Behind every one of their kind eyes is a story of family, careers, struggles and, most importantly, sacrifice. Leading up to Women’s Day, we talk to some of the tireless women responsible for KMIT’s growth and success every single day.
Deepa ma’am:
Q: Where have you worked previously?
A: I have been working with Neil sir for the past 12 years. My first job, after I graduated in 2005, involved cleaning PCBs and soldering them. After moving to Hyderabad, I learnt Java under the tutelage of Neil sir and worked for one of his companies Net.Orange.
Q: How do you juggle professional and personal lives?
A: It is all because of my husband. I give him all the credit. He helps me with everything. From changing the diapers to household chores, he shares half the burden. There were times when he would hold our baby and sit in the lab putting her to sleep while I was busy debugging because there was a release scheduled.
Q: The word ‘feminism’ is going around a lot these days. What do you think is lacking in the feminist movement of today? And, do you think that we have taken it to a point where the entire concept starts sounding overrated?
A: Feminism does not mean male bashing. In my opinion, the word ‘feminism’ shouldn’t exist. We’re all humans. We’re all equal. There is a false notion of feminism going around and that is wrong. For example, how can we claim that women smoking cigarettes or drinking is feminism? If we were to call it the ‘equality movement’, I would say that the one thing it is lacking the most is acceptance.
Q: When you were a little girl, there were lots of restrictions regarding most things which women can or cannot do. How much of that has changed now?
A: Back then, I couldn’t even talk to a boy. My legs would tremble. I was not allowed to stay out past 6:30 in the evening. It feels like I’m living in a different world now.
Q: Which women’s movements that are currently underway do you support the most?
A: The one that is very close to my heart would be ‘Beti Bachao’ but also, after saving her, you have to educate her. So, there is nothing in particular that I support. Instead, it is a chain of movements. All girls should be raised as sons and all boys should be raised as daughters. I say this so that each sex is aware and is sensitized to the problems faced by the other sex.
Q: What advice would you give the young women of today?
A: This advice doesn’t discriminate and applies to all youngsters. Be responsible. You should know that freedom comes with responsibility. As you grow older, you must prioritize what is needed of you and act accordingly. #be responsible #be free
Sireesha ma’am:
Q: Where have you worked previously?
A: I had worked for Nishitha Engineering College from 2008 until 2010. From then on, I have been with KMIT.
Q: How do you juggle professional and personal lives?
A: (laughs) I found that keeping these two halves mutually exclusive is the best way that works for me. Forgetting what happens at home once I step into the college and vice-versa helps maintain a balance that is very important. However, these tricks vary from person to person.
Q: Which women’s movements that are currently underway do you support the most?
A: I support all the movements that are being undertaken for the welfare of women. But my first pick always has and always will be ‘educating the girl child’ because, if you educate a girl, you are not only educating one person but rather, you are educating a family or, to put it in better words, a generation.
Q: What advice would you give the young women of today?
A: Never be disappointed if things don’t go your way. Have faith in yourself and your capabilities and move forward and strive to be the best.
Geetha ma’am:
Q: Where have you worked previously?
A: Before coming to Hyderabad, I worked in an engineering college in Kerala. After moving here, I worked in the Military Engineering College as a part-time lecturer after which I worked for a few years in Swami Vivekananda Institute of Technology and, finally, I came to KMIT and have been here since five years.
Q: The word ‘feminism’ is going around a lot these days. What do you think is lacking in the feminist movement of today? And, do you think that we have taken it to a point where the entire concept starts sounding overrated?
A: I feel that the feminist movement is being taken advantage of these days. For me, what is lacking in it is the sense of purpose with which it began. It is deviating from the path it is intended to take. If we can somehow get it back on track, that would be great.
Q: When you were a little girl, there were lots of restrictions regarding most things which women can or cannot do. How much of that has changed now?
A: From the beginning, it was the society that was doling out the restrictions and most people had nothing to do with it. So, now that the society has also evolved quite a bit, there are fewer restrictions than there were before. But honestly, I don’t think there is a need to restrict anyone from doing anything.
Q: Which women’s movements that are currently underway do you support the most?
A: I come from Kerala, a place where there is absolutely no discrimination when it came to educating a child. People should understand that education is not an option they can rule out. It is mandatory.
Surekha ma’am and Saritha ma’am:
(left: Surekha ma’am, right: Saritha ma’am)
Q: Where have you worked previously?
Surekha ma’am: I was at Pragathi Mahavidyalaya Degree and PG College before KMIT.
Q: How do you juggle professional and personal lives?
Surekha ma’am: The requirements for both halves are completely different. It’s about finding that perfect balance that will ensure your happiness and sanity.
Saritha ma’am: I have a very supportive and understanding family and that is what helps me maintain that balance.
Q: The word ‘feminism’ is going around a lot these days. What do you think is lacking in the feminist movement of today? And, do you think that we have taken it to a point where the entire concept starts sounding overrated?
Surekha ma’am: We can’t call it overrated yet because it is only now that an increasing number of people are becoming aware of the existence of such a thing called feminism. And I’m unable to point my finger to what is lacking in the feminist movement.
Saritha ma’am: I think that by using the word ‘feminism’, we ourselves are associating a belief to that word that we are somehow inferior to men. Just by doing what needs to be done and not attaching words and banners to it is far more empowering than what we are doing currently.
Q: When you were a little girl, there were lots of restrictions regarding most things which women can or cannot do. How much of that has changed now?
Surekha ma’am: It has changed a lot. You can’t measure it. Everything has changed right from the circumstances of raising a child to the liberty being given to them.
Saritha ma’am: I second Surekha ma’am’s opinion. Freedom given to girls is more these days but it must be utilized properly. They should be aware of what is right and wrong. Of what is acceptable and not. They must know when to draw the line.
Shakuntala ma’am:
Q: Where have you worked previously and for how long have you been working?
A: Before KMIT, I worked at S D Singodia College of Arts. And, I have been working for forty years now.
Q: How do you juggle professional and personal lives?
A: There is no secret to having the best of both worlds. It is all in the planning. Nothing else.
Q: The word ‘feminism’ is going around a lot these days. What do you think is lacking in the feminist movement of today? And, do you think that we have taken it to a point where the entire concept starts sounding overrated?
A: I don’t understand why we are all talking about feminism now. If it were talked about and acted upon during Virginia Woolf’s time, the world would be an entirely different place. I don’t think the concept of feminism is just overrated, I think it is outdated too.
Q: What advice would you give the young women of today?
A: Be happy. Enjoy what you do. Take pride in being a woman.
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