Recognition and Responsibility: Two Sides of the Same Journey of a Working Mother
By– Dr. Varsha Sambhaje
Assistant Professor
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
SRM University, AP ( Amaravati)
The journey of a woman toward professional growth is rarely linear. It is shaped by ambition, responsibility, resilience, and an emotional strength that often remains unseen. For working mothers, especially in academia and research, the challenge is not merely about managing time, but about sustaining excellence while nurturing life at home.
Professional recognition can be an important source of motivation. Being announced as the recipient of the Best Paper and Best Presenter Awards at the International Conference QUNTUMKOL-2025, organized by JIS University, Kolkata, during Dec 17-19, 2025, was a moment of pride and reassurance. Although the awards were not received physically, the acknowledgment affirmed that consistent effort, even amid competing responsibilities, holds value. It served as a reminder that a woman’s voice and contribution in research matter.
Yet, moments of professional validation exist alongside quieter responsibilities that rarely draw attention. For me, this balance was most clearly felt in something as simple as preparing homemade ghee from daily milk. This act goes beyond tradition or hygiene; it reflects a conscious, informed choice. From a nutritional perspective, ghee represents a richer and more concentrated form of milk, and when prepared at home, it ensures purity while avoiding unnecessary additives. While commercially available ghee is often costly, making it at home requires time, patience, and effort resources that women learn to invest wisely.
Such everyday practices reveal a deeper truth about balance. Motherhood teaches patience, planning, and persistence qualities that directly strengthen professional life. The same discipline required to meet academic deadlines is mirrored in the consistency needed to maintain a healthy household. Rather than existing in conflict, these roles often reinforce each other, shaping a woman who is both focused and compassionate.
There are days when balance feels fragile. The mental load of expectations at work and at home can be overwhelming. Yet, it is in these moments that women discover their inner resilience. Progress does not always appear as dramatic breakthroughs; often, it unfolds quietly, through small decisions made daily with care and intention.
A woman’s success, therefore, cannot be defined solely by visible achievements such as awards, publications, or titles. It also resides in unseen moments: early mornings, late nights, sacrifices made without recognition, and choices that safeguard family well-being. These experiences do not diminish professional identity; they deepen it.
Balancing ambition and care is not about perfection. It is about acceptance, perseverance, and self-belief. When women continue to move forward honoring both their aspirations and their responsibilities they redefine success on their own terms. In doing so, they create a powerful narrative for future generations: one where growth, care, and fulfillment are not mutually exclusive, but beautifully interconnected.
