Great Women

               ‘Service to mankind is service to God’ – the old saying truly describes the devotion of people who dedicate themselves to the cause of humanity. Florence Nightingale, popularly known as the ‘Lady with the Lamp’, epitomized it through her sincere service to the wounded British Soldiers of the Crimean War of 1854. She is considered the main inspiration behind modern nursing which has attained a great amount of respectability over the years as a noble profession. But why did she choose nursing as a career when it was even unthinkable for a woman to work?

               Born on May 12, 1820 in a rich family, Florence Nightingale showed her inclinations towards nursing when the matter of choosing her career came up within the family. When her parents heard that Florence wanted to be a nurse, they were shocked since in those days it was unthinkable for a woman of any respectable family to go out for work. Moreover few women had jobs in 1840s and nursing was not considered as a respectable career. But Florence had her way.

               In pursuit of her goal, she started a small nursing home in London. In 1854, on the outbreak of the Crimean war, she was appointed as the nursing-in-charge of the Scutari hospital in Turkey. Scutari hospital was overcrowded with wounded soldiers of the war. To overcome the work pressure there, she took 38 nurses along with her to attend the wounded soldiers. Nightingale worked day and night to put things in order in the hospital. The entire hospital was thoroughly cleaned, a laundry was started, the quality of the food was improved and the wounded were properly treated. For the first time, patients were provided with soaps, forks and knives, combs and toothbrushes. Florence kept everyone happy through her considerate attitude and sympathetic behaviour towards the patients. She established discipline in every sphere and made things work in a systematic and organized way. She came to be almost worshipped there. She was just like an angel for the service. Thankful soldiers seeing her pass at night carrying a lamp affectionately called her ‘The Lady with the Lamp’.

               Apart from the work at Scutari Hospital she did continue with her social service afterwards in various ways. She set about to improve the living conditions of the private British soldiers who could not be treated well during the war. She introduced many reforms in the British hospitals of those times.

               She set up the Nightingale training school for nurses in 1860, the first of its kind in the world. Though the strain of her work in the war deteriorated her health, yet she continued training the hospital nurses as well as looking after the welfare of British soldiers.

               Though she became blind at her old age, she still continued her work and in the year 1907, she became the first woman ever to be awarded the Order of Merit. She died in 1910.

 

          By 1429, the English had occupied Paris, and all of France north of the Loire. They had met with very little resistance, due to lack of leadership. Henry V of England was claiming the French throne, and the heir to the French throne, the Dauphin, was not allowed to be crowned. It was at this time that a young girl named Joan changed the course of history.

           Joan had an ordinary childhood. When she was12, she began to hear ‘voices’ of the saints. These voices told her that it was her divine mission to free her country from the English, and help the Dauphin. Joan convinced the Dauphin’s forces, and then the Dauphin himself, that she was a messenger of God. She cut her hair, wore men’s clothes, and armed herself. Joan was given troops to command and the rank of captain. At the battle of Orleans, Joan led the troops to a miraculous victory over the English. Later, Joan persuaded the Dauphin that he should be crowned Charles VII, and personally escorted him safely to his coronation. At the coronation, she was given a place of honour next to the king.

          Sadly, Joan was later captured by the English, tried, and convicted of being a witch. She was burnt at the stake. But, in 1456, a second trial was held, and she was pronounced innocent. Joan was then recognized by the Church to be a saint- St. Joan of Arc. Today, she is the patron saint of France, and is their national heroine. 

             Zenobia ruled the desert country of Palmyra initially with her husband Odenathus. She was one of the great beauties of her day and was highly educated. She spoke several languages-Egyptian and Greek among them and also wrote the first complete history of her country. She was an expert in hunting, and in the use of weapons.

             Though Palmyra was under Rome, it enjoyed a great degree of independence. Zenobia and her husband acquired for Rome the vast territories of Syria, Mesopotamia, and West Armenia. After the tragic death of her husband, Zenobia won even more territories which she claimed as rightfully hers. Powerful and daring, she started minting her own coins, with her likeness on it, as a sovereign ruler. This, together with her growing influence, made Rome declare war on her.

               Zenobia stood up to the most powerful army of her time, and personally directed her armies against the Romans. Sadly, she was betrayed by her neighbours, and defeated. Her beautiful city of palms was turned to ruin, and sacked by the Roman army.

               Zenobia will always be remembered as ‘the warrior queen’ - brave, intelligent, level headed, practical and full of a sheer, devil-may-care attitude that inspires admiration to this day.