Hi friends, Not everyone of you (especially my male colleagues) is as
lucky and privileged as I am today, for getting an opportunity to stand before
you all lovely ladies and gentlemen and deliver a speech on the occasion of
International Women’s Day. Today is a special day, not simply because we are
celebrating womanhood and giving the species called “woman” their due
recognition, but also specifically because it’s an important step towards
achieving equality in society, equality to a species which constitutes half of
the world’s population of 14 billion. So…the 7 billion is not a small lot, it’s
the equal half of the other half called “Men”.
I am emphasizing on the word “species” because I truly believe, if there
has to be a species differentiation, or any differentiation among human beings,
then it has to be two: “men” and “women”, not anything else…not religion,
language, society & culture, and not race. So…I truly believe there is
nothing wrong in discussing the differences and similarities between men and
women. Only then can both species understand each other better and liberate
each other in the company of each other. It’s a biological truth: We have to
cohabit, only then we can survive!
Why do we celebrate Women’s Day, then? To me, there are various reasons
for this:
1.
To feel
proud about the fact that women form half the population of the world and
celebrate to establish the fact that they are a force to reckon with. The need
to do this is because of thousands of years of oppression that women around the
world have suffered.
2.
To reflect
on equality of rights between both men and women in all spheres and to
understand what has been achieved and what are yet to be done.
3.
To iterate
and reiterate the significance of womanhood in the survival of humanity
And many more…
As you all know, the movement that led to the recognition of
International Women’s Day by the UN started in the late 19th-early
20th century in Germany and Russia, and then spread in many parts of
the world. It began among the womenfolk of industrial workers with a demand for
equal rights.
Unfortunately the struggle still continues, despite we being in
the 21st century and the world changing drastically in the past one
century. In many areas, equality has been achieved and the one-upmanship of men
has been overthrown; but sadly there are many areas where the position of women
is still lackluster. We do not realize these in our day-to-day life, but at
least in today’s occasion, we can try to reflect on these and come to some
resolution.
To find an example, we should not go beyond. If we look around our
neighbours, our society, our communities, our offices, even our household, we
will come across many such incidences, and many such situations where women
have been oppressed—sometimes in the garb of social ethics, sometimes in the
garb of religious beliefs and customs, and sometimes in the garb of general
rules. This has to change, only then we both—men and women—will be able to
celebrate together the real cause of Women’s Day! I sincerely believe we will
see that day in our lifetime!
That brings me to the question of women’s liberation! I was browsing
through some videos on women’s day and came across a speech in UN delivered by
Anne Hathaway. You can yourself hear her speak on women’s liberation, and I
recommend you listen to that speech, she has brought in an entirely new
perspective to women’s liberation. The crux of the matter is that there can be
no liberation of women till men continues to feel protective about women.
That’s the real reason behind all the suppression and oppression to women, all
social rules that led to women’s suppression. That’s the main reason behind
unequal rights between men and women. She reiterates that it is “men” who needs
liberation—liberation from their chauvinism, liberation from their feeling of
protection—and it is women who can help liberate men.
So, again, it is all about men and women, nothing else! That’s a
biological truth!
It is such a lovely atmosphere here where we are together celebrating
International Women’s Day. If we look around, we do not see any discrimination
to woman here in our organization. In fact, our workforce is so woman-heavy and
there are many woman heavyweights as well. I salute all of them! But let me
tell you, Publishing is a sector where you will find the majority being woman
players! But the picture is not so rosy when we see other sectors of work. It
is disgusting in some sectors! It is time we break this one-upmanship of men.
I am also supposed to talk a little bit about a few inspiring women. But
I am grossly underprepared for that, and my memory also fails me. I can
recollect a few though: Bachendri Pal, who climbed Everest, Kalpana Chawla,
India’s first woman to go to space, Kiran Bedi, first woman IPS officer,
Vijaylaxmi Pandit, first IAS officer, Mother Teresa, Anne Besant. From around
the world, I am fascinated to know about Gertrude Bell, only the second woman
to have travelled the Arabian and Sahara deserts and befriend the Bedouins in
their hostile territories! Such an inspiring story, indeed! But there are many
more unknown but significant women who have contributed to the spirit of
womanhood. I am sure we will hear about them from the rest of the speakers.
I wish all a very happy International Women’s Day once again! Thank you!
