*[‘International Women’s Day’ – celebrating Womanhood that comprises of all the attributes that are natural to Women i.e., patient, affectionate, caring, emotional, generous, devoted, elegant, calm, sensitive, strong, courageous amongst the top ones.
In this era of male dominance our society is constantly dealing with conflicting issues such as gender equality & women empowerment. Recent movies for instance, Padmaavat and Manikarnika made a huge impact on mindset of people as the portrayal of Women therein, represents & redefine the multitude characteristics of a woman. How significant is to hold on to one’s individuality, is to be learnt from such powerful characters of Indian society. In this small initiative at Vedic WAVES Blog, an effort has been made through a survey to gather an opinion over the current status as enjoyed by women in present day society, in India.]
*Editorial note by Dr. Aparna (Dhir) Khandelwal, Assistant Professor, School of Indic Studies, INADS, Dartmouth, USA
Women are not just considered but are also
treated as 2nd to men in current society. Ancient social engineering made women
equal half. First time a woman was considered an object … Bharata rose in
arms to protect Dharma of equality and respect.
Ms. Neera Mishra, Chairperson, Draupadi Dream Trust
I consider the very question based on
ignorance. Granted gender discrimination occurs around the world (in case
of both sexes) and India would have it’s own share of problems. I grew up in
villages and also spent time in cities of India. I also lived in multiple
countries. Based on my limited experience I have not seen imbalanced
discrimination against women.
That remains my experience. If
at all, I have noticed discriminatory laws against men, especially in family
law courts around the world.
Mr. Nilesh Oak, Adjunct Faculty, School of Indic Studies, INADS, Dartmouth, USA
Theoretically, women are on a par
with men but in actual practice they are considered second class citizens who
suffer discrimination in almost all walks of life. This kind of mindset is
starkly evident not only in the family for the upbringing of female child in
comparison to the male ones but also in education, jobs, career opportunities,
promotions and future expectations. The society must eradicate this
obvious injustice and menace perpetrated by people in general and institutional
biases in particular.
Dr. Dayanand Parashar, Former Associate Professor, Physics, ARSD College, University of Delhi, Delhi
प्राचीन भारत में महिलाओं को देवी के तुल्य सम्मान था। मनु के द्वारा भी इसकी पुष्टि की गई है। जो भी विषमताएं आईं हैं, वो निसंदेह मुस्लिम संस्कृति के प्रभाव से है और अब पाश्चात्य संस्कृति का प्रभाव भी दृष्टिगोचर है। समाज में महिलाओं की स्थिति सुधारने के लिए सर्वप्रथम उनको शिक्षित करना होगा, सिर्फ साक्षर बनाने से बात नहीं बनेगी। अब पहले से महिलाओं की स्थिति में सुधार है, इसका कारण शिक्षा ही है। समानता में लाने के लिए महिलाओं को मुफ्त में शिक्षा, और रोजगार के अधिक अवसर उपलब्ध कराए जा सकते हैं।
श्रीमति स्नेहलता उपाध्याय, पुस्तकालयाध्यक्ष, राष्ट्रीय संस्कृत संस्थान
Yes, women are better than men in
respect of mental ability, farsightedness, sincerity, still they are treated as
second grade citizens now. They are not getting their due recognition in nation-building.
Even in Vedic times, they weren’t treated respectably. Apala can be cited as
example, who was abandoned by her husband due to skin disease. Even Gargi was
asked to keep shut when Yagyavalkya could not answer her queries. Situation is
same even now!
Dr. Raj Kumari Trikha, Former Associate Professor, Sanskrit, Maitreyi College, University of Delhi, Delhi
In this materialistic world those who don’t
earn/ have money are looked at as 2nd.
Mrs. Suvarta Vinod, Anandavan Bhakta Samudaya, Institute of Advanced Studies in Veda and Science.
