If we were to reflect on the women who stood up for us, cheered us on, held us up when we faltered, and enabled us to navigate the ordinary and extraordinary moments of our lives, there would be a long list of names. 

I come from a family of strong women. My mother Shirin Paul has greatly impacted me; she has been my mentor, advisor and go-to person. Heading the Apeejay Surrendra Group as a Chairperson for 15 years, I have seen and worked with her, taking the company from strength to strength. My sister Priti heads the Apeejay Real Estate and Oxford Bookstores – and is a resilient businessperson.  Our business has grown strong because we have been there with and supported each other.

A decade ago, when the Delhi Bus Rape case happened in 2012, women from all backgrounds rallied together. Rallies, protests, marches, candlelight vigils, signature campaigns - every form of solidarity was mobilised to voice the growing unacceptability of violence against women. Other campaigns in recent years, such as #Metoo and Safe Cities for Women, have spoken about women's right to safe working conditions and mobility.  These are issues that affect women from every stratum.  

As a founder and Director of Women’s Fund India, I have seen how our Legal Fellowship Programme knits a network of women lawyers from diverse backgrounds. The programme is building a peer support network and enabling the fellows to offer much-needed pro bono legal support to women and trans people from diverse backgrounds. 

It is crucial to bring out stories of women supporting women through initiatives that uplift each other. Women4 women is a platform aimed at deepening the idea of women from diverse backgrounds collaborating and coming together to support each other. It offers a platform that encourages solidarity among women and brings them together on different issues- work culture, gender parity, health, nutrition, safe workplaces, or claims women wish to make.   

Although everyone should work collaboratively – be it men or women, when women work together, they develop a certain camaraderie and feel more heard and supported. By implication, it leads to a holistic and fulfilling development of companies and enterprises.

This women’s day, let us remember, celebrate and resolve to lift each other as women because it is only when women rise together we can truly claim a world of equality.