National Women Day of India
India Celebrates National Women Day on 13th February which is the birthday of Sarojini Naidu the first women governor of India, who fought for women’s rights in colonial rule. She was fondly known as ‘Bharat Kokila‘ for her poems and nicked named ‘Nightingale of India‘. Sarojini Naidu became the first Indian woman and second woman overall to preside over the Congress after Annie Besant in its 1925 Kanpur session.
Her birthday has been selected to be observed as National Woman Day in recognition of the works done by her for the upliftment and development of women in India. Her name and birth date were proposed to celebrate National Women’s Day in India by members of Bhartiya Mahila Sangh and Akhil Bhartiya Mahila Sammelan. The practice first began from the year 2014, on the 13th of February, which happened to be the 135th birth anniversary of Late Sarojini Naidu.
Suggested Read: International Women Day
Throughout her life, her works and contributions towards uplifting, empowering, and striving for the welfare of women have made a significant mark in society. Hence, her date of birth was chosen to be celebrated as India’s national women’s day. The day emphasizes the contribution of women in society and advocates women’s rights in the process of women’s empowerment. National Women’s Day of India aims to celebrate women’s achievements in India and to work for their development.
Status of Women in India
The status of women in India has been a matter of concern for a long, and there was a decline in their status from ancient to medieval times. In modern India, a lot has been changed women are holding high offices including that of the President, Prime Minister, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Leader of the Opposition, Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, and Governors. But still, a lot of challenges are to be met, and discrimination and violence keep on continuing, that is the price of being a woman in India.
Suggested Read: The Changing Status Of Indian Women
Our constitution has secured many rights for women, but still women in India continue to face numerous problems. Women are victimized through rape, acid throwing, dowry killings, marital rape, and the forced prostitution of young girls.
Preference for sons and fear of raising girls has resulted in girls’ abortion a trend in India. Girls are considered as a financial liability. Female fetuses are aborted, baby girls are killed after birth, many of those who survive face discrimination, prejudice, violence, and neglect all their lives, as single or married women.
Domestic violence is also a common problem among Indian women as society makes it justifiable to beat a wife under certain circumstances. In remote villages, life for women is callous, and women’s empowerment is nonexistent.
Women in India are suffering from malnutrition, neglected health ailments, domestic and sexual violence so celebrating Women’s day is only for female bureaucrats, journalists, or business tycoons.
India celebrates its own Women’s day as Sarojini Naidu’s Birthday to empower and support women. When women in the nation are striving hard for equality and goals, a day to celebrate their success and make people aware of it brings a kind of encouragement among people.
Happy National Women Day!
Suggested Read: Women Equality Day, National Women’s Health & Fitness Day
