The Sister Code
Category Archives: The Feminine Code
Chitra on Feminism
Chitra Kalyani
Chitra Kalyani is a single woman who currently resides in New Delhi, a city she painstakingly explores and writes about. She previously studied and lived in Egypt. A freelance journalist, this Dilli Ki Billi is the founder of Delhi Live Events Guide. Currently, she holds the position of relationship manager at a Yoga studio and researches on mental illnesses.
What are your views on feminism?
I’m not sure I understand the question. If this is about whether or not I opt to be called a feminist – of course I’m for equal rights. Everyone should have one view of feminism: to support it.
If there was a code of conduct for women (like the bro code) what according to you should be the rules?
The bro code usually has to do with how the game changes when women are around. I think a “sister” code would be for us to be supportive and encouraging of each other’s efforts, and to give guidance that is clear – including tough love. But at the foundation, to always give from a place of love.
Tell me about one woman who has inspired you ?
My English teachers have always been inspiring – probably why I ended up choosing to study the subject. They were perfectionists when it came to things like spelling, grammar, essay structure – their work; but when it came to an attitude towards you, I found them gentle. Without that, a genuine interest in literature and arts could not exist. I had at least two female English teachers in high school.
The Feminine Code by Chitra Kalyani
© Photo- Kailash Kalyani
Ankur on Women
Ankur Narang Bhatnagar
Ankur Narang Bhatnagar lives in Jabalpur. She completed her M Phil in English Literature and went on to work at the Fullerton India Credit Company. When she quit in 2012, she held the position of Location Manager. Ankur is currently occupied with the upbringing of her one year old daughter, Amaaya.
What are your views on feminism?
Feminism to me, unlike it’s dictionary meaning is not just a movement, or an ideology that needs to be established or used as a tool to facilitate a woman’s place into this world. Rather it is the Best Celebration one can have of that profound Energy which every single Woman on this planet is born and endowed with… ‘Power ‘not just in the physical sense but that rare Power of the Liberated Heart, Mind, Body and the Spirit !! Feminism to me is- Pride.. a sense of Being… a State of Existence which is so exotically layered that mystics, writers, philosophers, artists and scholars have not been able to explain it in its full measure across centuries. It is Wisdom, Grace, Beauty, Color and the Vibrancy of Life. A Woman encounters Challenges/Questions/Apprehensions on her very being/her choices/her wishes and desires since very early in life, she remains marginalized by a largely male dominated set up but there’s something in her soul that sustains her through every single of those denials that life, people, conventions and society send her way. For that, she is Special! Both God and Nature outdid themselves when they created ‘Woman’… for she is the creator of Life and capable of sustaining that miracle on a day to day basis ever after. She has enough strength in her to choose and fight her own battles on societal pressures, restrictive mindsets and institutional hurdles and win them too! Feminine energy is almost a synonym of that Divine Energy that knows no bounds, remains unexplained and yet exudes such power and influence it almost seems to be holding the entire world together by its sheer magnetism and charm.
If there was a code of conduct for women what according to you should be the rules?
Be there … Don’t ever let Time, Space or Distance come in between
Don’t Judge one another
Let go offand Crazy petty Expectations and Forgive easily
Don’t Compete…Compliment instead
Be honestly Neurotic and Crazy when around your girl friends. It is the most soul satisfying thing you’ll ever know in your life!! !
Tell me about one woman who has inspired you ?
If I were to name just one woman out of so many that have touched my life and enriched it beyond measure I would be unduly differentiating between them. To list a few, my maternal grand mother ( whom I never got around to see because she passed away, well before I was born) is perhaps the first woman who has inspired me…in her ability to stay humble, to be there for people despite her own limitations and to smile even when bogged down by life and circumstances. The second woman to make the most profound impact on me would be my own mother. She remains undaunted through whatever life has sent her way! She possesses a will power so strong she could turn the worst coming towards her and her children away!! She is a wonderful human being with a heart of gold always willing to cast its shiny stardust on those who happen to touch her life! I am inspired by some friends of mine who perhaps did not get the best of childhoods/upbringing either materially or emotionally, but who have not let that embitter them from becoming great human beings. They enrich my life with their innate goodness and warmth and prove that no matter what your past and its limitations have been, it is the present that matters and needs to be lived well and with dignity!! Despite coming from deficient backgrounds these women have ensured they gave me the best of their love and friendship and always had my back through thick and thin. On a broader level, a woman of substance I remain inspired with is Maya Angelou.People who read her work and know her life story would know why she remains an endearing inspiration to many. Closer to home, I guess it would have to be Ela Bhatt (pioneer in starting the Self Employed Women Association, SEWA), Chanda Kochar- MD and CEO ICICI Bank and Nirupama Rao, India’s first full term Foreign Secretary and the first female spokes person for the Ministry of External Affairs.
The Feminine Code By Ankur.
© text+photo-Ankur Narang Bhatia.
Monica on Feminism And The Feminine Code
Monica Singh
Monica Singh is a passionate, motivational woman who currently studies Fashion Marketing at Parsons. Her vivacity is so infectious that on meeting her you forget about the tumultuous life she has lived. She is not a victim but an acid attack survivor and what a firework she is!
What is your view on feminism?
“Feminism” is so different from just saying – “I am a Feminist”. It’s a strong word to describe your power- to become equal to man, with indefinite power of grace and strength. I am a feminist myself, but I don’t want to take the place of a man by up ruling their duties. Feminism is part of every women. But most of us forget its strength or they don’t realize it. It’s not a word to express women’s delicacy and irrevocably use it for wrong reasons. It’s unidentified source of energy which is most beautiful and powerful in its own way.
If you had to form a female code what would it be?
I would say that “Wo-code” should be knowing yourself and having complete control over your thoughts and mind. There would be no code as such, since we are living with unintentional disciplinary in our own life, already. But I always prevent through my mind as a “Man” can do attitude towards life. We have women around the globe who are going through different changes in their lives and creating new rules for their lives. It’s all subjective. If every country’s women can have their own code of conduct. Then why we are trying to develop one “code of conduct” which cannot apply on everyone. However, everyone has one thing is common -a Maternal Heart to prevent all negativity from their life. But they should start taking psychological control too. Not to be afraid of men and social rules. And instead of thinking about others and loving others- THEY SHOULD LOVE THEMSELVES, first.
Who are the women who have inspired you?
If I say big names like “MOTHER TERESA”, MARY KOM or MANY MORE , that is not enough. EVERY Decade or I would say every era there is/was at least one woman who proved and brought change in our lives. The names I mentioned cannot imply to our current situation. So the Question is who can be the “one woman” who inspired me most – My mother?? I guess part of my life she inspired me. But I cannot ignore other women who came into my life such as- my professors, girls I met during my campaign, news reporters who believed in me, a girl who recognized me in the crowd and ask me to give her an autograph and take a picture. There are many who keep inspiring me all the time. It’s on me now, who I pick for my next inspiration to achieve my dreams, further.
The Feminine Code (Wo-Code) by Monica.
To know more about Monica read – https://a100reflections.wordpress.com/2014/08/10/monica-2/
A 100 pieces of me-project 