STRESS, SUCCESS AND EVERYTHING IN-BETWEEN
The Highs and Lows of A Woman’s Journey in the Corporate World
CARE: This is Chapter 48 of my book Stress, Success and Everything In-Between. These are individual anecdotes but to understand the professional journey in totality, I would recommend reading the book right from Chapter 01 onwards.
In the 1980s, Gurgaon was quite an isolated city. It was not part of Delhi NCR. No autos or taxis went there, and there was no direct telephone connectivity. One had to use an STD to call Delhi. The exile to Gurgaon was finally over, and I returned to Delhi Circle.
Having spent more than six years out of Delhi, I was hopeful for a posting nearer home. But the Personnel Department crushed all my hopes. Their revised transfer policy did not recognise Gurgaon as out of Delhi anymore, and I got posted to Meerut as an Administrative Officer in a Region.
My initial anxiety about the new place and the challenging role came down considerably when my colleagues assured me that my new boss was very supportive. They said he was thoughtful and mentored his juniors well. All this talk convinced me that it would be fun working with him. Hoping this opportunity would be a Godsend for grooming my professional skills, I proceeded to Meerut.
My boss was out of the country on a
personal visit for two weeks. When he returned, I rushed to his office to
introduce myself, “Good morning, Sir! I reported here while you were away. It
will be my privilege to work with you and I am.....”
My enthusiasm turned into total frustration when he stared hard at me and did not even let me finish the sentence, interrupting, "I have never met you before, and I do not know your capabilities. I only know that I do not want a woman here. This region is tough and demanding, and a woman cannot handle it. If I were here, I would not have allowed you to join at any cost, but I cannot do anything now that you have already joined. I will ensure you move out of here as soon as possible. Be ready to be relieved from here any day."
I was shocked and deeply hurt but
held back my emotions. Ignoring the humiliation and swallowing my pride, I said
confidently, "Sir, I should not be saying so myself, but I am a
hardworking officer. You will not be disappointed."
He dismissed me with a wave of his
left hand and turned to his files.
Stung with insult in the maiden interaction with my new boss, my enthusiasm for excelling in the challenging assignment suddenly dampened. I was stuck with a daunting reality: a vast region in the notorious crime-ridden districts, heaps of backlog and a boss who believed I was unfit for the job. The challenges that came my way felt like tests designed to expose my so-called limitations. I could never go to him to seek his guidance when faced with a dicey issue, lest it should be perceived as my weakness. The pressure on me was immense.
Fuelled by determination, I doubled my efforts. Failure was not an option; it would only validate the preconceived notions my boss and many others held. The work pressure kept me constantly on the edge. Every day was a nightmare, and every night brought visions of failure. It was a constant battle to prove my worth and to resist the INCOMPETENT WOMAN label from being tagged on me.
I mobilised all my energies to ensure that being a woman did not portray me as an inferior officer. It would not be an exaggeration to say it was like walking barefoot on a bed of hot embers, a real baptism by fire.
(To be continued...)
*****
11 comments:
I am sure you were able to establish yourself as a COMPETENT Officer with your performance in the Bank. God bless you. (Krishna Kant Saxena)
Beautifully narrated. The travails of a woman officer who goes to a new place with lot of hopes, but is ignored and snubbed by a boss who has his own notions ( Such bosses were available in plenty).
I am hundred per cent sure that what follows will be a racy narration of how Ranjana Bharij Ma'm established her supremacy and left an indelible impression of her competence on the job assigned. Eagerly awaiting the next episode! (Vijay Gupta)
WOW mam... People like you have been the real Pathbreakers -- you guys took this kind of blatant and open discrimination on the chin and beat it back by proving your calibre ... I won't say discrimination ( and a but of hostility and specially towards the idea of having a lady-boss) had completely vanished by our time but at least it wasn't so open. (Lakshmy Iyer)
Very well explained Mam, it was easier to go to Lucknow from Delhi but very tiring some going to Gurgaon in those days. (Rukkie Oberoi)
It is amazing to see how many of us have similar experiences but we moved on. (Soundara Kumar)
Chandrasekaran Balakrishnan: How sad it is to be misunderstood by a boss who did not even have a patient ears and the challenging role that you accepted with such a person as a boss is really a sorry state of affairs. The caption that you have given to the episode” baptism by fire” is a perfect testimony to the hardships that you had to encounter.
Looking back I am amazed at your(our) resilience!
Those were terrible and hostile times when your boss, as well as subordinates looked upon you as,”ugh! A woman!!”
Well, it is those challenges which were met by you Ranjana Bharij so successfully that it has made the stature of women to rise to where it is today.
You handled very tough assignments so brilliantly.
Waiting for your Personnel Manager episode. (Varsha Uke Nagpal)
Very nicely written! (Vaijayanti Ajinkya)
That Manager was an apology....unfit to b called a Manager....doesnt know the basics. (N Ahlawat)
If today, women have a good place in the corporate field, it is because of women like you who did not give in to such make MCPs and stood your ground with determination. Bless you. (Suneetha Rajesham)
You are so right Ranjana! I faced a similar situation when I joined Merchant Banking Bureau. Boss said a woman cannot handle public issues- requires talking to corporates etc. etc. So really had to put up a fight to be given an independent assignment! It was so humiliating! (Neera Sahai)
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