Women - Changing Lives, Shaping Futures
You all have read many stories that women have played a pivotal role in every sphere of life in history, and present and will continue playing the same in the future too.
From art, literature, and culture to politics to education to economy, from race to space, from housewife to CEOs, from health to humanity, and from science to social causes, women have significantly embedded their footprints and have been a catalyst for change in every walk of life.
 |
| image source: jagranjosh.com |
Feminine Trailblazers - Shaping History
History brims from feminine examples that changed its course confronting every peril through the sands of time, fighting against the patriarchal society, and carving a niche for themselves and the people they have been associated with.
As you all have heard an age-old adage, behind the success of a man is hidden the hard work and support of a woman.
The great literary poet Kalidasa would have never become renowned had his wife Princess Vidyotama not reprimanded him for his ill-utilization of time and the ‘Abhigyan Shakuntalam’ would never have been penned down.
Similarly, history would have never remembered ‘Shivaji’ in its yellow pages had Jijabai not inculcated Patriotism and a sense of belonging into him to the hilt.
Even mythology brims with women who stand for great significance in one’s daily life. ‘Sita’ symbolizes the victory of good over evil and ‘Draupati’ describes that ‘truth always triumphs’.
Empowering Women - Transforming The World, Shaping a Glorious Legacy
Women are a hand in glove in the progress and prosperity of society and the nation.
She has proved to be an able administrator, a deft parliamentarian, a perfect teacher, a mellifluous singer, an artistic painter, a social reformer, an acclaimed sportswoman, a prominent and prolific writer and poet. The list is endless.
To start with, Mother Teresa, the noble laureate, is an impresa of peace, charity, and benevolence. Sans her efforts, Missionaries of Charity might not have been born. Selfless service to the poor, destitute, needy, and suffering were some of her qualities highly acclaimed to date.
The Freedom struggle in India saw several women coming to the fore and sacrificing their lives for the country. The first name that comes to mind is Rani Laxmi Bai who single-handedly drove a regiment against the Britishers that marked the commencement of the Freedom Struggle.
Kasturba Gandhi, Dr. Annie Besant, Vijaylaxmi Pandit, and Durgabai Deshmukh are a few wonder ladies who essayed their supreme roles in the transformation of India into an independent democratic nation.
She has been on the ruling front and has carried out the growth and evolution of empires.
Be it Razia Sultan, the only woman monarch who adorned the throne of Delhi; Smt Indira Gandhi, the first woman Prime Minister of India, Smt Pratibha Patil, the premier woman speaker of the Lok Sabha assembly; women have displayed efficient and effective administration of the public.
An adorable example of Mrs Sarojini Naidu, the nightingale of India and the first woman governor of India is green in the hearts, minds, and souls of the citizens and will always remain so.
Kalpana Chawla, the first woman astronaut; Geeta Kumari Phogat, the first Indian woman wrestler to win an International Gold medal in CWG 2010; Kiran Bedi, the first woman IPS officer; Bachendri Pal, the first Indian woman to climb Mt Everest.
Not only these, Justice Fatima Beevi, the first woman judge of the Supreme Court; Captain Durga Banerjee, the first woman pilot of the Indian Airlines et al; are the ones we need to learn and follow in their footsteps for a better and brighter future.
Silenced Goddesses - Battling Unseen Struggles
We live in India, a country where women have been revered and worshiped as goddesses since times immemorial. But what an irony that in spite of all women are tormented and tortured to the hilt.
A life full of pain, agony, despair, despondence, and dejection - is this what we are to gift to the homosapien, who garnered in her womb for nine long months, nurtured us from an infant to a self-sustained adult, supported us in our sorrows and promoted us in our victories?
The experimental rise in crime rates against women can be anticipated as clear as a crystal, with the sobriquet that Delhi has earned –‘The Rape Capital’.
Incidents of acid attacks, sexual harassment at the workplace, violence, stalking, and wolf-whistling do make top headlines in dailies and are topics of discussion at national events but we are left unheard of, as they wriggle in the dim and dark corners of this fast pace, developing world.
The patriarchal society and the male-dominated custom rituals and traditions where it is considered that the bride’s family is like a Goldman from where the groom’s family can extract as much as they can; are hand in glove with the perpetrators of these heinous crimes and are never guilty conscious.
The quantum of cases of crimes against women has gone up by leaps and bounds. During the latest study by Lancet; due to oppression, depression, and other factors, the number of suicides among Indian women is among the topmost in the world.
Empowerment Through Education - Elevating Women's Status
The remedy lies in the malady itself. Education is the panacea that will help women in amelioration, emancipation, and upliftment of the social, economic, and political status of women.
It is high time and women should be given equal rights and status. What a paradox, that women who are elected at ground level or panchayat- most of them are dummies and their authority is used by their male counterparts.
We must join hands for the elevation of strata of women to bring them to par with men. One-stop rape crisis centres, fast-track courts, stringent laws with effective administration, and stricter punishments are the call of the day. Awareness must be spread far and wide to nip the evil in the bud.
Today the woman may appear to be taciturn but she is boiling like a volcano and one day, it will erupt and she will burst to claim her equal rights and status in society.
Edited by - Presha Khurana
0 Comments