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By:

Asha Tripathi

14 April 2025 at 1:35:28 pm

Stop Comparing, Start Growing

Success does not grow in comparison; it grows in focus. Over the years, women have made significant strides in every sphere of life. From managing homes to leading organisations, from nurturing families to building successful careers, women have proved that strength and resilience are deeply rooted in their nature. Financial independence has become a significant milestone for many women today, bringing with it confidence, dignity, and the freedom to shape one’s own destiny. However, along...

Stop Comparing, Start Growing

Success does not grow in comparison; it grows in focus. Over the years, women have made significant strides in every sphere of life. From managing homes to leading organisations, from nurturing families to building successful careers, women have proved that strength and resilience are deeply rooted in their nature. Financial independence has become a significant milestone for many women today, bringing with it confidence, dignity, and the freedom to shape one’s own destiny. However, along with growth has come another silent challenge — the tendency to constantly observe, compare, and sometimes even compete with the journeys of others. But a crucial question arises: Is it necessary to track the growth of others in order to grow ourselves? From my personal experience of more than two decades as an entrepreneur, I have realised something very powerful — true growth begins the moment we stop looking sideways and start looking within. A Small Beginning I had a flourishing career of teaching abroad, but when I restarted my career after moving back to India, my beginning was extremely small. My very first assignment was a simple home tuition for a single student, and the amount I earned was meagre. There was nothing glamorous about it. No recognition, no large batches, no big earnings. Just one student and one opportunity. But instead of worrying about how others were doing, how many students they had, or how much they were earning, I made a conscious decision—my only focus would be on improving myself. I focused on teaching better, preparing better, and becoming more disciplined and consistent. And slowly, without even realising it, things began to grow. One student became two, two became a small group, and gradually, over the years, the work expanded beyond what I had initially imagined. Looking back today, I can confidently say that the growth did not happen because I competed with others. It happened because I competed with myself yesterday. Comparison Creates Noise When we keep watching others' journeys too closely, we unknowingly divert our own energy. Comparison creates unnecessary noise in our minds. It brings doubts, insecurities, and sometimes even negativity. Instead of walking our own path with clarity, we start questioning our speed, our direction, and our worth. True success grows through focus, not comparison. Every woman has her own story, her own pace, and her own struggles that others may never see. The path of one person can never be identical to another's. So comparing journeys is like comparing two different rivers flowing towards the same ocean — each with its own route, its own curves, and its own rhythm. As women, we already carry many responsibilities. We balance emotions, relationships, work, and society's expectations. In such a life, the last thing we need is the burden of comparison with one another. Instead, what we truly need is support for each other. When women encourage women, something extraordinary happens. Confidence grows. Opportunities multiply. Strength becomes collective rather than individual. There is enough space in the world for every woman to create her own identity. Each of us can build our own niche without stepping on someone else's path. Choose Encouragement Envy weakens us, but encouragement empowers us. Rather than questioning how someone else is progressing, we can ask a more meaningful question: "How can I grow a little better than I was yesterday?" Lift As You Rise Today, after twenty years of experience, the most valuable lesson I have learned is simple yet profound — focus on your own work with honesty and dedication, and success will quietly follow you. We, women, are capable, resilient, and creative. We do not need to pull each other down or compete in unhealthy ways. Instead, we can lift each other up while building our own dreams. Because when one woman rises, she does not rise alone. She inspires many others to believe that they can rise, too. And perhaps that is the most beautiful form of success. (The writer is a tutor based in Thane. Views personal.)

Kunal Kamra moves HC against Sahyog portal 

Mumbai: Stand-up comic Kunal Kamra and Senior Advocate Haresh Jagtiani have challenged the validity of the government’s Sahyog portal – an online mechanism used that issues content takedown directions to digital platforms – in the Bombay High Court.

 

The portal gives content withdrawal directives to platforms like X, YouTube, Meta, etc, and Kamra-Jagtiani have raised serious constitutional questions centering on freedom of speech, due process and the scope of government powers over online content.

 

The petitioners have also questioned the Information Technology (Intermediary) Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rule 3 (1)(d) Amendment Rules, 2023, under which Sahyog was established.

 

Under the amended rule, intermediaries are required to take-down or disable access to information used to commit an ‘unlawful act’ within 36 hours of receiving actual knowledge of such content.

 

The rule further mandates that takedown directions must clearly specify the legal basis for the action, the nature of the alleged unlawful act, the relevant statutory position and the precise online location of the content.

 

The Sahyog portal was developed as a dedicated cyber platform that automated this process and facilitated the quick removal of unlawful online information, data or

communication links.

 

Control on Internet content

The petition by Kamra-Jagtiani, filed through advocate Meenaz Kakalia, claims that the portal enables the government to unilaterally block/takedown online content without complying with mandatory legal safeguards.

 

They include: issuing prior notice to the content originator and giving the affected party an opportunity to be heard. They pointed out that such procedural safeguards have been repeatedly emphasised by the Supreme Court as essential to uphold the constitutional validity of the content-blocking provisions.

 

The duo argued that the absence of these safeguards renders both Rule 3(1)(d) and the Sahyog portal ultra-vires the IT Act, 2000.

 

“Given the conspicuous absence of such safeguards, Rule 3(1)(d) of the IT Rules and the Sahyog Portal are rendered ultra vires the IT Act and contrary to categorical judgments of the Supreme Court and this High Court,” the plea by Kamra-Jagtiani said.

 

Rules arbitrary

Kamra contended that the impugned rule and portal expose all online information to arbitrary takedowns, provide no remedy against such actions, and effectively vest unbridled power in many government officers at the Centre and States, and it strikes at the heart of democracy and peoples’ right to access information.

 

Claiming that these provisions are ex-facie unconstitutional as it allows blocking or takedown of all Internet content on vague and broad grounds such as information being “unlawful” or in violation of any law administered by the Centre or States.

 

These powers amount to ‘an unreasonable restriction on freedom of speech and expression’, exceeding the narrowly defined limits under Article 19(2) of the Constitution, they argued.

 

In their plea, the petitioners contended that orders for blocking/ disabling access to online information can only be issued under the IT Act, Sec. 69A, read with the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009.

 

Previous challenge in Karnataka, appeal pending

Incidentally, last year the micro-blogging site X had challenged the Sahyog portal in the Karnataka High Court, on similar lines. 


In Sep. 2025, Justice M. Nagaprasanna upheld the portal’s validity. Currently, an appeal against the order is pending before the Karnataka HC division bench.

 


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