Women are born leaders - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Women are born leaders: Sri Sri Ravishankar
7 Feb 2009,
Bangalore : Girls dressed in langas with lamp in hand -- the firstgeneration literates in their family -- came all the way from villages. Tinytots dressed as fairies with golden wings came from special schools in thecity. They along with several women congregated at the lotus-shapedVishalakshi mantap on the Art of Living premises to celebrate the ThirdInternational Women's Conference on Friday.More than 750 women from over 65 countries, including 250 from rural India,are participating in this three-day conference titled `The Light ofLeadership -- Integrating Global Perspectives' organized by the Art ofLiving and its sister organization International Association for HumanValues.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, in his inaugural address, called women bornleaders."This inherent quality in them needs to be nurtured. Usually peoplethink women are emotional but they are also great intellectual geniuses andexcel in planning, executing or any other department," he said.The conference will address various socio-economic issues that includeconflict resolution and counteracting terror -- woman as a peacemakers; andthe role of women in overcoming the global financial crisis. Dedicated toeducating the girl child, all proceeds will go towards the cause. The nexttwo days will have speakers from the media and the social and politicalarena addressing current issues.The Vishalakshi Awards, instituted in the memory of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar'smother, were also given away to deserving women from across the world.Tales of courageAmong the thousands, a few did stand out for various reasons. Mumbai-basedRajitha Kulkarni was trapped at The Taj on 26/11, just yards away fromdeath. But her miraculous escape inspired a heart-rending poem, `If only Imet thee' inspired by the silhouette of the terrorist who missed her!Sanjana Goel, 43, from Himachal Pradesh, is yet another inspiring example.Afflicted with a genetic progressive disorder, she has been confined to thewheelchair since she was 13. But now, she is a successful businesswoman andalso runs a campaign for the cause of disabled women.