And here’s wishing you all a Happy Women’s day!

And here’s wishing you all a Happy Women’s day!

History of International Women's day

International Women's day was born at a time of great social turbulence and crisis. . In the years before 1910, from the turn of the 20th century, women in industrially developing countries were entering paid work in some numbers. Their jobs were sex segregated, mainly in textiles, manufacturing and domestic services where conditions were wretched and wages were low.. Trade unions were developing and industrial disputes broke out, including among sections of non-unionised women workers. In Europe, the flames of revolution were being kindled.

Major demands of early Women's movement were increase in wages,better working conditions and the right to vote in National and provincial elections.

Since its Women’s day, and the cell phone has been flooding with messages from people wishing their love one, I thought I’ll take a moment and think about this day and if it means anything to me.

My passion for womens’ issues is no secret, and being influenced by a lot of personal stories of men and women around me right now, this is what I have to say today.

DON’T. Apologize for who you are, who you want to be, what you want. Its your right. It is your life. Claim it.

DON’T. Let marriage be the high point in your life. There’s more to life than that one event. Really.

DON’T. Think of the uterus or what it can /cannot do as a measure of your success/failure as a person. It is an important part of life yes, but so is everything else. Please don’t let motherhood or the lack of it define your worth as a person or a woman.

DON”T. Compromise on your values and principles in the face of adversity. Values are worth having only if have the strength to stand up for them! You are not worth the values otherwise!

DON’T. Work professionally half-heartedly. Being a woman is no excuse for bad performance and if you take it up, you better do it well!

DON’T. Ever tolerate a bad relationship. Even if its marriage, its not worth it. Do yourself ( and your children, if applicable, a favour) and get out. NOW. There is no excuse to stay in a bad relationship, EVER.

DON’T. Put yourself last. Take care of yourself, physically and emotionally. Eat well. Live well.

Too many women I know, do everything that they need to,to meet today’s demands, juggling careers and homes, money and motherhood. And yet, when it comes to parameters for judging their own success, they sell themselves short. So many women are still spending far too much time, trying to mould themselves according to others’ expectations and being unhappy in the bargain.

And what about one’s expectations from oneself? Why still the unending need to seek approval outside? Why be so harsh on yourself? Why try so hard if its breaking you? What for??

The only one who has a right to judge you, has to be you. Should be you! Think. Think beyond the usual. Think about what you really want, what makes you happy. And go ahead and get it.

We have all spent far too much of our life being the people we are told we should be, doing things like it were a universal rule. To study, and there again, choosing to study something over the other, getting a job, getting married, having babies. If you want it all, great. But even if you don’t, its equally great.

Celebrate the person you are, fall in love with yourself. Make your own path, choose your own way.

And most of all, hope you find peace. Hope you stay happy. Always.

It is time for the sons and daughter especially the daughters to get up and put their foot down. They should be the one to stop their parents to pander to the egos of the inlaws by giving them lavish gifts on various occasions. The young generation should come forward and vehemently oppose the practice of such rituals.

The women have come a long way from being the dormant door mats. We have our own identity. Then why not do something to do away with such rituals and save our parents from lifelong tensions of meeting the demands in the name of customs and rituals.
Wake up girls; don’t let the parents feel that the birth of a girl is a lifelong burden on them.

“Chup hain to yeh na samjho hum sada ko haare hain ! Raakh ke neeche jal rahe abhi bhi angaarey hain!”