Thirteen women, who are in city to explore business opportunities, narrate their story of fighting male dominance in Afghanistan

From strife-torn Afghanistan, thirteen women, among the relatively few to challenge male patriarchy in their country by developing successful enterprises, are now upping the ante as they explore business opportunities in India.

In the city for a week-long programme organised by a US-based business school, the women, some older than others in the group by three decades, readily shared narratives of grit and determination in the face of opposition from the larger society. Interestingly, while patriarchy continues to remain a hurdle in the ultra-conservative cities and hinterlands of Afghanistan, the women recount how support from a father, an uncle or a brother helped overcome the odds.

“It is often the family that makes it difficult for women to function in the Afghan society. If a family is supportive, there is nothing that others can do,” said Homa Usmany, one of the fellows of this year’s Artemis Project, which Thunderbird School of Global Management organises.

“My father cut off all relations with his family because they opposed education for me and my sisters,” Usmany added. Usmany runs a tailoring business in Kandahar, and plans to open a coffee shop and a kindergarten.

Noor Jahan Mohammodzada, the president of her family-owned business, had a similar tale to narrate.

“My brother sought to stop me from going to college as he believed it was sullying my character among his friends. My father told him off,” she said. Noor Jahan (22), an artisan, serves customers in neighbouring Tajikistan with exquisite hand and machine-carved wooden products, including furniture.

Family support crucial

While support from family has helped them realise their dreams, the dictums of the society continue to plague them as they have to operate within safe quarters or facilitate women-only workplaces to not just encourage women, but to also get men to send women of their household for work.

In India, the group hopes to network with entrepreneurs and benefit from associations with the Indian School of Business (ISB). The project will see women undergo sessions to help their businesses grow.

Interactions with entrepreneurs

“Besides others, these sessions include marketing through social media and internet which some of the women are doing, field visits and interactions with entrepreneurs in Hyderabad and New Delhi,” Kellie Kreiser, Executive Director, Thunderbird for Good, informed.