She Breaks Barriers

  CHALLENGING THE NORMS: THE SILENT BATTLE OF INDIAN WOMEN IN SPORTS August 7th, 2024 would go down in Indian history as the time when a strong, irrepressible, and buoyant Indian sportswoman would be remembered as the one whose struggle to bring glory to the country failed by a hairline. Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the Paris Olympics 2024 from the wrestling championship because she was overweight by a mere 100 grams. She was cheered, backed up, and celebrated across the nation for the many hats she donned and the fighting spirit she has. Now let’s turn back the pages of history and visit the era between the 1940s to 1950s. Hamida Banu, known as the “Amazon of Aligarh”, the village near Aligarh where she was born, was the first undefeated Indian women wrestler. In the times when wrestling was a male dominated sport, she broke the norms by proposing to marry the wrestler who would defeat her. She travelled to many cities announcing the challenge and never was defeated once. Her m

India, a country steeped in tradition and values, has made significant strides in various domains. However, the discourse around mental health remains largely hushed. This is particularly true for women, who often bear the brunt of societal expectations, gender roles, and life's challenges.   The Silent Struggles Women in India face a unique set of pressures that can significantly impact their mental health. From early childhood, they are often conditioned to prioritize the needs of others over their own. This, coupled with societal expectations of being the perfect wife, mother, and daughter, can lead to immense stress and burnout.    Domestic Violence: A pervasive issue in India, domestic violence has far-reaching consequences for women's mental health. The fear, trauma, and isolation experienced by victims can lead to depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).   Reproductive Health: Issues related to reproductive health, such as abortion, inferti