Keerthana Balaji
Graphic Designer & Photographer, Founder of Tungsten & Pollachi Papyrus
It is difficult to pinpoint one person who has inspired me. For me, inspiration has come from a number of people at various stages of my life. But one towering motivator for me has been Ms. Divya Mudappa, senior scientist and co-founder at Nature Conservation Foundation, that works for our country’s beautiful bio-diversity through research education and action. She has convinced me that the world is indeed an ideal place. I was fortunate I could be a part of one of their projects that focussed on the restoration of rainforests in the degraded forest patches of the Valparai plateau. A project like that needs immense dedication, focus and commitment over long years, the fruits of which only the future generations will stand to benefit. It's the genuine love for nature that emanates from Divya and every member on the NCF team that has made my respect for them to grow. She has inspired me to work in my own way to give something back to the place that has made me what I am today and that I call home.
Jitha Karthikeyan
Artist
I have always admired women powered by courage, persistence and a purpose. Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo, has deeply inspired me. Frida was a survivor, who fought adversities in life, to find her own voice. She contracted polio at the age of six, then suffered a near-fatal bus accident at 18, that left her with a lifetime of chronic physical pain, surgeries and periodic confinement to bed. Inspite of it all, she was able to transcend her pain through her art. Painting became a way for her to explore questions of identity and existence, until her death, at the age of 47. Our dreams are often far removed from our realities. The lives of women like Frida, inspire us to never succumb. Frida Kahlo, to me, represents, strength, resilience and the joy of living.
Megha Asher
Founder, Juicy Chemistry
I was 20 when I went to Brisbane, Australia for my higher studies. I worked there part time at a gas station owned by Kulveet Kaur Sandhu. She was a woman like none I had met before. Her leadership qualities and management skills made a deep impression on me. And I can say with conviction that I learnt a lot about the intricacies of being a successful entrepreneur from her.
Kulveet was a third generation Canadian settled in Australia she had a unique outlook and a ‘go for it’ attitude. Her self confidence and bold choices always caught my imagination. I can attribute a lot of my decisions in my entrepreneurial journey to her honing my skills as a young business aspirant. She was my first employer and is today a dear friend and a continued source of inspiration.
My decision to start a skincare range after my frustration with what was available in the market is largely due to her grooming of me. I took a leaf out of her ‘go for it’ attitude.
Obulichandran R.
Co-Founder of Mango Education, an after-school science programme for children
For me any person who works against the odds to do what he/she loves and builds a career in it is an inspiration, even more so, when he/she neither got nor expected recognition. In a male-dominated science community, Henrietta Swan Levitt (1868- 1921)did ground-breaking research forever changed the way we understand the universe.
For a long time, women were neither allowed nor encouraged to enter a career in science. Henrietta had a degree in Astronomy, but was assigned to be one of the many ‘computers’ at the Harvard College observatory. Her task was to merely categorise various stars based on their brightness. Though she knew her talents were not being put to good use, it did not deter her from studying the cosmos. She paved the way for some of the greatest discoveries in modern astronomical science. She is hailed as ‘the woman who discovered how to measure the universe’. During her lifetime, she did not receive any credit for her work. She inspired and paved the way for other women to take up science as career. I wish more women get into science. I think, as a society, we must encourage this.
Varun Moorthy
Co-Founder of Scolarian Bicycles Pvt Ltd
Sri Daya Mata, one of the foremost disciples of Paramahansa Yogananda, she became the president of Self-Realisation Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India in 1955. She is a forerunner of today’s increasing trend towards accepting women in positions of spiritual authority that have traditionally been reserved for men. In the 35 years she has held that position, many have become acquainted with her through her global tours, writings, and the films and recordings of her talks. As the head of a big organisation she had countless responsibilities, yet she has always been there for her devotees. In her book, Only Love , a compilation of her talks, she touches upon topics like how to move around with people, the purpose of life, and how to balance your personal and spiritual life and to be successful in both. Reading her, I find it easy to run my company, handle failures and success, and manage my life. She has also taught me that love needn’t necessarily be always between couples or people in a relationship. She brings an insight into what true love is - it is when you start associating an individual’s suffering as your own. Love should build a service-oriented mentality and an inclusive society.
