DON'T MISS A THING

The yearly tribute to ‘Women’s March History Month’ and ‘International Women’s Day’ is a celebration marked to establish that women have this designated time to collect on their rewards and recognition, and the world must applaud them. Cheers to a species unto themselves, icons of universal harmony, and the ever-struggling voices unheard and cornered into stone at the edge of nowhere.

How do we applaud this? How do voices disappear? Why is the civilization trajectory packed with decades of women in non-existent, unidentified, dethroned, and unrecognizable oblivion? While there is a new world, a new surge, and a new woman born to lead, there are the stories that must be told for the courage of the everyday woman in the everyday horizons that one can see but cannot hear.

Empowering the Unheard Voices of SHE with Seema Azharuddin

Another day, another view with Seema Azharuddin, writer, speaker, educator, activist, producer, actor, a leader by choice, and a driving force in the art of survival with strength and dignity in her continued quest to empower the unheard voices of SHE and why she feels the need to share stories of other women.

Love Happens Mag: Why do you think telling stories of other women is important?

Seema: A direct answer would be to be engaged with teams of women who do tell, and make it a mission for those who do not have a voice, many millions whose vocal cords can’t pitch. And so, we need to band, and in bonding, we can resolve our needs and not allow ‘man-power’ to steal our thunder, enlightened as we are in silence or otherwise.

Telling stories of other women is tangible. It touches, tastes, sees, and is heard with a sense of urgency!

Telling stories of other women is as essential as the need to tangibly stand and feel emotions and share the spirit and challenges. Telling stories is tangible. It touches, tastes, sees, and hears with a sense of urgency. The silence of many is deafening in itself, yet when women tell stories of other women, its voice brings clarity and action, which is required of the story told – stories of courage and woes, intense challenges, leadership and drive, and everyday survival. I, too, have many of my own through my struggles and use a mirror sometimes to be heard and seen, but standing and telling a story, I will.

LH: What stories of women do you want us to hear?

Seema: During the pandemic, I witnessed live-action stories, one of which brought tears to my heart, and I want the rest of us to hear them. A woman with three children was in a line ahead of me in a grocery store with one large apple in her hand. That was it. It cost $1.25. She had, when counted, 80 cents in hand and was about to leave when the cashier quietly whispered she could have it. I teared up at the bonding of that moment of need. It was grossly offensive and disturbing to my sensibilities for such a plight as hers.

Later, I found her outside with the kids, still looking for food. I shared what I could. It was also the dignified manner of the cashier to consent to the giving at the discounted price despite the rules. This small story, and many seen through the pandemic times, was both about courage!

We have centuries and centuries of stories to be told and retold for the sake of womanhood in the world.

I need the world to hear stories of everyday life challenges for women, overcoming them in critical situations, not playing the blame game, but head-on taking the responsibility to see themselves through. In recent times, it’s the wars around us, the separation of families, the love left beyond borders, of tears that do not flow from being stunned, of women saving lives as they risk their own.

I just finished reading Kristin Hannah’s “The Women”, which the nurses and young women endured, nurtured, and brought to life in the Vietnam War era. Turbulent, heroism, sacrifice, and commitment, a profound story makes courage the true and scarce virtue. We have centuries and centuries of stories to be told and retold for the sake of womanhood in the world.

LH: Why do you believe these stories should be heard?

Seema: As reminders to continuously empower and execute. To strengthen our bases and support our needed systems that, in turn, ignite the changes we desire. In the race or debate of Mahatma Gandhi’s words, “Be the change you want to see”, women lead and are more likely to make it happen because change doesn’t just happen by itself.

LH: What bit of empowering female wisdom on the topic would you like to leave us with? Maybe a favorite quote?

Seema: To this question, I must confess, I wish I was wiser on the many issues of my own life! Screwed up several times, knowing the consequences well, but have made dedicated attempts to salvage and improve myself, learning as I did from many strong stories told and seen through the wisdom of another woman. We realize the importance of our voices only when silenced, so we must raise our arguments just a decibel higher!

To my SHE species, my two ‘senses’ learned, and I share,

You may not be the woman you should have been, but you are who you are now. Love yourself, embrace your improvements, and give the world your generous heart. “No one has ever become poor by giving,” to quote Anne Frank, that fantastic little woman!

More to Love by Seema Azharuddin!

Empowered by Hope to Strategize, 1% At a Time
Sarees of Soul: An Open Letter on Women Empowerment