Dedicate the day to unsung women

Promila Kaul Pandita
International womens’ Day began in the early 1900′. It is a global day that celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Although supporting and celebrating women’s rights is a year-round responsibility, it is even more important to take a stand for women’s equality. Celebrating or talking about Women’s Day isn’t about making women strong. Women are already strong. Women’s Day focuses on changing the way the world perceives their strength and also moulding in the right direction the prevailing mind set of the society in general and accord the status a woman deserves. There is no denial that in the past 50 odd years we have witnessed a sea change in the position of women from a decorative being whose credits were counted on her shy or docile behaviour, non-complaining nature, accepting decision thrown to her and everyone’s caretaker. There’s also no doubt that there are certain areas where women are best performers but to limit their potential and talent to only that sphere is the gravest injustice done to her.
The question isn’t who is going to let her but who’s going to stop her. So there is no need to tell a woman that she is capable, talented, intelligent etc., etc. It is the non-cooperative and mentally ailing social environment that causes a grain of doubt into her own being about her potentials. Otherwise women have the calibre and energy to stand up not only for themselves but everyone else.
When a woman is silent it should not be taken as a sign of her low profile. In her silent domain she may be evaluating or making an assessment of your worthiness. So, remember not be judgemental while speaking about silent women. Here I remember a quote by R.G. Moon. He says, “There’s something about a woman……. that sits in silence, smiling, knowing she can crush you with the truth.” So my point here is to lay stress on this very psychological fact which is mostly neglected and we leave no stone unturned to hurt their sentiments whenever and wherever we like
There is another important aspect as far as International Womens’ Day is concerned. It is somewhat ironical in nature as far as celebration of womens’ day is concerned. Mostly we celebrate those who are already celebrated and enjoy a good fan following. I mean those who have attained a position, a status or a respectable name in the society. But have we ever thought of dedicating this day to those unsung, unnoticed women warriors of our social set up. These real life heroines hardly get any attention on this day. No stage is set for them; no platform awaits them to recognize or appreciate them. And the irony is that they don’t know about any such day. Yes, I am talking about those women who are our daily help, our child’s Caretaker, our old parents ‘daily maintainer on whose shoulders we put our load of responsibilities because of our many compulsions. We heave a sigh of relief when she turns up in the morning to take the charge otherwise our blood pressure level starts shooting up and we feel things falling apart virtually. The peak pandemic period of Covd 19 gave us a life time experience about it.
We need to celebrate their spirit of commitment. On this day we should not forget the women carrying loads of bricks on their heads, sometimes even tucking an infant to their backs. They toil and sweat; cook and manage their petty, dingy dwellings imagining it as the best ever home of their dreams. Decked in their traditional attires, they are always happy and smiling. Their beauty is their charm. Their lively and undaunting spirit is charismatic. One is bound to get an inspiration from them because they make us to feel like, “she overcame everything that was meant to destroy her.” Her every action vibrates and resounds as “I’m tough, I’m ambitious, and I know exactly what I want’.
Let’s celebrate those women who clean our airports, our railway stations and our streets. Why do we forget those rag picking, unclean but with sparkle of hope and new beginning in their eyes carrying sacks, instead of school bags on their shoulders to fill it with every odd plastic throw-out?
There is an urgent need to be clear about our own agendum about the celebration of womens day. Let’s make it clear to ourselves that a woman’s soul is fierce, her heart is brave, her mind is strong. She’s everything even when she’s treated like nothing. On this women’s Day let’s share the pain and agony of those women workers who travel hundred miles a day in the metropolitan cities in local trains and thinks about her family while taking out peas from the pea-beans during the neck-breaking back travel. Don’t they deserve to be celebrated? Yes, they definitely do. They hardly complain about their lot. You can decipher a gleam on their faces as if saying, “Never bend your head, always hold it high look at the world straight in the eyes. I’m ready to face any challenge you put me to. I may look coy, and physically weak but I am made of muscles of iron, nerves of steel and heart divine..”
Saluting the spirit of womanhood with pride and glory with a new perspective. Happy Women’s Day.
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