Dil Se Dil Tak - A Meeting Point

March 8 was a day to salute womanhood. Celebrated around the world as Women’s Day, it is a celebration of the economic, political and social achievements of women. We take a look at these wonder women who are super achievers in their own fields.

1.Kiran Mazumdar Shaw : New York Times called her India’s Mother of Invention. The Economist called her India’s Biotech Queen. Chairperson and Managing Director of Biocon Ltd. Biocon Ltd is presently the biggest biopharmaceutical firm in India. She is also a civic activist and is involved with the municipal administration in Bangalore. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw was awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian honors

2.Naina Lal Kidwai : Naina Lal Kidwai is the first Indian woman to have graduated from Harvard Business School. She was ranked third by the Fortune in their list of the World’s Top Women in Business in Asian in 2000 and 2001. Naina is also counted among the top 50 women in international business in 2003 and is considered as one of the most successful women in the world of Finance. At present, Naina Lal Kidwai serves as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation in India

3.Chanda Kochhar : Chanda Kochar will don the mantle of the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ICICI Bank May 1 2009. Chanda began her career in 1984 with ICICI Bank. She has worked in the areas of corporate credit, infrastructure financing, e-commerce, strategy and retail finance.. She has also been consistently featured in the Fortune’s list of ‘Most Powerful Women’ in business

4.Sheila Dixit: Shiela Dixit does not fit the stereotype image of an Indian politician. She is frank, quite uncomplicated and well-educated. She is also easy to talk to and unlike most politicians she does not come across as devious, calculating or corrupt. She is known as of the best CM of India. Besides her political achievements, Dikshit has also been a leading figure in the movement for granting of equal rights to women

5.Mamta Banerjee: One of India’s most successful female politicians, Mamta Banerjee started her political career when most Indian women were still discovering independence. The founder of the All India Trinamool Congress Party, she is now a name that the state of West Bengal will not forget for years to come

6.Jayalalitha: Popularly called as ‘Amma’ by both her fans and the people. Jayalalitha Jayaram’s story is one of sheer ambition. Rising from poverty, she went on to become Tamil cinema’s greatest actress and one of Tamil Nadu’s most powerful politicians

7.Sonia Gandhi: Leader of the Indian National Congress and voted the third most influential woman in the world by Forbes Magazine in 2004, Sonia Gandhi’s story is one of love, loss, struggle and victory. After her mother-in-law, Indira Gandhi, was assassinated, Sonia entered politics and rose to victory in the 1999 Lok Sabha elections and 2004 general elections

8.Sania Mirza: This tennis wiz began playing game at the tender age of six and turned professional in 2003. And with the doubles win alongside Bhupati at the Australian Open, Sania Mirza is the highest ranked female tennis player ever from India, with a career high ranking of 27 in singles and 18 in doubles. She holds the distinction of being the first Indian woman to be seeded in a Grand Slam tennis tournament. One thing’s for sure Sania is here to stay

9.Loveleen Tandon: She was there, one among the entire cast of the ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ team as they basked in the Oscar glory. For Loveleen Tandon, the casting director - cum - co director of the movie it was a dream come true. Her challenges were many;from finding the kids to portray the lead roles, to being personally present at most of the shoots, which she executed to perfection. Even though Loveleen had worked as a casting director for films by Mira Nair and Steven Spielberg, ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ has made all the difference for her.

All the above women are great Indian citizens.

Now I want tell you the about the great women who touched my life in special way. First of all my mom. She is such a wonderful mother a great human being. And also I want to salute Mmao aunty, Raffuji, Shobha, Padmajee(apne naak ke baare itna kuch sun ne ke baad bhi kuch nahi bole), Lavanya, Shashi aunty, Sadia, Amrita, Urmeeji, Varianaji and all. Agar galati se kuch naam miss hogaye hai to sorry. Love u allllllllllllllllllllllll. May God bless you!

- Veena