You're every woman, its all in you: Bipasha Basu

India, a country that proudly boasts of having women adorn the offices of the President, Prime Minister, Speaker of the Lok Sabha and leader of opposition, albeit at different times, yet, it is such a significant achievement with which not many countries can pride themselves. Growing up with my two sisters in a true Bengali household, we were always taught to be independent and articulate, with education being given utmost importance. And it is the gift of good education that is the biggest necessity in a country with a burgeoning population.As someone once said, The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows, and how apt this philosophy is, for it is education which endows one with the power of opportunity, an opportunity to be the best that one can be and an opportunity to bestow the course of ones future in their own hands. In Indias metropolitan cities, women enjoy the status of equals, proof of which lies in the fact that women occupy influential positions in all sectors of the economy. However, unfortunately, the same trend is not witnessed in as persistent a ratio in the interiors of the country where the stigma of the girl child still prevails.Each day in the news, one reads of horrific cases of crimes against women, reports about cases of dowry deaths, female infanticide, sexual harassment, and domestic violence continue to plague our society. However grim, this is a reality which needs to be addressed with extreme urgency.No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. Women are blessed with the virtue of nurturing a family and playing varied familial roles with much ease. It is a quality which is so unique to women who very smoothly multi-task ever so meticulously.I strongly advocate imbibing the virtue of self-confidence, self-respect and most of all of loving yourself. As Chaka Khan confidently sang, Im every woman, its all in me. Believe this. For the truth is that, ladies, the power is truly within you. All you have to do is believe in it.