Long Live Revolution!

If they answer not to thy call walk alone,
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,
O thou unlucky one,
open thy mind and speak out alone.

If they turn away, and desert you when crossing the wilderness,
O thou unlucky one,
trample the thorns under thy tread,
and along the blood-lined track travel alone.

If they do not hold up the light when the night is troubled with storm,
O thou unlucky one,
with the thunder flame of pain ignite thy own heart
and let it burn alone

RABINDRANATH TAGORE

The status of woman in India has seen a revolutionisation over the centuries. From being enjoyed the equal status in ancient times, to being oppressed in medieval period, to fighting for equal status, the history of women in India has been eventful. In modern India women have adorned the highest positions of power. But we still continue the fight for equal status with men and against oppression.

The concept of equality was introduced in India in early 19^th century and it became an operational principle only after independence in 1947. The Indian constitution granted equality and freedom from discrimination based on gender or religion, and guaranteed religious freedom. It is crucial to note that the concept of feminism is unique in Indian context. Indian women define forms of oppression as forms of sorrow. The terms like Hunger, Poverty, Disease, Infant deaths, Use of their bodies in labor by landlords, Ruthlessness of custom, Burden of tradition, Unrelenting demands of ritual, beating without reason are seen as forms of sorrow by an Indian woman.

This concept of feminism in India was questioned when I met an 85 year old woman. The meeting was quite an intriguing one. Beaten with age, the woman was a wrinkle faced, frail and tender. She was standing in front the offices of one of the left parties. She might have gone unnoticed like all those people who queue up outside political part offices expecting the leaders to cooperate them in their fight. The lady was trying to make a conversation with all the journalists. Irony of the situation was both journalists and the woman were on the same side of the line- waiting for the leaders to comment. Unable to see her plight we went up to her. Her story was the same old story of oppression she faced from her man. The lady was trying to tell us how she is now being thrown on streets by the very person with whom she spent 65 years of her life. We were shocked to hear that her husband wants a divorce for which she has refused. She has been living in her own apartment and owned a small property which was the only source of income. to compel her into the situation her husband has tried all means of harassment by disconnecting her telephone line-mode of communication for her; forcing maids to leave. Completely broken by the situation this lady now wanted a solution. To be appropriate she had a solution but was looking for solace that could support her. The amicable solution which she has drawn onto was to divorce her husband but she will not let go off the property. Unable to give her enough solace we thought it appropriate to send her to woman’s organization. We provided her with the addresses and contact numbers and arranged for a transport to take her to woman’s organization office.

The bottom-line of this incident is to note that woman of any age can face oppression and domestic violence. But on the optimistic side of it we must understand that woman need not shy away from asking for help. A woman’s struggle is of a lone survivor. Woman needs to keep walking even if she has to journey alone. Her struggle against feudal concept of woman, struggle for respect and equal space will go on till we achieve it..

Baby delivered through Caesarian

After a disappointed Women’s Day, the passage of Women’s reservation through its first phase was a welcome gesture. What should have been a proud day for Indian women and men became instead a day of shame for the government and also for the country. High drama surrounded the passage of the historic Women's Reservation Bill with the process beginning with unprecedented unruly scenes in the Rajya Sabha and culminating with the suspension and forcible eviction of the disruptive members. The proceedings of the Parliament seemed that the bill would once again go on the back burner. The disruptions of proceedings on Monday over the issue of women’s reservation are an indictment. What happened today was yet the continuation and also a mockery of the constitution by just a handful of members. Well better late than never, the UPA dared to pass the motion which it could have tried doing yesterday.

A lot of consultations and convincing sessions took place in the last 24 hours. The bill was labeled to be Sonia Gandhi's prestige. The political will and commitment of UPA infact of Congress was put through a litmus test. For Congress it would have been fatal if it would have hesitated. But the series of events exposed the if not half-hearted commitment to the cause of women's empowerment of the Congress and few legislators. This case is a classic example of how regional parties try to overpower the ruling national parties with selfish motives in the federal system.

As Brinda Karat said in Rajya Sabha today the passage of bill is a victory of all the women organisations who have struggled for 14 years to get the bill passed. Now a baby has been delivered and it is our duty to nurture it and monitor it so that it does not get exploited in the hands of male chauvinists. And what i mean by nurturing and monitoring is by telling that there should be committee or a body appointed to check on the process.

But it should be understood that the Bill has gone through the first phase only. The bill has yet to be passed in Lok Sabha. Now it would be a real challenge for the Congress to fight the Yadav trio and get the bill passed and prove their commitment towards the Indian women. Well whatever happens it is definitely giving the women a new career option- politics, which has been ruled by roosters.

100 Years of relentlesss struggle!

“Equal rights-equal opportunities-Progress for all,” is what the women globally would be saying this year on 100^th international women’s day. 8 March is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future.International women’s day holds a lot of significance.

The International Women’s Day started with a woman named Clara Zetkin proposing the idea in 1910. Her idea was that there should be a day every year around the globe-a women’s day-demanding for their rights. Following which 100 women from 17 countries came forward and thus was born international women’s day. But this was not the official announcement of the day. The first announcement happened on 19 March 1911. Plans for the first International Women's Day demonstration were spread by word of mouth and in the press. Success of the first International Women's Day in 1911 exceeded all expectation.

Meetings were organized everywhere in small towns and even the villages halls were packed so full that male workers were asked to give up their places for women. Men stayed at home with their children for a change, and their wives, the captive housewives, went to meetings. In 1913 International Women's Day was transferred to 8 March and this day has remained the global date for International Women’s Day ever since. In the present day society this day holds a lot of significance to the women as well as the whole society. This is what few eminent women have to say about the importance of the day.

Though everyone agrees on one point that women have their rights and their rights should be given. There all lot of discussions that the society should change to allow this second class citizen to survive but have we ever wondered we are being hypocrite in our stands! There are women who have even gone to jails fighting for their rights but still even today women the docile creature is still there where she has started. Times have changed, but still a lot has to be done when it is for the development of women, to get her status equal to men. But this does not men that women are on a war with men. It has to be understood clearly that men and women should equally strive for peaceful and congenial coexistence where both are not deprived of their rights.

The working class women have been deprived of their rights since ages. The international womens has given one such platform to voice the struggles of these women. Equal pay, equal work has been the motto. When women put in the equal amount of effort why discriminate them when they have to get their due. This is the question with which the forum started. Now, in the 21^st century where corporate world is ruling the roost in the urban india women feel proud that they are nothing less than men and infact they are more better than men when it comes to balancing home and career.

Each year around the world, International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8. Hundreds of events occur not just on this day but throughout March to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women. Women should arise and awake and should not allow exploitation of their rights or of their exsistence. International womens day is not celebration of womanhood. It is celebration of being human and a day to press for their equal demands.

So let us join hands and vow that we will not let the discrimination continue on the basis of gender. Let the spirit with which the international womens day was started be not hampered with the wrong notions that it is celebration of womanhood. It should be remembered again and again it is also celebrating the day for those women who have raised their voices against inequality , a day to take them as inspiration.