Follow me on twitter...-- http://twitter.com/sourav05
‘There exists a law of nature, where we born to die one day.’ It says that we grow and we mature with our physical outlook and mental expertise. I believe that there lies another law, the law of distinction and discrimination, by which we classify each organism accordingly. If Human Being is taken, we classify them according to race, color, linguistic and so many. In broader perspective we classify according to masculine and feminine.
Women, as once defined by some intellectual scholars, are placed nearer to nature; while man are placed nearer to culture. They both are equally important. Still then they both are treated in a different way.
Down the ages we have seen, women in different roles. Their way of leading a life differs from that of a man. Every time and every moment they prove the test of their patience, faith and hope. Remarkably, when President Barack Obama expressed the change that he wanted to bring in, was by citing an example of a women, 106 years old, Ann Nixon Cooper, where he clearly defined the hope and faith through which she lead her life, a life, when every thing gets fade and then also it gives her the courage to move forward.
Indian society and its culture have shown us the male hegemony and their domination through the ages, a society where male has been given the power to rule by the theory of inheritance. From the birth of a child to the day when one leaves this beautiful earth, the women’s pride and prejudice are stigmatized. Families still favor the birth of a boy then a girl, creating a fear among the ecological balance of this planet.
While we pray and worship Goddess, with the faith that Devi Durga is the imagery of power and courage, while Goddess Lakshmi as the sign of wealth and Lord Swarswati as the strength to bring the curiosity and skill to learn and know the unknown knowledge. While relating those with our day to day life, I usually get aghast to see the daily; where women’s power , strength and everything is paralyzed by torturing them physically and mentally, burning them alive, beating them in crowded street, defining them as ‘bitches’. Adding much more astonishment is when minors are get raped, even child of age eight doesn’t get spare from such inhumane activity.
Standing in the 21st century, a life of a woman is very difficult to portray as there is vast array of differences between women’s dignity in urban life, the semi-urban life and rural life. Women at the metropolitan life have defined their own life style. In semi-urban life, one can easily visualize the nature of women, who is struggling every moment for her success. They are fighting every day with the so called ‘men-dominated society’. They are utilizing the opportunities to the fullest, craving their future, building their dreams. A woman here explores the theory ‘Struggle for existence’ to keep their feet in the crowd. In Rural India, women have a different role to play, where every time women are compelled to lead their life in pre-defined way, sometimes by their parents, their husband, in- laws and sometimes by their children. Women are led to live a life for others and not for themselves.
Women from whatever province may be taken, has always proven their importance in building up the Indian Culture. Starting from Rajia Sultana to Indira Nooyi, their presence has influenced not only women but also man. In every field and at every arena, the existence and importance of women has always been felt from Kalpana Chawla to Phulan Devi. The Indian government has passed many laws and rules for protecting and preserving the rights of women, like the Equal Remuneration act where pay equal for both men and women for similar work. The Govt. has also prohibited women employment at night except in certain areas. It is also the fact that there has been a bitter clash of words when Parliament starts discussing for Women Reservation Bill. Thanks to the 73rd and 74th amendment which provides 33% of reserved seats for women in local governing bodies, which has also been proposed to extend to 50%.
The role of women has been changing radically with the passage of every day. The literacy rate of women which was 8% during Independence is now 28% in Rural Sector and 63% in Urban Sector. In the corporate sector, study reveals that women has got immense role to play in the coming days. In the field of sports they also hold the national flag in the world sporting events. But they are been less focused in electronic media. Their lies the interrogation, “Are we mentally prepared to provide Equal Opportunity for women too..?” Diplomat replies that every queries need not to be answered. Certain Member of Parliament warns to commit homicide if Women Reservation Bill comes to existence in actual scenario. The so- called ‘male-dominated’ society are in fear, if women are allowed to come to the forefront then their role may get diminish.
The two oldest tradition of Indian culture are the corruption and the prostitution. Those were there in pages of Ramayana and Mahabharata and also in dynasties upon dynasties that ruled India. Study reveals that it has increased down the years. In a more hypothetic way I believe women manage things better than a man, and if they will be given their proper rights, then corruption can decrease which can result in decrease of prostitution with a larger equation.
But India is changing and changing a lot. During the walk, which started from 1947, at the stroke of midnight of mid August by saying, “…when the whole world sleeps, India rise to life and freedom…” In these 63 years, we are proud to say that we are still successful in protecting the Indian Culture, where man and women has equal roles and responsibilities. The country whose first citizen is President Madam Prativa Singh Patel, the country whose speaker of the elected member’s house is also a woman, Madam Meera Kumari, even the chair person, who is the main head of the United Progressive Alliance, Mrs. Soniya Gandhi, is also a woman. The more important is that they are heading the country at a same time.
