On Thursday 16th November, The High Commission of India (UK) with the support of Inspiring Indian Women (IIW) held a seminar on the topic of women and wellbeing was held for the first time, in effort to bring all related, including psychiatrist, healers, spiritual speakers, doctors, fitness experts, silent sufferers, activists, charities to one platform and an initiative to assert all to ‘speak out’! The seminar saw representation by socially active women members of the diaspora. This event created a huge buzz and had almost 100 attendees on a working day and just within a week of its announcement.
The seminar was hosted by Bhanu Sistla and Simi Arora, and had the honourable Virendra Sharma MP as the chief guest of the day; guest of honour were Mr A. S. Rajan Minister of Coordination from the High Commission, and Mrs Sasirekha. There were many special guests who attended the seminar, such as Trupti Patel the chairperson of Hindu Forum of Britain, Anita Ruparella from the National Congress of Gujarati Organisation (NCGO), Neena Bedia from the Asian Bereavement Service, Dr Harsha Jani the president of Param Shakti Peeth UK, plus many more.
IIW, a not for profit organisation was started with the vision to reach out and inspire each other with their success stories. It not only aims to help and promote Indian culture across the globe but also provide a healthy platform for our Indian women to motivate and support others.
The seminar was successful in initiating a thought process that; depression is not a stigma, one must look after self, love thy self, not be a silent sufferer, to speak to someone- family or online counsellors or helpline. Another very important outcome was to connect ladies from different backgrounds and expertise to each other.
