I heard someone saying
that state government gives pension to widows & divorcees & told my
maid Gayatri that she is eligible for this pension. The reply I got from her
was surprising. She said, “I am capable of earning enough money for me & my
sisters right now. So I don’t need it currently. Some lady in need may benefit
if I don’t take it.” I was speechless hearing the answer.
Second incident
happened when her younger sister took admission to Computer engineering. We
offered her help & brought her sister a laptop. She accepted the help
happily. But after some months, she gave me some amount of money & said, “This
is part payment of the laptop. I will return you the total money in
installments.” When I said that I don’t need the money back, she replied, “I
know you will give me any amount of money whenever I need it, but I should have
self-respect not to beg for things when I am capable of earning them.” This
time also I was speechless.
Her family is of eight ladies. Two of her sisters are graduate, one doing post-graduation, and
youngest one will be a Computer engineer in few months.
Gayatri is a complete
package of self-respect, strength, wisdom, determination, selflessness, empathy
and many more qualities. Her family is an example of woman power. They don’t
know about feminism, independence, equal rights, financial security & all
such things. But they all are living an empowered life.
Ladies, let's empower ourselves & ladies around us.
