Shamoly Khera is a renowned person. She has had an illustrious career as a TV presenter, media producer, and executive coach. She was listed among the Times Most Influential Personalities in 2021, where she was felicitated as ‘Emerging Author of the Year’ for her book Bedazzle. Khera’s Letters to Daughters of Tomorrow: Breaking Stereotypes to Unleash Her Potential is a highly articulated book that presents various social prejudices that are being faced by women because they are women. She tries to attract people’s attention to such taboos that have been happening for centuries and urges every woman to reach her potential and make a place for herself in this patriarchal society.
In this book, Khera urges daughters of future generations not to be surprised when people ask them, What do you want to be in the future? Just simply speak out of your heart and say the first thing that comes to mind. Perhaps you would have a different answer a few months later, and she implied that it’s okay to have another different answer. She further adds that since women are prone to scrutiny regardless of the decisions they make, she wanted to tell every woman—a woman—that she must protect her dreams… saying that she takes an example to relate this to “American fashion designer Vera Wang. When she was a little girl, Wang began skating. However, despite years of intensive training, she failed to make it to the US Olympic team. Subsequently, Wang left her sakting ambition and decided to work at Yuves Saint Laurent after college. It was merely fate that she met Frances Pattiky Stein, one of the two fashion directors of Vogue at the time. Stein said to call her when she finishes college. Wang believed her and did it accordingly, and two years later, Stein got her an interview. Thus, Wang started working at Vogue as an assistant and gradually worked her way up the ladder, becoming one of the magazine’s youngest-ever fashion editors. After being turned down for the position of editor-in-chief, Wang left Vogue and joined Ralph Lauren. Through her experience, we can learn to be courageous and make the switch when the fog disappears and the goal gets clearer.
Khera said, You (daughters) will meet people who enjoy putting you down. She asked them to understand that this is only because they feel threatened by what you can achieve. They worry about your potential and how far you can go if there are no obstacles in your path. However, obstacles are inevitable; you need to be patient and wait your turn. And take obstacles as a lesson in handling difficult situations. Because it will help you deal with problems alike later in life. And not to chase after perfection, which can make you feel incomplete. None of us need to cater to or fit into that unrealistic standard of perfection. However, do remember that this competition is not against other girls or boys; it must be with yourself. It should be a competition to reach your full potential.
Be the woman you want the generation after you to follow—someone whom young girls will look up to. You should know that you have immense power to inspire and make others more like you.
In one chapter, Khera draws you towards history and states how some men have admirably worked towards championing the causes of women. Indian reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Jyotirao Phule fought for the upliftment of women. This list of reformers includes personalities like Peary Charan Sircar and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, and vice versa. Today also, you will realise that men who treat women with respect—men who are fair, who promote gender parity, and who appreciate talent regardless of creed, caste, or gender—do exist. Sometimes, you will be disappointed after meeting with some men in society with their preconceived prejudices against women. But these disappointments are also important in your journey to help you gain clarity about the kind of men you don’t want to befriend or nurture.
This book is a must-read for everyone, especially women, to realise their potential and furnish it further in the development of theirs, as well as eradicating societal taboos and spreading the tidings that even women can live up to their potential.
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