Page 123 - ALCHEMY 2018-19

INDIRA- THE HERCULES

We remember Indira, not just as a tenacious leader but as a
symbol for women empowerment in India and the world over.
Elected four times as the Prime Minister of the country and
becoming the world's longest serving woman Prime Minister
from 1966 to 1984, Indira was most admired for her iron-fisted
approach and bold governance style.
The legacy of Indira Gandhi is an unforgettable one. Especially
in the early 20th century, when being assertive was regarded
as unacceptably outrageous by society, she sought to set
standards for other women leaders across the board to follow
suit. Her success shows us the importance of taking advantage
of your surroundings and not letting your gender define you.
The life of Indira Gandhi is a story that inspires a whole
generation of women to achieve success by breaking the
glass ceiling. Women's political participation and leadership
are necessary factors for general peace of a nation and the
only way to encourage more women to be represented across
platforms is by constantly reminding people about the tales
of successful women through history. She brought about
considerable changes inside the government, established
new trends and values and expelled older officials from the
Parliament on grounds of indiscipline. Women in power, not just in politics are faced with obstacles
that are gender driven, societal norms that discourage their growth, restrictions and expectations that
may bog many down. Stories of women who have surpassed these and risen to power need to be at the
forefront so it fosters confidence among aspiring women to persevere, just as Indira Gandhi had done.
As we continue to discuss issues around gender rights and participation, these are the accounts we
turn to, for hope and inspiration. We must reflect and applaud the journey of Indira Gandhi as a leader,
as a woman and be grateful that our nation has produced such a dynamic personality.
Indira Gandhi will forever be remembered as a powerful and capable leader who brought her country
to the world’s stage and developed India into a regional superpower. Having faced her fair share of
criticism, Indira continued to relentlessly pursue her goals with a conviction unmatched by any leader
of her time. And this was the reason she commanded respect, irrespective of gender.

Gunnika Bhatia, IX-B

THE INVISIBLE BARRIER

Whenever I come across the famous phrase "Breaking the glass ceiling" ,faces of several eminent and
celebrated people infiltrate my mind. I eventually begin to contemplate the diverse aspects which
ultimately led them to do more than what was expected of them. Factors such as perseverance,
industriousness, hard work and believing in oneself play a part in this meticulous yet rewarding and
fruitful process. In my opinion, there is one significant and decisive factor which is required in order to
shatter "the invisible barrier"; the factor happens to be one's thinking. George Patton Jr. once rightly said
"If everybody is thinking alike then somebody isn't thinking."If we aspire to be someone extraordinary
like Priyanka Chopra, The Phogat sisters, Sundar Pichai and many more inspiring and influential people
around the globe we need to remember and truly understand the power of thinking.

Tanya Jain, IX-B

SACHDEVA GLOBAL SCHOOL | 2018-19 | 121