Hi all,

I know this sounds crazy but yes, I wanted to say a BIG Thank you to all the men who were part of my life.

In wake of the recent horrifying incidents of violence against women, I was feeling so vulnerable and scared. It literally added the seeds of doubts in my mind against anything male and don’t mention the fear.

One day after reading about one such incident, I started thinking of my journeys in the last few years. It made me realize that right from childhood to now, I have been in literally hundreds of situations where I have depended on a male or been alone with only male company.

When I was a kid, we used to go and play in the building next to ours. It was just us children. No grown ups keeping watch over us. There were kids of all ages. I can still remember dabba ais pais, hide and seek, dog and the bone, lagori, color color, cricket and football. The entire mohalla was ours for chor police! We used to celebrate holi & Diwali with colors and crackers together. The word “sexual abuse” was not part of our dictionary in those golden days.

My school was great. It stood and still stands for all the right things that should be taught to a child. It also introduced me to a world of extra curricular activities which make me who I am today. I remember how there used to be an unsaid competition. Guess, for what? who had the most number of rakhis! I had great school friends and thanks to social sites, I am able to stay connected to them even today.

There were two new entrants in my family when I was a young adult. My two Jijajees. I remember how one of them taught me to ride a scooter whereas the other used to take me to eat Tandoori chicken. I probably was a burden to them THEN! 🙂

In college, I was the only girl who used to play basketball with all the boys. Sure, they did not pass me the ball at the earlier stages but, when they knew I was not going away, slowly, I was part of it. Accepted in the group 🙂 I learnt a lot from them. Yes, some swear words too 🙂 I always wanted to play sports compared to doing anything else and luckily I had a very good college for that.

One time, I had once been on a trek with only four boys. The other girls had cancelled out. It was just a day trek but we lost the way and reached a normal road by late evening. We all managed to catch a ride in the back of the tempo to a city. I stayed with my relatives that night.

I joined my first company, my professional first love 🙂 as a trainee in 1999. It was a sales and marketing organization. I got the opportunity here to travel to many rural parts of our country, different cities in India and also many countries. I travelled alone many times and sometimes I had colleagues. Mostly male colleagues.

I still remember the old sardarji taxiwala who used to pick me up from my home and from the airport at all odd times.

In fact, whenever we needed to travel to a cement plant or a petrochemical plant, these were effectively set up in areas where there were large belts of land in remote areas. The factories had women staff only in the main office but almost none on the shop floor. I enjoyed what I learnt from all the great minds I met in these different factories. They were words from people who knew their jobs.

I remember one incident. I took an auto from a checknaka with an understanding that after I finish my work at the factory he would bring me back. As there were no autos on the remote road. We ended up talking and I even ended up visiting temple with hot springs on his recommendation.

Another time I was in south of India for a training. I managed to book a taxi and travelled a long way to visit a temple and returned with him. Both of us did not understand each other’s language.

Travelling all over the world really helped me be independent. I enjoyed learning from all the conferences in different parts of the world because the colleagues who taught me also knew their stuff well. There was such a diversity of culture when I met people from different countries. It was an experience in itself. I also made friends from over the world and am proud to know that I am still in touch with them today. I had visited a friend’s family in Slovenia for a weekend and I was really given star treatment by their entire family. I can never forget that kindness shown to me.

My Indian colleagues were some of the finest people I have known. Some of them continue to be my friends and confidantes. We were like a family. Really, we even knew their family members and still do. I would love to post some pictures but, I do not want to impinge on their privacy. It would be enough if they read this post and know what an impact they have left behind on me. You all have always been special to me.

I got married. It was an arranged marriage and again a time to devote my entire life to one man. A scary thought but, somehow I was not scared. May be it was not me but the man. My Husband.  He has been my pillar always. I take this opportunity to let him know that I thank him for he has taught me the true meaning of being a gentleman.

He in turn probably learnt it from his father. My Father in law,  a thorough gentleman too. I just cannot imagine him doing even the smallest thing wrong. I have been his daughter all of the time, even when I fight with him 🙂

In fact, when I say the word “Gentlemen” there are so many faces that pop up. It is so encouraging to realize how blessed I have been.

I joined a new company. This one was smaller than the earlier one but I preferred it. I had heard that they could offer me work from home option if I ever had to be in a family way. We were just a group of around ten people. Again there was travel to different countries and all the people I met were so good to me. My colleagues with whom I was working till very recently were all great to work with and even better as friends. I loved the fact that the older colleagues were family men and the younger ones had their feet on the ground. They were very cooperative when I was expecting and even after my baby was born.

Remembering all these fascinating experiences makes my eyes shine with  gratitude. Each one of you by your exemplary behavior have taught me that there is so much good in this world. That we must stop our fears and doubts from taking over and again start believing in people.

To all you Gentlemen, who left a mark in my heart, from the taxi driver to the directors of my company, I just want to say THANK YOU.

With gratitude, humbly yours,

Poornima