Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA) exhibition being organized in nine cities of the country as part of International Women’s Day celebrations
Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA) exhibition being organized in nine cities of the country as part of International Women’s Day celebrations
Delhi-based Monty Dhyani, wife of an Army officer, is excited about the Army Wives Welfare Association’s (AWWA) Women’s Day exhibition to be held in nine cities across India. Artists and entrepreneurs will showcase their work at the event to be held from March 6-8. “This is an amazing opportunity for us to showcase our work and be independent while pursuing our careers,” she says.
Last year the exhibition was held in Delhi, the current edition includes shows in Bathinda, Chandigarh, Hisar, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Pune and Udhampur. About 220 women will participate in this.
Dhyani, a freelance textile designer, has her own label for hand-painted sarees, besides handloom silk and cotton sarees. She will house her collection at DLF Mall, Vasant Kunj, Delhi, where the exhibition is being held. “As army wives, it is not easy to build a career, with constant moves. Such events serve as a great incentive,” she adds.
Participants at the venue photo credit: special arrangement
Shikha Mamgain has been married to an army officer for the past 20 years and has been an artist for 15 of them. This is the second time she is showing her paintings at the Aawa exhibition. The first exhibition, a low-key event, was held last year. “There was some apprehension, with the pandemic and all. But it was well received, there was a lot of affection and curiosity as we are the wives of army men. Some of us even had sales,” Mamgain says. A mixed media (charcoal/acrylic) artist, he has exhibited his works in other exhibitions as well.
movement activities
AWWA, registered as a welfare organization, works for the welfare of the dependents of Army personnel. A range of activities like rehabilitation of widows, education, empowerment and creating awareness about health and welfare. In August 2020, when AWWA revamped its website, it solicited registration from the wives of service personnel in order to create a pool of resources for AWWA beneficiaries (as members are called) who live in different areas. He was an artist, entrepreneur, writer and expert.
There were 600-odd registrations of women with a variety of interests and occupations. Information with details is available on the website. In December 2021, Aawa organized a literary festival, Expression, as a platform for aspiring and experienced writers.
Maternity and baby photographer Vinodini Saravana Babu echoed Mamgain and Dhyani, who praise Veena Naravane, wife of Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane, President AWWA, for this initiative.
An engineer and MBA, Vinodhini discovered her passion for photography by chance and now specializes in maternity and baby photography. Vince Images has branches in three cities – Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore. “The exhibition will serve as an inspiration for other army wives to take their interest to the next level and make it their career!” she says.