When Manu Bhaker attened the Tata Steel Trailblazers conclave back in 2023, she was one of many Olympic hopefuls, hoping to bounce back from the crushing disappointment of Tokyo. Since then, she has gone on to win two Olympic medals in Paris, in the women’s 10m Air Pistol and the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event. On the sidelines of the Trailblazers Conclave 3.0 held in Kolkata in March, she spoke to Sharmistha Gooptu, Co-founder and COO of RevSportz, about her vision of women’s empowerment, her mother’s support and chasing the Olympic dream.
Sharmistha Gooptu: You were here at the inaugural Trailblazers conclave, and now you are back this year for the same event. How does it feel to be here?
Manu Bhaker: When I came here in 2023, the Olympics was still in my dreams. The last cycle of Olympics is over and we have started the new one already. It feels very very good to meet all the people that I’ve met last time and I’ve known for so long. So, it is a very refreshing feeling.
Sharmistha: Manu, you are being celebrated as a symbol of Indian women’s empowerment. Tell us, what does women empowerment mean to you? Is it talking about women’s health or mental health? What is it to you?
Manu: To me, empowerment is not one or two aspects of something that can be accumulated and called ‘empowerment’. I feel, to give someone empowerment, one must be given equal opportunities, equal treatment in every aspect of life. It starts from something as basic as the household, our homes. We see a lot of inequalities there, so if changes could have been brought over there, then society would have been a much better place today. We are makingour move towards that, but it needs to happen a lot faster.
So, equal opportunity to access rights as men, liberty do everything that men get to do, liberty to go places without feeling insecurity would be empowerment for women, according to me.
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Sharmistha: Ours is a country where women can move mountains, but are still scared to talk about their period, period pain, mood swings etc. in the open. How, as a role model for several young girls, would you address this issue and encourage them to talk more openly about them?
Manu: As I already said, I believe it all starts in our household. Children imitate what they see and learn from the kind of environment provided around them. So, the parents/adults need to teach the children that all of this is very natural. If we talk about period pain, many girls suffer very badly because of lack of knowledge. I think the adults need to start speaking with the kids, encourage them to share and hence feel comfortable. And educating both boys and the girls on this is equally important, so that they can both help each other out growing up.
Sharmistha: Your mother has been a constant source of support for you. Tell us a little bit about how your mother has helped you grow into this athlete, the person, and the role model that you are today?
Manu: I have mentioned it in other interviews and discussed it with many others as well. My mother has played the role of a wall, and has been like a shield to me. So I have never really faced the society myself. My mother has always been there to protect me from any kinds of comments, statements, be it from family or neighbours or the villagers that tried to put me down and control me. My mom has always told me, ‘Youdon’t have to listen to anyone, you do what you want to do.’She had just one clear instruction always, to never go down the wrong path or do anything wrong. She has always said:‘You choose the right path, and I will be there in that path with you. Do not worry about the bullies or the people who try to pull you down.’ I think this kind of support is needed by every kid, irrespective of gender. So that they can take up any career/ field they want to pursue, and be confident in choosing the right path forward.
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