LIFE AND LIBERTY’ WITH SAGARIKA GHOSE , JOURNALIST, COLUMNIST, AUTHOR

Nelson Mandela rightly said, “To be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others”.

Liberty has rules and every person’s liberty should be respected. Liberty is life, and life is best celebrated with liberty. Empowering women in understanding liberty, FLO Hyderabad chapter curated an enlightening talk by Indian Journalist, Columnist and Author Ms. Sagarika Ghose, very well moderated by chairperson Ms. Uma Chigurupati.

One should have the freedom to think out of the box, claims Ms. Sagarika Ghose. After returning from Oxford she started her career in journalism. Learning so much about India encouraged her to join journalism to express and explain her viewpoints “while all I went west, to study at Oxford and discovered the East that is, India. I discovered what it means to be an Indian woman,” she shared.

She said, “My Dadi was my influencer. I had boundless possibilities as a child”. Emphasizing being inspired and influenced by the ideologies of Mahatma Gandhi, who she said, he was a quintessential liberal. He encouraged the power of individuality to transform individuals to change society.

Ms Sagarika shared her inspiring insights on liberal ideologies. Women power or Nari shakti is truly about changing mindsets, social Reforms and working towards Gender Equitable society which is an important part of Democracy. Discussing career-related issues of women she said her early career lessons were “You just have to manage’’ no matter how many challenges and difficulties come your way. She shared some secret lessons, learnt from her Personal and professional Journey

*At times you need to be ‘a Little mad and Crazy’ if you want to achieve something

*To develop listening Deficiency, because if we react in anger or any other emotion, it may lead to an unnecessary situation

*Third secret was to ‘Persuade’ rather than ‘Confront’

Ms. Ghose concluded by saying that there should be freedom for individuals. Individuals create movements and society, and both have the right to exist. One should agree to disagree to have mutual respect and trust. “Liberalism is about freedom to disagree”. Ms Sagarika was humorous, entertaining, informative and high spirited. Her infectious optimism left the 120 Audience inspired with renewed zeal to take action, all set to tread on the road less taken.