Fighting against all odds and with audacity of hope women is changing the world. The views regarding the women thoughts are gradually changing. They are emerging as the powerful inception to all issues relating to change and renunciation.
Indians have always bowed down before women power. The Goddesses Durga, Kali, Saraswati personifies strength and determination and devotion. They are worshipped and believed to conquer the evil forces, so the growth of women power can be felt in this modern day as well.
Centuries have passed by since then. And as the time moved on the participation by the womenfolk also came into the scene emerging from the age old tradition. The tradition that was prevalent of keeping them aside and binding them with only household chores. Sixty years after Independence women now are economically independent, their thoughts have been transformed, they are now more educated and have come forward accepting challenging careers.
Compared to their male counterpart they can be even tougher and effective decision makers. We had great women leaders like Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher, Srimavo Bandernaike, Benazir Bhutto. Each of them has left her mark of authority in all her dealings. At present as well we have a large group of women leaders like Pratibha Patel, Sonia Gandhi, Sheikh Hasina Wazed, Mehbooba Mufti Sayeed, Jayalalithaa Jayaram, Mayawati who are the strong pillars in the matters of exerting the democratic power.
Women are the icons of power and change. In the field of art and culture as well women have an extraordinary input. Lata Mangeshkar is lovingly called on as the nightingale of India for her contribution to Indian vocal. Astronauts Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams. Meera Nair, Aparna Sen, Shabana Azmi, Aishwairya Rai, Sushmita Sen and so many of them who succesfully have acclaimed international recognition in the field of cinema. Jhumpa Lahiri, Arundhati Roy grabbed awards for their excellency in English literature. Medha Patkar and Mahashweta Devi fought against BJP in Gujarat, against CPM in Nandigram issue. Women from the times immemorial have greatly devoted themselves to claim a niche for themselves.
Both men and women are equal citizens in the eyes of the law. But this is far from the reality. India ranks 115th of 162 countries in terms of gender development. There exists discrimination in the parliamentary positions where only 45 members of the Lok Sabha’s 542 seats are women and in the Rajya Sabha only 28 of 242 seats are held by women. Parliament has repeatedly witnessed ugly political exchanges and male power battles over the Women’s Reservation Bill, proposing 33.3% reservation for women. If the bill is enacted the existing 545 seats in the Lok Sabha will increase to 900. Planning has been repeatedly done but never has the solution actually being put forth and has never arrived at a consensus. There are certain such major issues like inequality in wage structure in work places where gender injustice can be seen. Problems are many and have to be sorted out with determined motive of attaining equal justice about the concerned areas.
As per human development indices countries like Sweden Norway Finland and Denmark have the highest representation of women in Parliament with 45%, 38%, 37%, 36% respectively. Whereas India is still reluctant to accept the fact that women when in power can be of great help. In the Parliamentary dealings it’s a new start like including the women candidates. Brinda Karat, became the first woman member of the CPI(M) Politburo. New faces like Priya Dutt, Supriya Sule, Priyanka Gandhi have emerged in new form of strength.
This active participation and performance shows that woman have come out successfully conquering up the odds and presenting herself unto a new dawn. Women politicos are heading the states and raising issues in the opposition. They successfully have changed public agendas, reduced corruption and improved the governance turning it to an egalitarian state of ruling. The greater representation of women in Parliament could certainly make a world of difference.
When women can head banks and corporations, why not let them give rights to run important ministries such as Defence, Home, Finance, and Commerce. Today the country needs a change. It needs a strong and faithful leader to emerge from the gloomy tactics of Indian politics, trample all those evil and tricky forces, and take the country to a path of glory… An approach where first priority lies on the policy of redefining the public requisites. And not the one who forgets his rights once the ballot has been cast…!!
