The union of woman and man—two complementary forces—lies at the very origin of creation itself. In the early history of ancient India, the Austric and Dravidian societies reveal strong matriarchal influences; the woman stood at the center of both family and community life.
During the later Vedic period, agriculture and cattle-rearing emerged as the principal means of livelihood. Women played a significant role in the beginnings of these activities, and therefore, their dignity and importance within the household were immense.
Yet, as time flowed onward, social equality gradually began to erode. Ownership of property slowly became concentrated in the hands of men. Along with this shift emerged the institution of slavery, and the lines of inequality within society grew deeper and more rigid. Male authority over women became firmly established, and women began to lose the honour and respect they once possessed. Thus began a clear and long-lasting transformation in the social status of women—one that would profoundly shape the structure of society in the centuries that followed.
Considering that women have walked beside men in equal measure since the dawn of creation, the phrase “women’s freedom” itself appears strangely paradoxical. We do not hear of a separate term called “men’s freedom.” Does this suggest that women have no part in creation and social formation, or do we consciously overlook their contributions?
It is precisely this question that compels us to reflect: why did the demand for freedom become so one-sided?
“A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture, and transform.”Nations across the world celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8. It is a day of hope and reflection, a celebration of gender parity in all aspects of society – and a time to express gratitude for women’s resilience, forbearance, inner strength, and courage. It promotes active choice to “challenge stereotypes, broaden perceptions, fight bias, improve situations, and celebrate women’s achievements.”
If we look back at the pre-literary history, i.e., in the days before the advent of the plough, farming involved planting, tilling, and harvesting all crops by hand, and women were likely to perform many of these duties. Moreover, aside from hunting large mammals, women painted cave walls and practiced warfare during prehistoric times.
In Neolithic times, women were able to weave and create clothing for their own people. As a result, women’s social status achieved its pinnacle in the highly developed Neolithic culture; her job was to manage and reproduce life, so enlarging and enhancing the family. Moreover, Neolithic agrarian women farmed the land, cultivated crops, and milled grains into flour. History shows that for thousands of years, the arduous manual labour of women was a crucial driving force behind early agrarian economies.
Moreover, the political savvy, bravery, and sacrifice of multitudes of women in our country have been adequately documented throughout the history of the independence movement. They have played a crucial role in making India independent. Several women continued to support the cause throughout the 20th century through social activism, political leadership, and military leadership.
The explanation above suggests that task distribution should be based on aptitude rather than gender because this strategy appears to produce better results than was previously believed. In this context, I aspire to praise Rabindranath Tagore, the greatest philosopher, “ …women are not only the deities of the household fire, but the flame of the soul itself.”
The reality of Women’s Day celebrations today—when, where, and why—lies in the past. But now it is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day serves as a reminder to speed up gender parity. Worldwide, there is a lot of activity as people gather to honour women’s accomplishments or march for gender equality.
It is a day when women are recognized for their accomplishments regardless of national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic, or political boundaries.
The growing international women’s movement, which has been reinforced by four United Nations women’s conferences on a global scale, has helped make the commemoration a rallying point to build support for women’s rights and participation in the political and economic arenas.
On International Women’s Day, we pause to consider the achievements of women, to demand change, and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women, who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.
In my compilation, I intend to cite the renowned leader Swami Vivekananda. “The best thermometer for the progress of a nation is its treatment of its women”. Despite the world’s extraordinary advancements, gender equality has not yet been realised in any nation. Although living in a patriarchal culture, a handful of men have never lacked respect for women. Thus, the commemoration of Women’s Day applies to them. Women’s Day is not just for one day; it is always and everywhere.
(The article is opined on the author’s studies and personal experience and not in any way connected to any organisation or any political party.)
