The document discusses the importance of feminine qualities and the balance between masculine and feminine. It uses examples from Hindu mythology and other traditions to illustrate how opposites like Shiva and Parvati, or Yin and Yang, represent completeness when joined. It argues that both men and women need to embrace their feminine sides, and that empowered partnerships create stronger relationships and successes. The document celebrates differences, advocates for women's empowerment, and says true confidence means accepting others without feeling threatened.

1. Manosh R Sengupta, Brand-parent, Nurturer, Mentor: brand-@itude.
Best known for masterminding the identity and launch of Idea Cellular and other celebrated brands, he
prefers to remain an eternal student in the school of Brand & Life.Manosh has over two decades of
industry experience with agencies like JWT, Bates and telecom operators like Tata Telecom, Idea Cellular
and Reliance Communications. email: brandattitude@yahoo.in.
In search of my feminine…
“A woman is not to be judged merely by her usefulness, but by her delightfulness.
Therefore, she takes infinite care in expressing, not her profession, but her personality.”
Rabindranath Tagore
What better way to start a discussion on ‘women’ than with the words of Tagore…
perhaps the most androgynous man of all time. Having grown up on a dose of Tagore - a
de-rigueur for any Bong – I discovered that if any wo/man has understood the essence of
the feminine, it is he. Tagore’s literature helped me discover this ‘delightfulness’.
Not being a ‘pundit’ on the subjects of either empowerment or women, I am unable to
build this discussion on data or socio-political correctness. Instead, I confess to be an
unabashed admirer, a connoisseur of this ‘woman’ species, hence my submissions are
driven by my personal belief on how critical this species is in my life. My strong
fascination for the woman-kind has drawn snickers and ridicule, throughout my life. I
accept it, as the joy of submitting to this delightfullness far outweighs the ‘correctness’
factor.
Let’s start with some spiritual mythology - Shiva & Parvati, two of the most revered
‘Gods’ of the Hindu pantheon, is really (once you cut-off the religious mumbo jumbo) a
symbolic representation of the completeness of our universe. It basically underlines the
symbiotic nature of two, otherwise seemingly, opposites to complete the whole.

2. Shiva-Parvati are 2 forms of energy, consciousness & strength/ shakti. We need to
understand the value of one in conjunction with the other. Strength without consciousness
is a wasted effort; a blind rage that makes us rebel without any cause. Consciousness
without strength is pure intellectual masturbation.
The Hindu philosophy abounds with such metaphors: Vishnu (Preservation) & Lakshmi
(Prosperity); Brahma (Creator) & Saraswati (Knowledge). Can you see the link?
Creation without knowledge? Preservation / life without prosperity? Savvy?
Similar concepts are found across the world:
• the more familiar ones being "Yin and Yang"; the Star of David (similar to the
Shiva-Shakti hexagram)
• Infinity (also eternity), in ancient India and Tibet, represents perfection, dualism,
and unity between male and female, suggesting equilibrium or the balance of
various forces.
• Sun (male) and Moon (female), joined as one, is a universal pagan expression of
the merging of opposites, symbolising unity in diversity, compromise instead of
conflict, and conformity to a new consciousness where all is one.
Such symbolisms underscore the importance of the male-female union (not just sexual) to
create harmony. Polar opposites or seemingly contrary forces are interconnected and
interdependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to each other in turn.
Opposites thus only exist in relation to each other... we ‘men’ better take note. If, for no
other reason but the survival of the ‘stronger’ sex ☺
The quest of a human life is to attain self-actualization (Maslow). This journey is
achieved through the eco-system of our life… the way we live, work, play. However, it
would be foolhardy to believe that we can trudge this path alone, without the need for
partners. Irrespective of spheres – work or personal – we need soul-mates to give our
vision a fulfillment. It is this fulfillment that completes our sense of self-identity… who
we are… what we represent… why we exist.
What we need to realize, at this juncture, is that this partner / soul-mate is our opposite.
Not only in demographic sense but also in the values, skills and other qualities s/he brings
in. Speaking from a male perspective, my search for this mate means coming to terms
with my feminine side… fulfilled, in many ways, through the partners of my life’s
journey. This may happen through a male-male or male-female union, depending upon
individual choices.

3. In a way, what I’ve touched upon is a key strategic management process – team building.
The essence of a crack team is built on symbiotic forces, where each member brings a
different skill-set to compliment others. Whether corporate, sports or show-biz, this
remains the same. A cricket team with only bowlers (that too spinners) serves no purpose.
It creates conflict.
My lectures on brand management, titled ‘Labor Pains… the art of brand parenting’,
espouses the concept of ‘parenting’ as opposed to’ management’, where the brand-father
plays the role of making the strategic decisions like goal-setting, budget availability and
milestones. The brand-mother, on the other hand, is the nurturer, who, on a day-to-day
basis rears the brand, nourishing it with the values and care that will make it a star one
day.
Let me caution against taking this is a literal manner, thereby giving it a sexist twist. In
today’s world, where role reversals are a way of life, it could be the male who plays the
role of the mother. The purpose of this metaphor is to highlight the importance of the
feminine in an endeavor that is as critical as rearing our own child.
Interestingly, Indian women during the Vedic era enjoyed position of equality with men.
The Atharva Veda, in fact, highlights the importance of woman education. This changed
during the Middle era, with drastic social changes taking place, leading to curtailment of
woman’s freedom
Having shown my cards on what I believe about the role of feminine in my life, I draw
this to a conclusion by making 3 points:
• Celebrate differences not discriminate: imagine a world where everything was a
mirror of you… how boring! Differences create variety and we need to
understand their value. It’s not about accepting what one does not agree with but
allowing it to have its own space. To those with prejudiced minds, hope you
realize that to recognize white, you need the black – not in a prejudicial way but
as a contrast.
• Empowered partners create strong unions: we all wish to be on the winning side.
How can this be achieved without a winning team? If I realize the need of the
‘woman’ as a strategic partner in my life’s team, why on earth would I want a
partner who is weak and not empowered? An empowered team is the foundation
for a successful leader. So, even if one were to see this issue form a chauvinistic
male perspective, it serves us well to root for woman empowerment.
• Belief and self-confidence: it takes a man, a real man, to accept the above. If I am
‘khokla’ from within and unsure about my own value, then crab mentality is my
only recourse. When we doubt our self value, doubts about others creep in. It
takes a man who is assured about his masculinity to accept the feminine without
any threat.

4. As I conclude, the lyrics of this wonderful piece from a classic ELP number: To be
Closer to Believing, rings in my mind…
“… but of course you know I love you, or what else am I here for.
Only you not face-to-face but side-by-side for evermore.
And I need to be here with you, for without you what am I
Just another fool out searching…
…while there’s life beneath the sun,
You are the reason I continue
So near for so long. So close yet so far away.
…I need me. You need you
We want us”
To be Closer to Believing: ELP
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