Woman Corporator Who Refuses To Play 'Politics' With People

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The Draft Colaba, in continuance of the International Women's Day celebrations held on 8 March 2021, profiles superwomen of sorts, from all walks of life, for a full week on till 15 March 2021
(Read all the Women's Week stories here)

The Draft Colaba’s Manu Shrivastava spoke to MCGM Ward 226 Corporator Harshita Narwekar on her entry into politics and life as a doting mother

“I had never even imagined, I’d join politics,” says Harshita Narwekar in her trademark friendly-as-ever manner. “Initially, there was a learning curve, like in every new venture, but now I really enjoy the social aspect of politics where I get to interact with citizens,” says the approachable corporator.

Born in a non-political family to a homemaker mother and father from Merchant Navy, Harshita grew up in Navi Mumbai. She studied at H R College at Churchgate before heading to the United States where she successfully pursued “an MBA and a Master’s in Healthcare Management programmes.”

After working in the US for over an year, she returned to India to work as a “management consultant for almost a decade.” In the meantime, she had already started getting involved in public life albeit in a limited manner.

TOGETHER: Harshita Narwekar with husband Ashwin and children Neil and Nia

She started dabbling with a professional life as a management consultant and a public life too. “With so much on the plate, I knew I had to streamline things as it was getting difficult to maintain a work-life balance.” It was time for her to choose one of the two roles to be able to do justice to her work and her family as her “children were growing up too.” So, she “decided to quit professional life and focus fully on public life.” In 2017, she forayed into politics, officially, when she won the 2017 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections from Ward 226 (Colaba). 

On a lesser-known personal front, Harshita is a doting mother to 13-year-old Neil and nine-year-old Nia. She takes her role as a mother seriously and ensures she spends enough time with her children. “I am always home for dinner and sit with them for their home-work. Children talk and open up during bed-time, it’s important to connect with them as they’re growing up fast.”

In order to break the monotony of work, Harshita like to go for vacations, go out for a movie or meet friends which, for her, is “therapeutic.” With her children, Harshita does “fun things” such as indoor games, just talk to them, even cook with them when time warrants. “They complain all the time that I should spend more time with them. We love baking and cooking together so when time warrants, we cook dishes like lasagna, spaghetti, etc.”

ROLE MODEL: Harshita believes its important to set a good example for children to make them better citizens

She takes her role as a mother with equal seriousness as that of a politician. “I understand that I am a de facto role model for my daughter. She observes and learns from what I do and has become very perceptive and sensitive to social issues.”

Married to Ashwin Narwekar, Harshita credits her success entirely to her family. “My parents encouraged me, as a child, to pursue goals uninhibitedly. Today, my husband and in-laws are extremely supportive with all I do. All of them have helped shape the person I am today.”

Speaking of the status of women today, Harshita maintains there has been a significant fillip in the number of women in the corporate world and politics. “Women are getting recognition for their work and worth. Although, there are still more males in leadership positions, steps are being taken in the right direction.”  

MULTI-TASKING: Harshita exemplifies the many roles women play in their personal and professional lives

On her experience as a woman leader and getting work done, she says, “Generally, owing to popular-yet-wrong perception, male leaders are taken more seriously.” In the beginning of her political career, she faced situations where male colleagues and workers “were not open to taking orders from a woman.” Why, “some would even feel threatened,” she revealed.

Harshita believes women are “naturally more sincere, dedicated, resilient even multi-task well.” She feels it’s important for women to be educated but notes that today “many uneducated women are also doing well and supporting their families.”

Just like in any other profession, in politics too, women go the extra mile to prove themselves. “I don’t like to be lax as I love working anyway. Despite being in politics, I do try to avoid ‘politics’ and believe good work can be done without playing games,” she says with contagious glee.