Celebrating the Hood

The word “Women” is always fascinating. She has in her the great abilities viz., to give, share, bear, nurture, work, adjust and qualities of head and heart. She has made the society proud by preserving age old traditions, moral fervor and great service to religion. She is the spiritual vein for us. Without her, our life would be great standstill. She is always portrayed as power and as the essence of reality. She is celebrated and preached in various forms of Devi, the Goddess and the embodiment of supreme eternal knowledge which becomes the cause of the release from bondage. Since eternity, she has played a role more important than men. 

A society cannot develop without the development of its womenfolk. Educate a woman and you educate the whole family. India has the largest population of non-school-going working girls. Though rural women have less opportunities and advantages than urban women, they have made rapid improvements despite lacking in basic facilities. The efforts of government, social welfare organizations and NGOs should be thanked for such drastic improvement. India's constitution guarantees free primary school education for both boys and girls up to age 14. Overall, the literacy rate for women is 39 percent versus 64 percent for men.

Jawaharlal Nehru said "You can tell the condition of a nation by looking at the status of its women"

As women receive greater education and training, they will earn more money. As she earns more money, she spends it in the further education and health of her children. As she rises in economic status, she gains greater social standing. The list of problems and issues she face are endless. Considering the innumerable forms of violence women in India are entitled to, we (men) should salute her determination and strength by which she survive, grow and achieve so much. We should renounce any practice derogatory of the dignity of women. She should be well-respected, her needs and aspirations is essential/required, because only then she can give her best to the society. The happier a woman; the healthier her outlook and lovelier her home. Just look at her itinerary for a day; she sleeps for a few hours, cooks food, cleans the house, wash clothes, gets her children ready for school and themselves ready for job. A major burden of running the family is always on the shoulders of women. 

She is more confident and one can find her in every possible sphere of human’s life. She now participates in all activities such as education, sports, politics, media, art and culture, service sectors, science and technology, etc. Her selflessness should be respected. She has always been there for us every now and then in the guise of a mother, wife, sister, daughter and a good friend to turn to, when we (men) need support. The world would not have been the same a lovely place to live, without your immense contribution.

Let us resolve to allow her to blossom and flower. Let us pray for her wellness, dedicate our victory and pay tribute by respecting her evens & odds. Let us celebrate her hood, the womanhood.

This essay is a tribute to Indian women; and to the women who have been and will be a part of my life. This essay is based on inputs from several articles and forums about position of women in Indian society.

Happy Womens Day.

Prabhath Avadhanula wrote:

"I wander on these crowded roads
Wander through these streets
Lie in fields of lonely rows
Sown in empty seed.
And what I need
Is the power of a woman
The healing of her touch
Those eyes that bring redemption
To every one of us.
And all I need
Is the summer of her solace
The fall of her gaze
The winter snows of her concerns
That blossoms spring to change.
I need her hand to guide me
To a higher star
And hold me back again
When I have strayed too far.
And when that commotion hurries
This world to disarray
Give me the power of a woman
And I will be okay"

(The Power of Woman)