To achieve success one has to sacrifice her sleep, happiness, peace and even family and only after this penance one can achieve success, said renowned mountaineer Meenu Kaliraman, who has hoisted the national flag on Mount Everest, Mount Lhotse, Mount Kilimanjaro and others.
Speaking at the ‘We Women Want Festival and Awards’ organised by ITV Network in the national capital on Monday, the top mountaineer recalling her hardships and the patriarchal pressure said that “to achieve success, one has to leave the safe zone and especially for women, who wants to achieve success.”
Highlighting the societal norms imposed on women with a blend of patriarchy, the top mountaineer highlighted that many a times, due to pressure from relatives and neighbours parents pressurises their daughters to get married at an early age which ultimately destroys their future.
Reminding of her hardships when she was looked upon by her own family members, she recalled her tough times and added that “In Harayana, there is a lot of gender discrimination.”
Sweety Boora who’s a world champion in boxing also insisted that they one should leave their comfort zone and should have self-belief in themselves.
Similarly, Simran Sharma who secured a bronze medal at the Paris Paralympics 2024 talked about the hardships a para-athlete has to face. “People laugh at you, makes fun of you. Para-athletes face a lot of struggle because society does not let you move freely. But I’ve been lucky enough that my husband who is in the Army kept on supporting me. It’s ultimately your sacrifice, hardwork and discipline which makes you different from others”, she noted.
Speaking at the ‘We Women Want Festival and Awards’ organised by ITV Network in the national capital on Monday, the top mountaineer recalling her hardships and the patriarchal pressure said that “to achieve success, one has to leave the safe zone and especially for women, who wants to achieve success.”
Judo Champion Poonam Chopra who in her earlier professional career was a professional cricketer recalled numerous difficulties during her formative years and despite initial difficulties, once she started earning medals, she noted that she got financial support too.
Female sportspersons in India have had a profound significance both in shaping the country’s sporting landscape and in promoting gender equality.
Their achievements on national and international stages have brought attention to women in sports and have broken stereotypes about gender roles in a traditionally patriarchal society.