Stop being Inspired...Start Inspiring!!!

                                                 

                                                   Sounds rather strange right? Everyone of us look for something or somebody to inspire us in our daily life. For few if it is Famous personalities, for few its nature. For few if its pain that draws inspiration, for few its art. Man has come a long way in the field of Technology but is still stuck in the stone age days when it comes to emotional success. We all look for something magical or divine to drive us. We need Abraham Lincoln to tell us that slavery was bad. We need Serena Williams to teach us how to never give up no matter its health or racial discrimination. Back home we need Leander Paes to teach us that age is just a number. If the whole world is at our disposal to teach us how to be inspired, when do we get a chance to inspire?

                                                   I prefer to be an inspiration rather than being influenced or impressed by  someone who is already successful. When I carve my own path I would like to admire its landscape. While in my previous 2 posts I mentioned how I mended my heart when it was hurt, in this post I am going to write how I stopped looking for an inspiration when my ship was sinking and I became an inspiration. The reason I have been mentioning about this particular instance is because this incident changed me as a person. From being a victim, it transformed me into an "Individual." And I want my experience to travel as far as it can with a message that if I could, everyone else CAN. Every time I go back to this memory, it hurts me beyond description. I choose this topic foe the last couple of posts s well because I want every woman out there reading and hearing this to remember that your gender should be a reason for men out there to respect you but not humiliate you. This post will not be about how the male chauvinist pigs tried to put me down or not how about a couple of feminist professionals tried to stand by the men. But it's about me how I stood up against every odd and served their plates in full with their own medicine. 

                                                So as mentioned in the previous post, I did complain to my immediate Supervisor that the Guy was harassing me and I had a meeting with 3 more cowards. I decided it was time I stood up for my own cause. To be honest, I was not thinking about the entire female gender then. I was only thinking about my self respect. Their jaws dropped when I was very specific and clear in my stand. As their career progressed, they must have also mastered the art of acting because if they were shocked at a girl coming up straight and talking quite bold enough, they didn't show it yet. One Manager tried showing his frustration that I never tried being friends with the accused, I cut him short stating my job in the company was not to make friends and not to listen to crap. Another Manager took a leaf from his colleagues' and advised me that my priority should be my parent's health and not these petty issues. Little did he know that I would retort stating that had my parents been there in the meeting room at that moment, the would have told me to fight for my self respect. They tried with all their might to convince me and I too was convinced that you can't talk to a bunch of educated fools. I thanked them for all their advises and walked out more determined than ever. I did not relent. I did make a call and got the details of the Country Wide HR who handles the Sexual Harassment cases. I drafted a mail and sent it across. I mentioned that now it was no more one accused but 3 people along with the main accused trying for an "emotional rape" on a female employee. I clearly mentioned the statements that flew across in the room during the meeting. Within days tables changed. I had meetings with the HR Managers trying to go deeper into the issue. This was an emotional trial. I felt that my wound was never going to heal. I felt it was ME vs the Chauvinist tribe. I was determined that I was neither turning back nor giving up. The main accused denied the whole issue and the rest of the team (read Managers) supported their statements with disclaimers that they had no malice when they suggested "Coffee Date." I was given option of choosing how I wanted to proceed with this complaint that I filed- either opt for compromise or go ahead and take a Legal Team's help. I opted for the latter and none of them ever must have thought in their wildest dreams that I would be aggressive enough that mere mentioning my name would wet their pants. Legal team was involved and witnesses called in along with the accused and his team. It went on for a month and I managed to get them their dues before I walked out of the office. I no more wanted to work with uncivilized but seated in high positions. While leaving, unlike other employees, I didn't send out a "Thank You Manager" mails. I sent out a sarcastic mail advising people not to be quite just because it's not their issue. If it is me today, it might be one of them tomorrow. 

                                                    

                                                  If I only waited for a "Guardian Angel" to inspire me and revive my lost pride, I would have been waiting all my life for it. I rather chose to act when necessary and take things under my control. While leaving, I did leave few people inspired. I left with compliments that they wished they had "Guts" like me to stand up. But I had to correct them that it was not guts that were required but love for self and self respect are more important than anything else. I did my part and when life gives you a chance to stand up for yourself, don't hesitate because you never know whom you are inspiring!!!!!