London, NFAPost: Indian Heritage Centre UK celebrated International Women’s Day on Saturday at Cardiff with overwhelming participation of women from Indian Origin and other UK citizens.
Along with BBC reporter and presenter Smitha Mundasad and international athlete and KIBO Organisation Founder Director Riya Burrage-Male, the inaugural ceremony had the key note speaker like Child Psychiatry Consultant and Newport Assistant Divisional Director in Community Services in Children & Families Dr Kavitha Pasunuru.
Indian Heritage Centre Founder & CEO Tripti Megeri opened the event with the welcome speech and introduced Tejashree Joshi who later compered the event.
“I would like to congratulate all women assembled here to participate at Women’s Day celebration as we are living in a gender neutral environment. It is a day to introspect further on strengthening capabilities of women and enhance their contribution of them in the civilisational growth of humanity,” said Indian Heritage Centre Founder & CEO Tripti Megeri.
Delivering the inaugural speech, BBC Reporter and Presenter Smitha Mundasad said she reinveted her life from being a profesional doctor to pursue a career in journalism.
“I was always wanted to hear people’s stories, and find out more about the world. This prompted me to be a journalist. It’s a privilege and responsibility to share people’s stories ” BBC Reporter and Presenter Smitha Mundasad.
She also focused on the challenges of the second generation. “It’s an incredible thing to be part of two cultures and it brings so many opportunities but it can come with challenges too. It’s good to be honest about this and help each other out – that is the strength of community,” said BBC Reporter and Presenter Smitha Mundasad.
BBC Reporter and Presenter Smitha Mundasad also highlighted the important respecting the parent’s wishes for their children and finally finding a fine work life balance for a healthy life.
International athlete and KIBO Organisation Founder Director Riya Burrage-Male focussed on her views about her challenges of a women in sports career both from being a woman perspective.
“Woman are expected to be better than men in sports to be noticed before getting opportunities at the top level. It was a rude shock for me when learned that players had to fund their own passion to play sports even when representing their clubs and country,” said International athlete and KIBO Organisation Founder Director Riya Burrage-Male.
International athlete and KIBO Organisation Founder Director Riya Burrage-Male also pointed out that there is limited representation of ethnic minority background in the traditional sports in UK and reassured that they are making every effort to reaching out to the promote the sports among the ethnic minority population.
Child Psychiatry Consultant and Newport Assistant Divisional Director in Community Services in Children & Families Dr Kavitha Pasunuru delivered a presentation on “Empty Nest Syndrome” and held a captivating interactive session among the audience.
It was an eye opening experience for most audience as they were able to ask free flow questions and Dr Kavitha Pasunuru was able to provide logical responses.
Indian Heritage Centre Committee members Dr Girish Kothegal, Dr Sunil Pulapaka, Hiren Joshi, Dr Deepak Megeri and Dr Ravindra took an opportunity to felicitate Dr Leena Menon and Dr Rekha Girish who both are doing excellent service to the community by way of promoting arts and culture of Indian Heritage.
Dr Rekha Girish has been running Rekha Natya Academy and Dr Leena Menon running Samarpan Nrithyalaya in Cardiff. In the abscense of Dr Leena Menon, her husband Dr Govind Menon received the felicitation.
Speaking at the event, Indian Heritage Centre Committee Member Dr Deepak Megeri said there is a need of the hour that women power should be strengthened by combined efforts of family members and various stake holders of society.
“I am proud of woman in their journey to strengthen the family, society and nation. If we strengthen them many of societal backwardness and stigmas can be eradicated. I am born in India where woman are worshipped in various forms and this cultural trait itself expound the importance of woman in the society,” said Indian Heritage Centre Committee Member Dr Deepak Megeri.
Ms Kushi Shetty and Ms Samyukta Megeri took pride in reading the biography of the key note speakers, Dr Rekha Girish and Dr Leena Menon respectively. Dr Girish Kothegal conveyed vote of thanks acknowledging all the audience, key note speakers and volunteers.
