Priya Badshah
Corporate Communications Professional. Expertise as a Corporate Communication specialist stems from more than a decade, engaged in management of communication needs of leading companies in India like UBM, Capgemini, Max New York Life, Polaris, Tech Mahindra and 20:20 Media. Areas of specialisation include Public Relations, Employee Communication and facets of Marketing. Led successful PR programs, Brand management campaigns and CSR drives, integrating internal and external communication for the companies I have worked with.
My Maids. My Mentors
Like I always say, nothing reminds you of life’s priorities like a turbulent flight. Likewise, over the years, no one has recapped lessons of life for me like my maids have. Unknowingly & seamlessly. Consistently over the years.
In the last decade, while I have tried to do my bit to make my maids, aware of their rights & priorities and in few cases, educate them, the take-away they left for me has had a strong residual impact. Each time there has been a change of guard at the Badshah household, across cities, my new chapter of observing & learning begins.
Some of my mentors who top the list are:
46 years old, Meenal Bai. She is up at crack of dawn & calls it a day at mid-night. Every day. Her early morning household chores are followed by packing tiffin for her two college-going kids and yes, leaving behind a tiffin for her stay-at-home, handicapped husband. The day is dedicated to others’ household chores. When I work from home & she enters my room with her trademark broom, she makes my workload, seem so petty & my work stress, so in vain. As she leaves my room, my back is more straightened & shoulders more square with her unspoken reminder - Buckle Up you Buttercup. You can and You will!
32 years old maid. A widow & only earning member. Comes to work, leaving her kids back home, in the care of her neighbours. With zero conversation between us due to language barrier, she giggles while conveying her point through signs. We both busy in our chores and she breaks into a shy smile every time I catch her, humming her Telugu songs. And I smile back. Thanks Laxmi for my daily morning reminder dose- I had the blues because I had no shoes until upon the street, I met a man who had no feet.
20 year old, married with two toddlers. No support, whatsoever from her alcoholic husband. Enters my house like Usain Bolt. Works too at the same speed while my dinner sets & artefacts are at her mercy and my mom, forever on tenterhooks. You see, she needs to hurry back to nurse her younger one. In this entire rapid fire session, one just can’t miss the way she dresses up for her work day. Hair neatly combed with flowers tucked in. Utmost care is taken to adorn a variety of bindis and jhumkaas over the week. That’s Sravanthi for you (in the pic). And for me, she is all about - Look a challenge right in the eye & wink. While you are at it, dress up & celebrate yourself too!
The list is endless. So are the reminders.
My Maids. My Mentors
