CHENNAI: Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry Kiran Bedi visited Stella Maris College for Women on Tuesday to celebrate the diamond jubilee of the department of history & tourism. In a free-wheeling candid chat with eager students, Bedi addressed the problems that women face today.
She highlighted three important acronyms in M which include Money, Marriage and Motherhood which women should give importance to. “When you have money you are empowered. You have to learn to earn for yourself, or else you are enslaved,” she said.
She added that women are free to choose marriage and motherhood. “Marriage changes everything but it is manageable. I had a job which was more demanding; so my husband had to wait. But when it came to motherhood, I could not make my children wait. Marriage can be cancelled but motherhood cannot. Motherhood changed my life,” she said.
Further, she elaborated on the three W’s that are changing the world – Women, Weather and Web. “Women are changing the world and are more able and capable. The weather is changing all the time, and we have no control over it. But the Web, which is changing the world, can be controlled. The more you muster the web or technology, the more you are capable,” she said.
Speaking of the ABCD of freedom she said A stands for ability. It is the ability to shine, fulfill and qualify. “How free are you to realise your ability? I have loved hard work throughout my life and am working hard even today. But when children have the ability, often they are not allowed to realise it,” she said.
B stands for boundaries, she said. “There is no freedom without a sense of responsibility. The laws are boundaries; when we observe it, we enjoy our freedom,” she said. “C stands for conscience; listen to the conscience which will tell if you’re crossing your boundaries. D means Duty. We all know fundamental rights but how many of us follow Directive Principles of State policy, particularly section 51 (A) fundamental duties,” she added.
She also encouraged students to wake up early. “If you sleep in the morning then you are wasting your day. As women you need double energy as you will have double role to play,” she said.
She made the students meditate for nearly 20 minutes. She said, “Meditation is agnostic; it is a skill. I do it every day in the morning and I get so much energy. When you practice it every day, the mind will talk to you. A higher mind will guide you,” she said.