The inaugural International Women's Day event was jointly hosted by the Lohana Community of North London (LCNL) and the Young Lohana Society (YLS). The event was held in the JV Gokal Hall at Dhamecha Lohana Centre in South Harrow and witnessed an overwhelming turnout of over 300 ladies and gentlemen.
The event commenced with a warm welcome from Amit Chandarana, Secretary of LCNL, followed by an inspiring account from Meena Jasani, President, who shared her courageous journey as a cancer survivor.
The audience was then treated to the wisdom of four remarkable keynote speakers who left an indelible mark on everyone present. Jay Rughani spoke about the adoption of her daughter with her husband, Sanjay Rughani and recounted her harrowing near-death experience following a medical mishap and living with brain Injury. She emphasised the importance of mental health awareness. Her message was “People may look fine on the outside however you have no idea what is going on inside. Mental Health is the spoken and unspoken words.”
Sujata Din delved into the significance of self-care and navigating the challenges of women's well-being, stressing the importance and educating the audience from her own experiences.
Reena Ranger OBE encouraged resilience and self-reflection, reminding attendees that failure is merely a stepping stone towards growth. She brought an exhilarating sense of belief and energised the audience through her story.
Uma Cresswell, an advocate for breaking gender norms, urged women to embrace unconventional paths, drawing from her experience in the world of football. She reminded the audience “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, take others with you.”
Following these inspiring speeches, a diverse and dynamic panel engaged the audience on various topics, including parenting, equal partnerships in marriage, and breaking societal taboos surrounding women's health and career choices. The panel was hosted by Sonal Magecha, with panellists Bhavna Radia, Krupa Jasani Robertson, Ronak Paw, Jeet Rughani, Lavina Mehta MBE and Roshni Thakrar. The discussion provided invaluable perspectives for all; their insights were truly inspiring.
The success of the event was a testament to the dedicated efforts of the organising team from LCNL and YLS, led by Meena Jasani, Tulsi Tanna, Amit Chandarana, Shivangi Karia, Chandni Dattani, Jeet Rughani, Ronak Paw, Roshni Thakrar, Sonal Magecha, Shriya Rajani and Jay Rughani. Their commitment ensured an engaging and empowering experience for all attendees.
As the event drew to a close, attendees were treated to Indian High Chai, networking opportunities and an array of women-focused stalls. The event buoyed the palpable sense of inspiration that permeated the gathering, it was truly special.
