“Yatra Naaryastu pujyante Ramante tatra Devata”-
(Where women are respected there dwells God)
Manu Smriti
Women’s day is observed throughout the world on March
8th. The world acknowledges the pivotal role played
by women in every aspect of life and celebrates their
accomplishments in many fields hitherto dominated by
men. Until recently, woman was confined to her home,
executing her domestic tasks- cooking, cleaning, washing,
looking after the family etc and the literacy rate of women
was abysmally low. But now, she has broken the shackles
and proved her mettle in science, engineering, politics,
army, airforce, films, arts, sports, medicine, research and
what not. From conquering the summit of the tallest
mountains to delving into the mysteries of the deepest
oceans, she has displayed her prowess in every imaginable
field. The achievements of women establish beyond doubt
that the hand which adeptly kindles the kitchen stove or
scrubs the clothes clean is equally proficient at steering
aircrafts, using the microscope or successfully running
countries as heads of state. Asima Chatterjee as the first
woman Doctorate holder in science, Indira Gandhi as the
Prime Minister, M S Subbalakshmi and Lata Mangeshkar in
music, Indra Nooyi as the CEO of Pepsico, Saina Nehwal and
Koneru Humpy in sports, Arundhati Roy and Kiran Desai
in literature- are just a few among the numerous women
who have instilled pride in Indians with their excellence in
their respective fields.
Despite the fact that women constitute half of the population
in India, their pathetic condition in many regions, especially
rural areas, demands attention and remedial action. Every
woman should be imparted basic education along with
her male counterpart. Priority should be reserved for
ensuring health of women, prevention of female foeticide,
protection of women from harassment, and enabling
equal opportunities for women without discrimination.
Empowerment of the women and assuring gender equality
should be a prime focus for the Government.
In ISRO also, thousands of ladies are employed : juggling
and balancing their various responsibilities as a space
scientist, daughter, wife, mother, sister and friend. On this
occasion, Voyage salutes every woman in this world- the
efficient manager and the most reliable pillar of support
and strength for her family, and the epitome of love and
care.
