At a time when young India celebrate Valentine’s Day and
Friendship Day more than Republic and Independence Day, greatly influenced by
the Western culture a question comes to my mind. Will they celebrate
International Women’s Day with the same enthusiasm?
A country which needs no inspiration from the West to give
their due respect to the Women; India has always bowed down in front of Goddess
Durga, Laxmi, Saraswati and Kali. But somewhere done the line, although we have
continued to pray the deity but so have we started to show disrespect for
all women in our lives. From female foeticide to dowry to domestic violence to
rape, you will find all kinds of crime happening in the society around you.
Still how many times have you raised your voice against these crimes? Eve
teasing is considered part and parcel of being a women in India. If you are a women
and complain about eve teasing, I won’t be surprised if you are questioned
about what you were wearing and various such derogatory questions.
The country needs a radical change today. A change in thinking.
A change from where a man is allowed to disrespect women. A change from where a
man takes the women in his life for granted. A change in the thinking that it’s
a women’s duty to do all household chores even if she might be professionally
successful. The change needs to come in our homes first and then only it will
reflect in the society and then the country. Till that time we will be in the
shackles, living in fear of being molested in the workplace or the road or the
pub. Till that day celebrating one day as Women’s day is of no use.
