In celebration of India’s 75th Year of Independence and to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Brahma Kumaris in the UK, the Nehru Centre London hosted the Head of Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, Sister Jayanti, and BBC’s flagship programme ‘Countryfile’ presenter, Anita Rani, to delve into ‘Feminine Power: Powerful Change’.
For centuries feminine wisdom has been denied, marginalised and oppressed. This imbalance between the masculine and feminine is now being seen in the imbalances we are witnessing around us.
“Justice and more specifically justice for women is the foundation to restore balance in the world,” says Sister Jayanti.
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Author of the book ‘The Right Sort of Girl’, Anita Rani opens up about her writing experience: “When I set out to write my memoir in the lockdown, I wasn’t expecting to say as much as I did. However, it came out to me almost like meditation.”
Built on a premise of it being a self-note to her 16-year-old self, Anita has expressed growing up as a Punjabi girl in Northern England, Bradford. “My family history was important to give some context to what it meant to be a young woman growing up in a world where women and girls were not used to talk about the things that we see around us. I just wanted to lift the lid and write how this impacted me.”
Sincerely touching upon topics of social concern like puberty, alcoholism, suicide and even domestic violence, Rani explains that belonging to a working-class migrant community, we have every trauma and yet we don’t spill the beans. Young Anita was fortunate to have a voice and a choice.
She adds: “South Asian women in Britain are the most successful group because we know that no one else is going to do it for us. We have no option but to succeed. There is no room for failure.”
Stories from women before their path to spiritual awakening, Sister Jayanti narrates, “Dadi was not allowed to speak in front of men.”
“Married off at the age of 12 and given limited education so that she could write letters to her husband, do the household budget and write laundry lists.”
Born out of the vision of having women take on the role of teachers and leaders, the Brahma Kumaris have welcomed all – from former President of India Pratibha Patil to the newly-elected President Droupadi Murmu, spirituality and leadership has been at the heart of the government.
For equality to emerge, Sister Jayanti states that education and spiritual education are both important: “With spirituality you are able to go beyond the confines of what society says a girl should do.”
“The soul doesn’t carry a label of male and female.
“When I started to meditate, the first experience was of God’s love. It was a powerful and transformative.”
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In conversation with the two leaders in their respective fields, Director of the Nehru Centre Amish Tripathi digs deeper into ancient Indian customs. He explains, “women’s equality has been a part of our traditions. Hymns in the Rigveda are not only written by rishis (sages) but by rishikas (female sages) as well.”
“Rani Prabhavatigupta, Rani Rudrama Devi and the Bhopal Begums were among those queens who used to rule in their own name and lead their armies to battle. The chola empire had a women’s regiment.”
“Lilavati, a mathematics book written by Indian mathematician Bhaskaracharya for his daughter of the same name was the most utilised book in schools all over India before the British Raj.”
He adds that ancient texts were quite liberal in terms of gender – women and LGBTQ.
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With a heavy heart Anita points out, “there are lots of ceremonies around celebrating girl child however it didn’t translate to how women are treated at home.”
Global feminism is changing the world. In the corporate world, women had to take on masculine traits in order to succeed in masculine environment. “Now, we can bring more feminine energy.”
“Connecting with human beings not as male, female, Indian, British, white or brown is the step of evolution,” enlightens Jayanti.
With a passion and purpose to open doors to little girls and boys, Anita highlights that education is what will give them the power.
