Strength of a Woman

Her quiet resolve, her compassionate heart, her undying spirit… a woman is the pillar of strength in any society. Six photographers set out to capture moments that show us how

Photographer: Merlyn Fernandes

“While walking through the streets of Goa, amidst the scores of tourists, I spotted this woman pushing a cart – her livelihood – nearly double her size. It got me thinking about the strength of this woman who ventured into the world, leaving the comfort of her home to work for her family. This attribute according to me personifies the strength and power of a woman.”

Photographer: Basit Parker
“The water current at Vihi Waterfalls was very strong and the head of the rappelling event requested amateurs to wait till the force subsided. Amazingly, this girl was still determined to go rappelling. There she was, all set, standing right at the edge of a 180-feet high waterfall. She knew one wrong step would send her down, but she was prepared. With no fear, she was down in minutes. The incident reminds of something I once read – the strength of a woman is not measured by the impact of hardships in life, but by the extent of her refusal to allow those hardships to dictate her and who she becomes.”

Photographer: Monisha Ajgaonkar
“A photographer exploring the streets of Bandra in Mumbai – this image highlights many things through its women subjects: the juxtaposition between youth and old age, brightness and darkness, great health and illness. Despite there being so many differences between the two women, there is a common bond that unites them. This unseen tie is what the picture tries to bring out.”

Photographer: Royd Tauro
“This image was taken on a visit to the Ambawadi school in Dahisar, Mumbai. While walking the streets, I was immediately struck by the radiance of this woman’s smile. In a situation that would appear to some as desperate, here was a woman that had an aura of happiness and satisfaction surrounding her. Sitting outside her house in Ambawadi with her five year old daughter running around her feet, she told me of her joys in life, raising a family, making a home and her aspirations for her little girl. Having a disability didn’t stop her from having the same hopes and dreams as anyone else and working hard to achieve them. I was extremely grateful to have met such a genuine, inspiring and humbling human being.”

Photographer: Ibrahim Doodhwala
“This image was taken at Bhandardara in Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra. It was around 5 pm in the evening, and I was in the midst of taking a panoramic shot of the beautiful scenery before me. A lady, with a fuel can in one hand, walked up from behind me and walked toward a hillock in the distance. She seemed of indeterminate age, and she moved oblivious to her surroundings. In spite of the heavy can translating to the everyday troubles of her life, she still carried on, as if to say to the world, ‘It doesn’t matter what you put me through, in the face of insurmountable troubles, you shall witness my beauty and my power.’ ”

Photographer: Madhuri Sharma
“Faith isn’t just about praying, but about a firm belief that a woman can achieve her goals, overcome obstacles and see her dreams come to life. Taken at the Dalai Lama Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, this woman – to me – embodies a strong sense of conviction and belief.”

Volume 3 Issue 9

YouthIncMag