On following your passion
SHABANA DAGAR 46 Archivist, Rajasthan
Success breeds success
Once you get power, you have the capability to aim at and achieve bigger targets. With power comes the desire for more power but careless execution can spoil that. So, use power to bring about change and as your strength to fight out the odds.
Don’t take no for an answer
In my gharana—the Dhrupad gharana from Rajasthan—women were not allowed to learn music and perform. But I resisted and decided that if
I can’t learn, I will still go out of the way and support Indian classical music, especially Dhrupad. My father Alimuddin Khan Dagar and my maternal uncle Padma Bhushan Ustad Rahim Fahimuddin Khan Dagar inspired and encouraged me against the wishes of the rest of the family.
Set definite goals for yourself
Sometimes, in order to succeed, you will have to swim against the current. While you are swimming, everyone around you is apprehensive and doubtful, and people even try to demoralise you. But, once you cross the mark and reach the target, they are the ones who boost your morale.
# Make your own rules
I believe in following rules and breaking them too. It all depends on the context. For instance, I broke my family rule that women shouldn’t be seen on stage. But I very strongly believe that women are changemakers beyond muscle power and can sustain hardships better than men. So, don’t think twice before doing something unusual.