Baroness Sandip Verma - A woman of substance

"Either failure is a stumbling block or a stepping stone….Make your choice" - these are the words which display her winnable optimism about life. Her wit, wisdom and intelligence make her a woman and a politician worth writing about. <br><br> Baroness Sandip Verma made her mark in business. Later when her mini-empire fell apart, she did not lose heart and patiently started from scratch once again. She did not let two defeats in the General Elections (2001 and 2005) deter her and with hard work and a little bit of luck she became a Baroness in 2006. <br><br> There was no looking back after that. Her most recent accomplishments is being given the Lifetime Achievement Award during the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, 2009. <br><br> I happened to meet her at the function and after the initial congratulations, the conversation turned to the problems of managing the hectic demands of politics with family life. She flashed a sunny smile and said that had it not been for her dear husband (NRI businessman Ashok Verma) and her two children, her political journey would have been very difficult. In her words, "It is the faith you have in your own convictions coupled with the moral support which you need that ensures you success in life.” <br><br> The Opposition party whip in the House of Lords also has very firm views on issues like terrorism. For example, she lays stress on the fact that the Mideast problem needs tackling before the larger issue of global terrorism can be addressed. She is vehemently critical of the Gaza bloodshed but tactfully avoids any detailed comments on the issue. She also believes that negotiations are the pre-requisite to any possible solution. <br><br> Sandy was made the Shadow Minister for Children, Schools & Families and Innovation, Universities and Skills recently. I asked her, what attracted her to education. The lady replied that education was a medium to bring about a change in society. In her case the adage ‘Actions speak louder than words,’ is quite true as she is credited with being the founder of a facility which provides free primary education to 700 children in an Uttar Pradesh district. <br><br> Her association with informal charity work started well before she entered the political arena. I recall sitting at a lunch with her in the early 90s in New Delhi. We had gone to a popular Indian restaurant. After eating we saw a poor man who was gobbling morsels of food from his tiny box. Sandy was so moved by the sight that she did not lose a moment in helping him. <br><br> For her, charity really begins at home. Sandy’s generosity is ever there to take care of any distant relative who needs her help. <br><br> After she joined politics, she got a platform to become more deeply involved in social work. She supports a plethora of healthcare initiatives which include breast cancer awareness programs. <br><br> As a politician, Sandy is known for her oratory skills and her witty disposition. This makes her a very sociable person and wins her friends from across the globe since she is always on the move. Although proud of her political success, she is able to relate to people not only from all nationalities but also from all classes with equal ease. <br><br> She is a peoples’ person but her ambition is unswerving. Each and every time I converse with her she always seems to end the talk with, "I have a long way to go still……" <br><br> Well, good luck!