Women’s empowerment was the buzzword as some of Auckland’s leading ladies turned up for a conference organised by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha in Avondale to mark International Women’s Day.
Volunteers of the women’s wing organised the event at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in the western suburb on March 11, 2023. The conference was centred on the theme how women ‘Make It Happen’.
The guests spoke about strong and independent women from the current and past generations. From famous historical figures like Mirabai, who fearlessly disregarded social and family conventions to offer pure and unwavering devotion to Lord Krishna, to the more recent example of Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani activist who is fighting for women’s right to education.
A key highlight of the evening was a guided panel discussion that featured notable participants like parliamentarian Melissa Lee, Nanette Nathoo QSM from the Auckland Indian Association Inc, author Ruby Dhillon, financial expert Hesha Irani, Chairperson of Puketapapa Local Board Ella Kumar, and customs professional Kanika Kathuria. The discussion aimed at shedding light on the obstacles faced by Indian women living abroad and strategies they employ to succeed.
Lee inspired many in the audience, sharing her journey as a South Korean in New Zealand and how breaking her challenges down into small wins allowed her to chip at the glass ceiling. She revealed her mother was the source of her strength and support.
Nathoo, who received the Queen’s Service Medal in 2016 for her contributions to the Indian community in the country, said, “I felt honoured to be at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Women’s Conference as a guest speaker on the panel. Congratulations to the BAPS team for an excellent event. I truly felt blessed to perform abhishek at the mandir.”
Sharing her experience, Dhillon told The Indian Weekender, “It was a very inspiring event, especially for the young women. More such events are needed for women as it is often easy to forget to take a step back and appreciate what we have when we are burdened with responsibilities. I believe all women have the power to make things happen even when balancing full-time work and bearing household responsibilities.”
Other highlights of the evening were skits by women of various ages addressing gender issues that are often easily neglected. The acts included one focussed on how women can take care of their health, while another one was a reminder about the importance of time management.
One of the attendees, Dipti Trivedi, said the interactive Conference was a perfect chance to acknowledge and celebrate the efforts and incredible work of women who dedicate their life to making the world a better place by creating equality.
“These conference speakers with inspiring backstories have made a significant impact in their communities and beyond, and they continue to inspire and motivate us to strive for a better future,” she said.
A traditional Kathak-Bharatnatyam fusion dance brought the event to a close. BAPS spokesperson Darshna Balakrishnan said they were happy with the response to the Auckland conference.
“Events such as the BAPS Women's Conference are important for the Kiwi-Indian community as they empower us to stay true to our roots while simultaneously thriving in Western society. Being constantly surrounded by Western culture makes it easy for women born to forget the struggles of the migrants before them,” she told The Indian Weekender.