The Women Who Made Me

Lessons from My Mother, Grandmother, and Beyond

Women are indeed the backbone of the society.

Growing up, I was surrounded by strong women. Women who carried the weight of the world on their shoulders and made it appear effortless. Women who could silence a room with a look, mend hearts with a whisper, and carry entire families with work-worn hands.

My mother was the first woman to shape me. She taught me that love is more than just words; it is actions. It is in the extra scoop of rice on my plate when she thought I had not eaten enough, and in the way she waited up after long shifts, pretending not to be awake, just to ensure I arrived home safely. She never delivered lengthy speeches about sacrifice, but I could see it in the way she wore the same pair of shoes for years while making sure I had new ones for school.

Then there was my grandmother. She moved through life with a quiet kind of strength that did not require validation. She taught me that dignity is not about money or power, but about how you treat others. "Respect is not demanded," she would say. "It is earned through how you carry yourself." Even in the most difficult circumstances, she carried herself with grace. She also told the best stories, the ones that taught lessons without preaching.

And then there were the women I met along the way—teachers, mentors, and friends—who…