The sixth edition of Women’s Prowess, a symposium on gender equality and issues concerning women held at International Institute of Information Technology {I2IT}, Hinjewadi on 7th March morning saw the convergence of great minds who deliberated on several issues concerning the girl child and femininity at large.

Brainchild of President, Prof. Aruna Katara, this event has featured prominently on the cultural calendar of the institute which believes in an egalitarian society and leadership through innovation.

The speakers included sports person and social worker Arnavaz Damania, film scholar and writer Prof. Gayatri Chatterjee, journalist and author Sudha Menon and noted children author, Deepak Dalal. The event was emceed by Marzia Dalal.

Arnavaz Damania set the ball rolling by talking about the hardships women athletes have to go through. She also spoke about the pioneering work that she has been doing with her Ngo, Connecting. Talking about the iconic P.T.Usha, Arnavaz remarked – “I remember meeting her in Moscow and she neither had proper clothes nor shoes to wear. I gave her a saree but she stood out for her determination which is often mistaken for arrogance.”

Prof. Gayatri Chatterjee spoke about her grandmother who has been a major influence on her and how she has been instrumental in shaping her into a free spirited, independent woman of substance. “I have always seen her nursing and nurturing people. She was extremely giving and it is her thoughts that I have internalized. She taught me to stride ahead.” Prof. Chatterjee also mentioned that it was extremely difficult for her as an outsider to carve out a niche for herself in the academic arena, an archetypal male domain.

Sudha Menon, acclaimed journalist turned author read excerpts from her recently launched book titled “Leading Ladies” which chronicles the inspiring journey of fifteen credible women who have made it big eliminating all odds from their path and proved to the male bastion that they are no less. The women achievers that comprise Menon’s book include Anu Aga, Mallika Sarabhai, Subha Mudgal, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Naina Lal Kidwai amongst many others.

The last speaker of the programme, author Deepak Dalal spoke about his writing practice and his female character, Chitra who is as good as or even better than any man on the block. Dalal also enlightened the audience on the illustrious journey of his mother, celebrated chef, Tarla Dalal from sheer ignominy to becoming a household name. Dalal ended on an optimistic note by saying that he waits the day when discussions of such nature would cease to exist and there would be no discrimination in terms of gender.

The discussion which held the audience in thrall came to a befitting end with the vote of thanks delivered by Prof. Aruna Katara who concluded by making a humble plea to one and all present to give the girl child a chance and every woman her space and liberty to soar high and realize her potential.

About I2IT
The International Institute of Information Technology (I2IT - pronounced I square IT) rated amongst the top Technology schools in India is a new generation Graduate School. In association with IGNOU it has established the I2IT-IGNOU Center of Excellence for Advanced Education and Research that offers M.Tech / M.S. / MBA and Integrated Ph.D. / Ph.D. Degree Programs in Information Technology, Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, Intelligent Systems, Robotics, Automotive Engineering, Computational Fluid Dynamics and Management, at I2IT campus in Pune.

I Square IT is the creation of Shri Pralhad P Chhabria, (Chairman – Finolex Group) and Padmashree Dr. Vijay Bhatkar, a distinguished scientist and creator of PARAM series of supercomputers. It is their vision to create a postgraduate institute par excellence that will empower this country’s future inventors, innovators and leaders.

Bharat Ratna Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam, the Honorable President of India, on the 28th of May 2003 dedicated I2IT to the service of the nation. The curriculum is developed and delivered by leading academicians and industry professionals. The Institute is also an approved center of the University of Pune for research leading to Ph. D in Engineering.

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