Everything was balanced during Vedic
period, but it is only after post Vedic era the misinterpretations of our
ancient Indian texts that evolved such thought process in Indian society.
Secondly, It varies from culture to
culture –via- family to family in the sense of treating their daughters-in-law,
i.e., how families expect their daughter-in-law to behave in particular manner.
Dr. Pankaja Ghai Kaushik, Assistant Professor, Sanskrit, Lady Shree Ram College, University of Delhi, Delhi
भारतीय समाज में सम्बन्धों को महत्व दिया जाता है। ऐसे सामाजिक परिप्रेक्ष्य में महिला का स्थान माँ, बहन, बेटी, और धर्मपत्नी के रूप में सर्वोच्च विदित है। इन सम्बन्धों से वंचित यदि महिला का, या कि किसी और भी वर्ग का, अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय दिवस मनाना भारत में अजूबा सा लगेगा|
प्रोफेसर बलराम सिंह, सदस्य, बोर्ड ऑफ़ डायरेक्टर, वेव्स
Maintaining balance in the society is
not a woman’s problem, it’s a national issue. The race is on for the
gender-balanced business, a gender-balanced government, gender-balanced media
coverage, a gender-balance of employees, gender-balance in wealth… Let’s
hope this race ends, balance remains with gender equality.
Happy Women’s Day!!
Mrs. Shubha Rawal Wadhawan, Chief communications Officer – IG International pvt. Ltd.
I don’t consider there is a difference between men and women. So first of all there is no need for celebrating International Women’s Day. Is there any International Men’s Day? When you celebrate something like this then you producing yourself as victim. You already give an upper hand to men. In a civilized and sensible society in reality there shouldn’t be difference between men and women. Both have their own limitations biologically, physically and mentally. We should know each other limitations and respect similar to a normal Indian family. Once we understand this we will make a better society.
Dr. Raj Kumar, Assistant Professor, Botulinum Research Center, INADS, Dartmouth, USA
We live in a patriarchal society
where in male members are given more liberty and decision making choices. It’s
a woman who is expected to change her surname after marriage. It’s a woman who
is expected to take care of cooking, cleaning, etc. It’s a woman who works even
on holidays. There is no holiday for women. It’s a woman who is expected to
take care of family and children after marriage. They are made to do work both
inside and outside their homes. It’s just because women are not given a
friendly environment to show their talents. The problem lies in our education
system and Indian values. Women are still not given adequate education. Even
the text books we read show women doing all the household chores like cooking,
cleaning and taking care of men. They don’t depict men doing household work
rather men are shown going to work or seeking leisure in their free time. Our
Indian family values also don’t support a woman standing hand in hand with her
male partner. From the very initial stages girls are taught to walk properly,
dress properly, keep themselves presentable. The in-laws also expect their
daughter-in-law to look after the entire family needs. Even in case of
major decision making events the opinion of women is kept as second choice and
the ultimate decisions are still taken by male members. Even in job sectors
more preference is given to male members keeping less job opportunities to
women.
Ms. Tanya Kumra, Accounts Assistant, Shreeram World School, Delhi
I always believe that women are same
as the men. When I was a child my MAA always fulfilled my dreams, when my
family faced economic problem my elder sister has been there to support me, and
now when I face ups and down in my life my wife becomes my
strength. My supervisor (Prof. Rani Majumdar), my well wishers like Prof.
Shashi mam, Dr. Aparna Dhir di and many more always teach me, support me and advise
me. They all are women. Therefore how can I believe women are second in Indian
society? For me without these women I (men) am incomplete!!!
Kisi ne Kya khoob kaha
Soch ko badlo sitare badal jayenge/
Nazar ko badlo nazareyin badal jayenga/
kastiyan badal ne ke zaroorat nehin hai/
dishayein badlo kinare khud badal jayenge.
