Today was the day Indira Ranamagar would be speaking at UTSC. I had marked this is in my agenda and permanently etched it in my brain. This was definitely not something I was going to miss. I worked my schedule around this one event.
I was prepared to go to the seminar, with my medium iced capp with whipped cream in hand, I was off.
I walked in at precisely 4:00PM, and Ms. Indira Ranamagar began speaking within seconds after my arrival.
She began by introducing herself and her background. She highlights that, although she went to school and graduated, that the majority of what she learnt was through experience.
She has been spearheading social work for over two decades and was inspired to help prisoners after learning about their plight through a famous poet. She started Prisoner's Assistance Nepal (PA Nepal), an NGO that houses and raises orphaned children and those of prisoners. She provides assistance to prisoners in Nepal and raises the children in an environment where they are taught about respect and responsibility. She is a true feminist to the bone as she challenges gender roles in raising the children by teaching the boys how to cook and clean and by showing the girls how to carve wood and by giving them the opportunity to mountain bike and parttake in sports.
Furthermore, Indira challenges social rules of conduct when she speaks her mind in public and refuses to deny the fact that she is a divorced single woman with a 16-year-old daughter--which is frowned upon in Nepal. She replies, "people think I'm a bad girl, but I don't care. I like to be a bad girl".
She goes on to say, "If I was a good girl, I wouldn't have gotten this far. I wouldn't have done everything I've done".
And she makes a very good point. One that hit home.
***
This statement made me reflect on my own experience. Every action of defiance has brought me to where I am today.
Choosing UTSC over McGill and explaining that move to my parents. And convincing them of it.
Taking the trip to Senegal--to much dismay of my parents, yet again--but I did it, and it made me a stronger person.
Going on the laughter yoga retreat in Muskoka that my parents were very much against.
The parallels here are that previous to these experiences, my parents were strongly in opposition. But afterward, they were boasting about my experience to friends and family.
And the truth is, if we don't fight for what we want. We won't get it. And being a 'bad girl' is pretty badass, don'tcha think?
***
For 45 minutes straight, my eyes were glued onto Indira. In awe and admiration. This woman is incredible. And her presence has a way of seeping into your soul and making you want to be a better human being.
She concludes by highlighting the most important ingredient, that being love.
"These children need love and attention. And we give them that", she says.
Once all the questions were answered and she returned to her seat, I looked down to find my untouched iced capp completely melted.
I was prepared to go to the seminar, with my medium iced capp with whipped cream in hand, I was off.
I walked in at precisely 4:00PM, and Ms. Indira Ranamagar began speaking within seconds after my arrival.
She began by introducing herself and her background. She highlights that, although she went to school and graduated, that the majority of what she learnt was through experience.
She has been spearheading social work for over two decades and was inspired to help prisoners after learning about their plight through a famous poet. She started Prisoner's Assistance Nepal (PA Nepal), an NGO that houses and raises orphaned children and those of prisoners. She provides assistance to prisoners in Nepal and raises the children in an environment where they are taught about respect and responsibility. She is a true feminist to the bone as she challenges gender roles in raising the children by teaching the boys how to cook and clean and by showing the girls how to carve wood and by giving them the opportunity to mountain bike and parttake in sports.
Furthermore, Indira challenges social rules of conduct when she speaks her mind in public and refuses to deny the fact that she is a divorced single woman with a 16-year-old daughter--which is frowned upon in Nepal. She replies, "people think I'm a bad girl, but I don't care. I like to be a bad girl".
She goes on to say, "If I was a good girl, I wouldn't have gotten this far. I wouldn't have done everything I've done".
And she makes a very good point. One that hit home.
***
This statement made me reflect on my own experience. Every action of defiance has brought me to where I am today.
Choosing UTSC over McGill and explaining that move to my parents. And convincing them of it.
Taking the trip to Senegal--to much dismay of my parents, yet again--but I did it, and it made me a stronger person.
Going on the laughter yoga retreat in Muskoka that my parents were very much against.
The parallels here are that previous to these experiences, my parents were strongly in opposition. But afterward, they were boasting about my experience to friends and family.
And the truth is, if we don't fight for what we want. We won't get it. And being a 'bad girl' is pretty badass, don'tcha think?
***
For 45 minutes straight, my eyes were glued onto Indira. In awe and admiration. This woman is incredible. And her presence has a way of seeping into your soul and making you want to be a better human being.
She concludes by highlighting the most important ingredient, that being love.
"These children need love and attention. And we give them that", she says.
Once all the questions were answered and she returned to her seat, I looked down to find my untouched iced capp completely melted.
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