Gender equality today for a Sustainable tomorrow!

08.03.22

International Women's Day (March 8) celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women worldwide. Women's Day has been celebrated for nearly a century. The first commemoration was held in 1911. This day is a call to action to accelerate gender equality. The theme of this year's celebration is "Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow", to honor the women and girls who are leading the adaptation to and response to climate change, as well as their leadership and contributions to a sustainable future.

Ancient India

When we talk about ancient India, women were equal to men. They were educated. They chose to be trained in the art of combat. Women are also given great importance in the Vedas and Purans. In the "Atharva Veda" women are portrayed as guardians of knowledge and all kinds of karma. In the "Atharva Veda" it is written that parents should bestow intellectuality and knowledge power on their daughter when she moves into her husband's house. They should give her a dowry of knowledge. In the "Yajur Veda" it is mentioned that men and women have equal right to be appointed as rulers. A women's army should be formed. Women should be encouraged to fight in battle. In the Rig Veda, a warrior queen named Vishpala is mentioned who is well versed in the art of fighting. She loses a leg in battle, but with the help of an iron leg, she regains her strength and resumes her fighting feats. Ancient India believed in equal sharing of responsibilities.

Women led the Kshatriyas in battle to defend our nation whenever circumstances required. There are many examples of female warriors like Satyabhama, Kaikaiyi, Princess Ulupi, Rani Durgavati, Rani Laxmibai, Rani Abbakka, Maharani Tarabai and many more. In ancient India, women were considered "divine," but over time their status deteriorated. During the "medieval" period, women suffered greatly. Young Indian girls were discriminated against from the moment they were born. Women were humiliated and denied their rights. Women had to work both at home and in the fields. Their lives were difficult and devoid of love and respect. The Hindu rite of Sati, in which a widowed woman had to sacrifice herself on her husband's funeral pyre, was widespread. Poor treatment, assault and exploitation are commonplace for many Indian women. But thanks to the efforts of many activists, including men, who defied societal norms, hurdles and stereotypes and fought for women's rights, India has become a better place for women.

Modern India

Many women's rights are now recognized in Indian society, including the right to political participation, family allowances, and starting a business. Women have changed radically in the modern era. Urban women, in particular, have evolved from mere housewives to modern multitasking women who can bear responsibility without fear. She had confidently faced the world. Nowadays, women take care of the household, work outside the home, raise their children, and balance their personal and professional lives.

This is what it looks like in most urban homes today. Today's women are independent, make courageous decisions, stand up for their rights and walk the path of success. Ultimately, International Women's Day is celebrated to recognize the true importance of women and encourage them to strengthen their potential to achieve their goals and aspirations. The celebration of International Women's Day can inspire them to continue to achieve in their lives without fear or anxiety.

Celebration at LIT

To honor femininity, we at Laxmi Institute of Technology celebrated International Women's Day on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. The celebration was organized for all female teaching and non-teaching staff including female cleaning staff. The event started at 12:00 noon sharp and various activities were held. As this year's theme is "Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow" we have invited our Trustee Kinjal Gajera, Smt. Shantaben Haribhai Gajera Trust, Surat, who is a strong advocate of the concept of sustainable development in society. During the event, she virtually addressed the audience about how we as women can contribute to sustainable development for a better future.

During the event, Ms. Suchita Borkar spoke about how to balance career and family and that a woman cannot succeed without the support of family. She also spoke about how girls should know their right to defend themselves and beware of crimes against women. After that, all participants actively participated in games, singing, poetry recitals and other fun activities.

Glimpses of the event

Many faculties also shared their views and the story of their struggle and how they overcame it. In the end, it was a very inspiring and motivating session for all the women. They all enjoyed it very much. The event was successfully moderated by Ms. Vidushi Badmera. The entire event was coordinated by Ms. Nipa Modi and Ms. Sudha Agarwaal.

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