International Women's Day (IWD), celebrated annually on March 8th, serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for gender equality and the empowerment of women worldwide. This year, the theme "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress" resonates deeply as nations, including India, strive towards achieving developmental milestones and envision a future of prosperity and inclusivity.
Today as we commemorate International Women’s Day I am reminded of the Nobel Prize 2020, a momentous occasion and a rarity when two women deservingly won the coveted 2020, Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The 2020 Nobel Prize for Chemistry was awarded to ‘Madam’ scientists, Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier for their pioneering work on the development of CRISPR tool for gene editing, a discovery that holds great promises in medical applications, particularly for curing genetic diseases. Here is a link to my blog.
https://khened.blogspot.com/2020/10/madam-moment-in-nobel-prize-in.html
The Nobel Prize in chemistry, 2020 was announced yesterday and it has been awarded to ‘Madam’ scientists Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier for their pioneering work on the development of CRISPR tool for gene editing, a discovery that holds out the possibility of curing genetic diseases.
One of the ancient Indian texts - Manusmriti - posted below, describes the significance of women’s position in the Indian society.
यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवताः ।
यत्रैतास्तु न पूज्यन्ते सर्वास्तत्राफलाः क्रियाः ।। मनुस्मृति ३/५६ ।।
(Loosely transcribed in English - Yatra naryastu pujyante ramante tatra Devata, yatraitaastu na pujyante sarvaastatrafalaah - Manusmriti).
Meaning - Where women are honoured, divinity blossoms, and where women are dishonoured, all action, no matter how noble, remain unfruitful.
Unfortunately, although historically there is material evidence to suggest equal if not a higher position for women in the Indian society, yet, it is paradoxical that women continue to face the worst of discrimination even today, not just in India but globally. The situation is so grim that even in the third decade of the twenty first century (2024) we have to remind ourselves to rightfully demand for a jest gender equality. Therefore it is no wonder that this is enshrined as one of the important goals in the United Nations, Sustainable Development Goals - to ‘achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls’.
The genesis for the global struggle for equal rights for women in some kind of an organised way began in the early 1900s. The oppression and inequality were pushing women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change and for a jest society where women are not discriminated. Looking back in history, it was on this very day – 8th March - in 1908 that an organised women labour movement started as a united march in which some 15000 women marched in an organised way through the New York City, demanding shorter working hours and better pay and right to vote for women, who until then were treated unequally in US. Encouraged by the response that the women’s march received, the Socialist Party of America joined hands with this movement and demanded for declaring the day, 8 March, as the National Woman's Day. The idea to convert this day into an International Women’s Day came from Clara Zetkin, leader of the Women’s Office for the Social Democratic Party in Germany. She tabled the idea of an International Women's Day during the International Conference of Working Women held in Copenhagen in 1910. She proposed that every year in every country, there should be a celebration on the same day to press for change, thus was born the International Women's Day. In the very next year, 1911, this day was celebrated as the Women’s Day in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. However, it was only in 1975 that the United Nations (UN) formally acknowledged and started celebrating this day as International Women’s Day. Ever since the IWD has been celebrated every year with a specific theme for each year.
In India, where a clarion call from the Prime Minister for a Viksit Bharat have drawn so much traction, aspirations run high to attain the status of a developed nation by 2047, the centenary of our independence, investing in women emerges as a pivotal strategy for accelerating progress across various socio-economic fronts. Historically, women in India have faced systemic discrimination and barriers to their full participation in society. Despite significant advancements in recent decades, gender disparities persist in areas such as education, healthcare, employment, and political representation.
Investing in women entails more than just financial resources; it encompasses policies, programs, and societal attitudes that prioritize gender equality and women's empowerment. Education stands as a fundamental pillar of this investment. Providing girls with equal access to quality education not only enhances their individual capabilities but also contributes to overall societal development. Educated women are more likely to participate in the workforce, make informed decisions about their health and well-being, and become agents of change within their communities.
Furthermore, investing in women's health is crucial for ensuring the well-being of families and communities. Access to affordable and comprehensive healthcare services, including reproductive health services and maternal care, is essential for reducing maternal mortality rates and promoting the overall health of women and children. Addressing gender-based violence and ensuring women's safety are also integral aspects of investment in women's empowerment.
Economic empowerment is another vital dimension of investing in women. Closing the gender gap in employment opportunities, promoting entrepreneurship among women, and providing access to financial resources and markets can unleash the untapped potential of female workforce participation, thereby driving economic growth and poverty reduction.
Additionally, political representation and leadership roles for women are essential for fostering inclusive governance and decision-making processes. Increasing the participation of women in political institutions and leadership positions can lead to more equitable policies and ensure that women's voices are heard and their interests are represented.
As India marches towards its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047, investing in women emerges as a strategic imperative for achieving sustainable and inclusive growth. By harnessing the full potential of its female population, India can accelerate progress towards its developmental objectives and create a more just and equitable society for all its citizens.
Given an opportunity, women can excel in the roles that they are tasked with, which I am witnessing at the CSMVS museum where I am currently working as an Advisor. In the ongoing exhibition at the museum, ‘Ancient Sculptures’, which has been developed in partnership with British Museum, German Museum and Getty Museum, duly supported by the Getty Foundation, a team of all women curators from the CSMVS Museum, under the able leadership of their visionary leader Mr Sabyasachi Mukherjee, DG of the museum, have exemplarily proved the extraordinary potential that women possess in developing this exhibition and working on a range of academic programmes and activities which supplement this exhibition. This achievement of the all women team from CSMVS has not gone unnoticed. The global partners including the Getty Foundation the supporter for the exhibition were all praise for the wonderful all women team who led this global partnership exhibition, exemplifying the vast potential that women in India have. There are several other examples of women’s excellence in achievements in India be it the all women crew or the women’s contributions in space research and so also in Defence which has opened to women.
Let this Women's Day serve as a timely reminder of the urgent need to invest in women to accelerate progress towards achieving India's developmental aspirations. Empowering women is not only a moral imperative but also a pragmatic strategy for building a more prosperous, inclusive, and resilient nation for future generations. Let us reaffirm our commitment to gender equality and women's empowerment as we embark on this transformative journey towards a brighter and more equitable future and work towards the betterment of women and invest in Women to Accelerate Progress for achieving the vision to be a Viksit Bharat.
Wish you a very happy Women’s Day
Images : Courtesy Wikipedia and Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai
No comments:
Post a Comment