Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Hina Shah – so much and more…

Social entrepreneur Hina Shah is a noted Odissi dancer and a painter. Her novel institute has helped over half a million women to their feet and turned them into successful entrepreneurs.



Hina Shah dares to be different. A home maker, a classical dancer, an entrepreneur, a painter, an academician and the director of ICECD, she is perfectly comfortable in each role. In a man’s world, she has created a niche for herself with path breaking innovative ideas.

A young, energetic, qualified woman, with a desire to become independent, empowered and successful, Hina Shah faced many an odds when she decided to become an entrepreneur in 1976. 30 years back, society was not prepared to see women being independent. However, her determination and grit converted these difficulties into opportunities, and she emerged a successful entrepreneur in the field of plastic packaging. This was her first crucial step towards acceptance and recognition in society. With a belief that economic empowerment is the tool for overall empowerment of women, she piloted a development strategy in 1980, that viewed women as an active participant in economic development. The pilot was called Entrepreneurship Development program, conducted for 25 women of Gujarat, of which 16 women established their non-traditional businesses, and are still in business in 2009.

In 1986, she transformed her vision into an initiative “International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Career Development (ICECD)” which today is recognized as “Centre for excellence” by United Nations. She has thus facilitated thousands of deprived women to become entrepreneurs all over India and the developing world. By the year 2009, ICECD has reached out to +75,000 women directly and +1150 organizations in India, who have in turn trained +500,000 women. Hina institutionalized Women Economic Empowerment strategy in over 60 countries of Asia, Africa, Pacific and Caribbean, and lately, USA.

Having committed a lifetime to “entrepreneurship”, she has also initiated the Satyamevajayate International School, where students learn the nuances of entrepreneurship from as early as class 1! Her mission is to create these students into capable, successful, persistent and responsible entrepreneurs of the country who will emerge as job creators and not job seekers.

While Hina is not at her desk, you may find her dancing on the tunes of the pakhavaj, for she is an accomplished Odissi Dancer. With many felicitations on national and international platforms, she set new standards for this rich form of Indian classical dance, and has also passed on this art to her two daughters, who have recently accompanied her on stage at the National Dance festival at Modhera.

Hina Shah has inherited yet another art, the art of painting. Her oil paintings are part of many art collectors around the world, and her art gallery is proud of over 100 paintings created by her. Her painting exhibitions have been extremely well received all over India.

It is indeed a wonder how Hina combines such diverse dimensions with such agility, grace and precision! The dynamism that she personifies, the charisma that she presents, and the exuberance and leadership which she exhibits, makes her a true inspiration for many…

Hina Shah has been selected among the 6 finalist for the TITAN-India Today Be-More Legends Contest. A contest to recognise those who have lived more than one life in this one lifetime.

To Vote for Hina Shah, log on to: http://www.titanworld.com/bemore/
or SMS: TITAN HS to 53636

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