'Use social media, get more power'

BANGALORE, INDIA: Egypt's first woman Presidential candidate. A pioneer in Indian television programming. Anna Hazare's media strategist. A gorgeous film-maker from Jordan.

What could be in common among them?

Apart from the fact that they are of the fairer sex, they have faced several hardships — personal and professional — had determined to break the glass ceiling and are striving to pass on their knowledge to fellow women.

And it is just the tip of the intriguing iceberg.

Bothaina Kamel used to be a television anchor, later turning into a human rights activist, before filing nomination for Presidential candidacy in the erstwhile strife-ridden Egypt.

At the International Women's Conference here on Saturday, she was on the panel discussing Women & Technology — Women & the Social Media, in particular. She narrated how a journalist friend of her was detained by the Hosni Mubarak government in 2008 and how social media came to her friend's rescue.

"I made an event through Facebook. It attracted a lot of people, majority of them youth, who were not just from Cairo." Once the movement gathered momentum on the social network, there was no stopping them and the journo had to be released.

After that, "I even announced my Presidential candidacy through Twitter," she said, adding that from about 900 followers, "After the revolution, I have 1,00,720. That is the power of Internet and social media." Her follower count stands at 1,15, 028, after she made the statement.

Kamel also pointed out that the revolution was not over as perceived and that it had a long way to go. "Women and girls (in Egypt) complain that they are not allowed to use the Internet or watch TV," she explained, adding that social media would help tackle harassment of women.

Al Wajd Al Fayez, Jordanian director, said that she entered the world of films to help change the view that Arab women were depressed.

"My grandfather, a national activist, was imprisoned in Syria for 22 years. Since there was no social media or other medium to speak on, nothing much could be done."

She said that peace and change should be the primary message spread on social media.

Al Fayez also emphasized that empowerment is a wrong usage as women should realize their inner potential and get equal rights.

On India Against Corruption site gaining a lot of popularity, Shazia Ilmi of Team Anna said that they leveraged social media and the results were outstanding.

"Though Internet penetration is low in the country, mobile telephony has changed people's lives," said Ilmi.

Former Channel Nine CEO Ravina Raj Kohli stressed upon that more than social media, it's community sense and commonality of thought that brings about change.

She also told the audience about the Gulabi Gang, a group of vigilantes formed after a woman — Sampat Pal Devi — beat up an oppressive husband harassing his wife in Banda district of Uttar Pradesh.

Other sessions on the Day 2 of the conference had speakers including Tessy Thomas, director of Agni Missile Project, enlightening about 500 participants from around 55 countries. The conference was organized by the Art of Living International Center on Kanakapura Road.

There were also Maya Chakavarti Vishwanathan, director of Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication and Anuradha Prasad, editor-in-chief of News 24, among others, who inspired the womenfolk through recounting their own experiences and about other women across the globe.

Thus put Al Fayez on the enlightening views shared at the conference, "Today, I learnt more than what I have done in my entire life."

True indeed. It really was an once-in-a-lifetime experience for many.