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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.)

Leading from the front

The nine days of Navratri celebrate goddesses who embody strength in different forms; valour, compassion, creativity, austerity, devotion, justice, protection, forgiveness and wisdom. In our annual Navratri series, we celebrate the lives of nine women who strive to build happy and safe spaces for themselves and those around them.


PART - 11


Name: Rashmi Shukla | Where: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Name: Rashmi Shukla | Where: Mumbai, Maharashtra

In a space where most would think twice before venturing, Rashmi Shukla walks with ease. In September 2025, when Maharashtra’s first-ever woman Director General of Police (DGP) visited Gadchiroli, six senior Naxal cadres surrendered before her—a symbolic victory in the state’s long battle against insurgency. Over the years, Rashmi has been commended for her contributions to law enforcement, investigation, and citizen-focused policing, while also steering key social initiatives.


An officer of the 1988 IPS batch, Rashmi Shukla was appointed DGP of Maharashtra in January 2024, breaking a historic barrier. Born and raised in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, she cleared the civil services examination on her first attempt and chose the Indian Police Service. Brought up by her grandparents—both teachers—and her aunt, Rashmi credits them for instilling in her values of discipline and resilience. In a 2017 interview with The Unbound, she recalled: “They taught me so many things that I still remember and use in my day-to-day life.” Reflecting on her training years, she added that it was the support of her 1988 batchmates that helped her successfully complete the physically demanding IPS course: “I was never into physical activity. I would have left IPS in between without their push.”


That blend of gratitude, determination, and discipline has propelled Shukla to the top ranks of her profession. In March 2023, she took charge as Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), the central armed police force guarding India’s borders with Nepal and Bhutan. Before that, in 2021, she served as Additional Director General of the CRPF, leading crucial national security operations. For her service, she was awarded the President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2005.


As Maharashtra’s DGP, Rashmi has focused on strengthening citizen-centric policing. In June 2025, she conferred the Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation on 11 police officers for their outstanding work in solving cases of murder, dacoity, kidnapping, and crimes against children. She has also prioritized women’s safety, the fight against narcotics, and cybercrime prevention. In September, she launched an initiative, ‘One Mandal – One Cop’ to improve communication between organisers of festivals and the police and ensure better integration of the police with the local community.


Yet, her journey has not been without challenges. As head of the Maharashtra Intelligence Department, she was accused by political opponents of authorising phone tapping of leaders from rival parties—a controversy that drew sharp debate. Earlier in 2025, the Election Commission placed her on compulsory leave, citing alleged bias towards a political party during state elections.


Despite such controversies, Rashmi’s rise as the first woman police chief of Maharashtra stands as a milestone not just in policing but in what women can achieve. Her career continues to inspire a new generation of young women to join the police force, proving that resilience and integrity can break through the hardest glass ceilings.

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