Jyotika Mehta Bedi - Awaken the Magic: Real Stories of Love, Hope and Inspiration

REAL STORIES OF
LOVE, HOPE
AND INSPIRATION

Awaken
THE
magic
WITHIN

REAL STORIES OF
LOVE, HOPE
AND INSPIRATION

Awaken
THE
magic
WITHIN

COMPILED BY

APARNA SAMUEL BALASUNDARAM
AND JYOTIKA MEHTA BEDI

Aparna Samuel Balasundaram and Jyotika Mehta Bedi, 2017

First published, 2017

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the copyright holder.

No responsibility for loss caused to any individual or organization acting on or refraining from action as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by Bloomsbury India or the author/editor.

BLOOMSBURY PUBLISHING INDIA PVT. LTD.

New Delhi London Oxford New York Sydney

E-ISBN: 978-93-86606-64-8

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Bloomsbury Publishing India Pvt. Ltd

Second Floor, Building No.4

DDA Complex LSC, Pocket C 6 & 7

Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070

www.bloomsbury.com

The content of this book is the sole expression and opinion of its authors, and not of the publishers. The publishers in no manner is liable for any opinion or views expressed by the author. While best efforts have been made in preparing this book, the publishers makes no representations or warranties of any kind and assumes no liabilities of any kind with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the content and specifically disclaims any implied warranties of merchant ability or fitness of use of a particular purpose.

The publisher believes that the contents of this book do not violate any existing copyright/intellectual property of others in any manner whatsoever. However, in case any source has not been duly attributed, the publisher may be notified in writing for necessary action.

CONTENTS

IT IS hard to learn any lesson in life the easy way. Remember your first attempt at walking. How many times did you fall, but still got up to try again. As we grow up where does this resilience go? Probably, we look before and after and then forget to look at here and now; therefore losing the energy to get up to try again. What we perceive is not, and what we perceive as not-is. What you think is your failure, that is where your success lies. What you do not see is the magic around. The lush green forest, a babys first smile, the wonder of the rainbow in the sky, the rising sun, the cascading waterfalls, the virgin snowdrops. Trapped in your little world you fail to feel the pulse, the rhythm of the universe and therefore cannot partake in the magical dance of life. Being the foremost creation of God, women occupy a vital place in this dance. If we forget to dance we would fall out of grace. Women, standing at the centre of the universe represent the most focused energy of God, because she creates life. She is the magic. The love and beauty of the universe gets mirrored by her. Being magical herself she reflects it into the universe and that is how the magic of life continues to shine. When happy, safe, protected and looked after, shes in a continual state of well-being and at peace with the rest of the world. That is when the evolutionary forces in her are strong.

When the social fabric is in turmoil, with violence, hatred and war, she loses heart, and anti-evolutionary forces take over. Crucified in depths of darkness and despair, she loses faith in herself. Lost in this wilderness, she stands alone not knowing the way, Back to Methuselah. In this state of abandonment she can turn to white magic or anti-magic, because she has to survive.

Today is her greatest challenge. Man stands at the edge of total annihilation, with technology having shrunk the world, leaving nothing sacred and private to save anymore. How is the woman going to bring back the magic of love, compassion, beauty, song and dance, of places where flowers bloom and the green grass grows? That can only happen if she channelises the magic within. Drawing upon the magic she was born with, she can do it. She has done it before. She can do it again.

The stories you are going to read are of those women who have done it, who have drawn upon this magic, who have stood up against warlords and said Enough, no more! We want to live on our own terms, a life of magic and laughter. Not one of hatred, violence and ugliness. This book is a small gesture to help women understand the power that they wield.

May the force be with you.

If you inspire a woman, you inspire a family

If you inspire a family, you inspire a home

If you inspire a home, you inspire a community

If you inspire a community, you inspire a society

If you inspire society, you inspire a nation.

AND IT is that single woman that this book honours and celerates.

But who is she? Who is this nameless, faceless Indian woman that we celebrate?

We believe, dear reader, that you know who she is. You can close your eyes, and in an instant, recall the name and face of a woman who matters deeply to you. If you are fortunate, you may even recall more than one.

She resides in your mind, in your memories, in your heart and in your home. She is everywhere, yet she yearns to be found. Her words uplift us, yet she feels unheard. Her touch comforts us, yet she feels uncherished. Her patience helps us flourish, yet she feels misunderstood.

Bookmarked in our conscience between Nirbhaya and Beti Bachao Andolan, the Indian woman cries out to be recognised and respected as God intended. In fighting for her rights, we seem to have forgotten her soulthe core of her being, her spiritthat cradle of love, sacrifice, strength and pregnant potential. Not for what a woman can dobut rather for who she is. Its just that simple, really.

Its your wife, your mother, your grandmother, sister or friend. We believe a womans worth lies less in the bonds that bind you and more in the recognition of her as a manifestation of Gods love.

Awaken the Magic Within is our humble attempt at recognising and celebrating that crucible of blessed compassion, grace, strength and power a woman.

Through the candid stories of trials and triumphs curated here, we aim to shine a light on the experiences that reflect the kaleidoscopic and multi-faceted soul of the Indian women. In these stories, the authors highlight the values and beliefs that have shaped their lives, spurred their actions that them strength, meaning and purpose. And though each womans story is distinctive, we hope that you, our reader, might slow down and appreciate the clues that run through them. Clues that can help you complete your own picture of a woman that is deserving of your respect, kindness, compassion, encouragement, forgiveness, patience, honesty and love.

We hope that as you turn through the pages, you find a comforting relevance to your own lifes journey and the joy or pain you might be experiencing right now. And as you relive the experiences within each story, we wish for you to tap into the inspirational energy to give you the strength to believe in yourself and your purposeand begin the process of transformation that celebrates you for who you are, can and should be.