Mr. Tahasin Mondal, Research scholar, Department of Sanskrit, AMU, Aligarh, U.P
I don’t think women are considered
second in the society. I think there is no society without women. Women are the
ones who is giving birth to a child, upbringing the child and making of a
future citizen. So in short women only are shaping the thoughts, values and the
culture of the society. Whatever a woman teaches a child goes on for
generations!! Women are also the biggest strength of a man! A woman who is
strongly supporting a man that man is definitely successful in all spheres of
life. In Ramayana, it is said man and woman are two wheels of the same chariot,
if somehow one wheel breakdown the chariot automatically stop. So, both have to
be strong to move in the sphere of life. It is just that every individual has
to play his role in life. It is not about 1st or 2nd. I think it is about how
efficiently you play your role in life, the tasks assigned to you, your duties
towards your people and of course yourself too! It is definitely not about 1st
or 2nd at least in today’s times. All the things have to go hand in hand for the
smooth running of one’s life.
Mrs. Neeti Chawla, Housewife, Delhi
“As women, we have super powers. We
are sisters. We are healers. We are mothers. We are goddess warriors”
It’s International Women’s Day, a day
to honor and celebrate the cultural, social, economic and political
achievements of women. It’s a day to remind ourselves why women are so amazing.
They are the ones who are responsible for bringing new lives to existence. There’s
no field where women are lagging behind men. It’s a day to be cherished…
Happy Women’s Day to all the lovely ever smiling faces no matter what comes.
Mrs. Shagufa Afzal, Principal, Kuruom Vidayalaya, U.P.
In the modern era, Indian women are
no more lacking behind men. They are equally capable and talented in all the
fields, e.g., doctors, teachers, astronauts, etc. But still in some places Indian
women have not got the equality as men due to religious or orthodox thoughts
which need to be changed by giving proper education and awareness.
Mrs. Ankita Dhir, Teacher, K.R. Mangalam World School, Delhi
In present time, Indian women doing
their empowerment and society also demand for Equality. The fearless woman
today raises her voice against harassment like “MeToo Campaign”.
Mr. Yogendra Bhardwaj, Research Fellow, Sanskrit, JNU, Delhi
The Indian woman has to make her way through
all the social prejudices against her, and the men yet have to allow and accept
the women to be equal participants in the country’s way forward.
Mrs. Rajni Bhalla, Teacher, DAV Public School, Delhi
In my point of view women are considered to be
an integral part of the Indian family and society. They are not given secondary
status as we can see in our families or around us in the society.
Ms. Anuja Sinha, Director and Anchor, TCN Media
भारत में आज भी स्त्री का स्थान दूसरे नंबर पर है क्योंकि भारतीय समाज पुरुषों के द्वारा ही संचालित होता रहा है और कहीं ना कहीं स्त्रियां स्वयं भी जिम्मेदार हैं| उन्हें स्वयं को उपभोग की वस्तु के दायरे से बाहर निकलना होगा| वैचारिक रूप से स्वतंत्र होना पड़ेगा|
डॉ. सुषमा चौधरी, अध्यापक, संस्कृत, कमला नेहरू महाविद्यालय, दिल्ली विश्वविद्यालय, दिल्ली
The position and status of women in society has
been changing from time to time. In Vedic India, woman was considered like a
goddess. With time, the position of women received a set- back. But in modern
context, women no longer depend on others. Education has raised her status. She
holds equal status in society.
Ms. Suruchi Sharma, Teacher, Modern Public School
हिन्दू संस्कृति को जीवंत रखने का श्रेय नारी को ही है। नारी को परिवार का हृदय और प्राण कहा जाता है – न गृहं गृहमित्याहु गृहिणी गृहं उच्यते ।
श्री विकास शर्मा, तदर्थ अध्यापक, संस्कॄत, दिल्ली विश्वविद्यालय, दिल्ली
Women are a perfect combination of strength and beauty.
Happy Women’s Day !!
Mrs. Rekha Khandelwal, Housewife, Mumbai
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