Connecting women with 'tech spirituality'

Come February 2012, Bengaluru will play host to women leaders from 108 countries, who will gather for the 5th International Women's Conference. Titled 'Women and Technology', the three-day conference is being held at The Art of Living International Centre.

Bhanumathi Narasimhan, chairperson, IWC, said, "As creators and users of technology, women have been greatly empowered. However, we should not forget the mind that created this technology. The conference aims to bring awareness about the multidimensional impact of technology in the lives of women, empower women from developing countries, leverage technology to facilitate technological education and create an information bridge between women from different societies."

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Leaders such as the Minister of State for Human Resource Development (Higher Education Dr Daggubati Purandeswari; the first Woman Presidential Candidate of Egypt Bothaina Kamel; member of Parliament, Israel, Ronit Tirosh; member of Parliament Hema Malini and Jordanian filmmaker Al Wajd Al Fayez who have been path-breakers in their own fields will share the dais during the conference.

The conference will focus on:

1. The impact of technology on society at large and in the lives of women in specific.

2. The connection between spirituality and technology.

3. Bringing awareness in high-powered, technologically-savvy women about the importance of relaxing and recharging their energies through spiritual practices such as yoga and meditation.

4. The means to empower women in developing parts of the world through technology, particularly to facilitate education.

5. The creation of an information bridge between women from different parts of society using technology.

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The proceeds of the conference are directed towards educational programs for rural and tribal children. The Art of Living runs 175 schools in 19 states of India providing value-based, holistic education to over 24,500 children.

Cultural activities will be an integral part of the gathering and will provide an opportunity for both international and indigenous artists to share their rich and varied heritage.

The evenings will be marked by scintillating performances by artists from across the world such as the Russian St Petersburg Ballet, the Lotus dance of Japan, an Indian Bharatanatyam by Shobhana Chandrakumar and an energetic performance by Caucasian Dancers.

By creating these global networks for social change, the IWC conferences have initiated and supported many social work projects that include the Peanut Butter project in Africa, building of homes for rural women, education of the girl child.

Over the years, the focus has been on rehabilitation of female prisoners, planting of 10,000 trees in Bali, Indonesia, campaigns against female feticide, child support for Zimbabwean families affected by HIV/AIDS, vocational training for widows in Iraq and establishing schools in rural areas.