A lot of my lady/girl/friends believe if there is no Men’s Day why should there be a Women’s Day.

Some believe in being ‘sexless’ (read they do not believe in preferences to any one sex).

Some others say that why only on one particular day women are thought about and why not all the 365 days of the year.

Some even find it derogatory!

I agree to them.

Yet to be frank it feels good when you get up early in the morning and get wished for being the super-women who takes on innumerable responsibilities with a smile on face day-in and day-out.

It feels good when you come to office and receive flowers and gifts for being what you are.

Who does not like to be acknowledged? Not that I am dependent on somebody’s approval or appreciation for what I am. But tell me who does not like adulation once in a while?

Today urban-women like me don’t attach much significance to this day. But I feel it’s more to do with the fact that we have been able to shape our lives on our own.

Things have not come on a platter for us and we have worked hard to achieve our goals.

But guess the open outlook of urban India helped us. Education with economic independence has given us ability to take our own decisions.

But this is just one side of the story; the other is certainly not so bright.

The facts reflect the status of women in India:

~ Female Foeticide and Infanticide is on rise in India and according to UNPF the female infant mortality figures in India are 40% higher than male.

~Female Literacy in India is at 54%, which means almost half the females in the country are still illiterate!

~Violence against women is still rampant in form of Dowry, sexual harassment, rape, especially in rural India.

And maybe that’s the reason that days like International Women’s day still have some significance.
At least in our country it makes the rest of society realize that the plight of women still needs attention.
Women’s quotas and reservations in various areas might not be the solution but it is  more to do with bringing-in change in the outlook towards women.
 

Lets be not just look at the progressive and independent urban women and form our opinions. A large part of non-urban Indian women is still at the mercy of others.

Lets not forget that the least she deserves is a life and not get killed even before she opens her eyes to this beautiful world!