family is all that I want.”

Back then, I admired her selflessness. I saw her as the pillar of our home—the embodiment of sacrifice, patience and unwavering devotion. But as I grew older, I began to see the cost of that sacrifice. My mother lived for others, neglecting her own dreams, her health, her aspirations. She went on to live to become the perfect Bhartiya Naari, which meant putting herself last. She never demanded space for herself, never voiced her needs, never allowed herself to dream beyond what she could do for her family.

It took me years to understand that while her love was boundless, her way of prioritizing others over herself, costed her dear. My mother, unknowingly taught me that a woman’s worth was measured by how much she could give—but I have since unlearned that lesson. Watching her, I realized that true strength does not come from self-erasure but from self-empowerment. If she had prioritized herself—her health, her ambitions, her happiness—she would have been even stronger for us.

She made me who I am, not just through the values she instilled, but also through the lessons I had to unlearn. From her, I learned devotion, but I also learned to never lose myself in the service of others. She shaped me by showing me what to embrace—and what to change.

The Teacher Who Changed My Life

Then there was one Mrs. Wankhade—my English teacher at school. I feared her sharp voice, her unwavering discipline, her relentless push to be better. Back then, I resented her, not realizing that her lessons extended far beyond literature.

She had a strict rule—no student was allowed to speak in any language other than English in the school hours. Even a single word spoken in another tongue led to severe punishment. The guilty would be made to kneel in front of the principal’s office during lunch recess, where the entire school could witness their humiliation. It was harsh, embarrassing and at times, felt unjust. Yet, over time, I realized that her methods instilled in me strict discipline, the ability to take responsibility for one’s wrong-doing and a deep humility that shaped my character.

Mrs. Wankhade was not merely teaching me to read and write—she was teaching me resilience, the power of critical thinking and the courage to speak a foreign tongue, which alone could, later in life, drive my curiosity into Spanish and Esperanto. I did not recognize it then, but today, as I stand before my own students, I see pieces of her in the way I teach. Her influence runs deep, shaping me into a mentor who challenges, guides and inspires just as she once did for me.

Strength in Vulnerability

I never thought a fictional character would guide me through life’s uncertainties, yet Aarya, played by Sushmita Sen, in the webseries 'Aarya' did just that. When her world crumbled after her husband’s murder, she did not break—she adapted. She stepped into the shadows of crime not out of choice, but out of necessity, protecting her family with the ferocity only a mother can muster.

Aarya was not born strong; she became strong. She showed me that courage is not about the absence of fear but about moving forward despite it. There were moments she stumbled, moments she doubted, yet she never stopped. Through her, I understood that survival is not about dominating others but about standing tall, unyielding in the face of adversity. She reminded me that real strength often whispers rather than shouts.

Power of Owning One’s Story

If Aarya taught me resilience, Michelle Obama taught me empowerment. Reading her autobiography, Becoming was like sitting across a mentor, absorbing the wisdom of a woman who had broken barriers with grace and tenacity. She proved that one does not have to be born into privilege to change the world; one only needs the will to rise above expectations.

Her journey—from a modest upbringing in Chicago to the global stage—resonated deeply with me. She redefined success not as wealth or status but as the impact one leaves behind. Her words, “Your story is what you have, what you will always have. It is something to own,” became my mantra. She taught me that women do not need to shrink themselves to fit into predefined molds. Instead, we must take up space, amplify our voices, and lift others as we climb.

Honoring the Women Who Still Shape Me

As I reflect on the women who happened to be #MyBrilliantFriend and made me, I realize they were not defined by fame or fortune, but by the strength they carried within. My mother’s selfless love, my teacher’s relentless push for excellence, Aarya’s quiet resilience and Michelle Obama’s wisdom—each thread wove into the fabric of my being.

Their stories, their strengths, their sacrifices and their triumphs live within me, guiding my steps as I carve my own path. This Women’s Day, I honor them. And I hope that in some way, I, too, can pass on their legacy to the next generation of women finding their own strength.