FROM LEGACY TO LUMINARY: DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL'S QUEST FOR IDENTITY

Indira Gandhi once laI mented, "All my games were political games; was, like Joan of Arc, perpetually being burned at the stake.

" She was acutely conscious of the relentless scrutiny and judgment she faced due to the towering and influential political legacy she had inherited. Nonetheless, she tirelessly endeavoured to forge her own identity amidst the cacophony of expectations. In a similar vein, Benazir Bhutto, articulated her resolve to be acknowledged for her own achievements rather than merely basking in the reflected glory of her father: "My father was a martyr, a hero. I am the daughter of a person who was hanged, persecuted, and denounced. This is my heritage, but it is my actions that will define me." There is something profoundly compelling about the spirit of daughters of legendary and supremely accomplished fathers. This dynamic differs markedly from father-son relationships, where, at the risk of generalization, sons sometimes take the legacy as a given. In contrast, within the framework of Asian cultural mores, where sons are traditionally regarded as the rightful heirs, daughters often harbour an incandescent ambition to vindicate their own worth. Numerous other women have grappled with the shadows of their illustrious fathers, striving to etch their own legacies into the annals of history. Among these are Queen Elizabeth, Sylvia Plath, Christina Onassis, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Shabana Azmi and lastly, someone who has often been under fire from all quarters and derisively labelled a "nepo kid," - Alia Bhatt.

What do you think binds these names together? They are each exemplars of brilliance within their respective spheres. While it is undeniable that their fathers must have played pivotal roles in shaping their paths, attributing their achievements solely to familial influence would be a grave oversight.