International Women’s Day

Sometimes I wander over to Times Of India website to check their coverage on some important events. Not surprisingly, on IWD they were conducting this poll to choose the “Absolute Woman”. Here are the shorlisted candidate:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshowpics/4239388.cms

The nominees for the Absolute Woman are... Katrina Kaif, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Chanda Kochar, Preity Zinta, Priyanka Gandhi, Farah Khan, Ritu Beri, Sania Mirza, Kiran Majumdar-Shaw, Saina Nehwal

I wondered why Times Of India did not mention some names that I would expect to be on that list. Perhaps TOI could not fit these other ladies in their print. Perhaps its because these women are not just two dimensional, rather they possess certain depth of character. Perhaps because these other ladies think that true women liberation lies beyond the freedom of wearing skimpy clothes, freedom to hop bars or to hold/kiss their valentines. Not that there is anything wrong with that!(Sorry Seinfeld).

Disheartened, I have only one option left. To release my addition to this list on this 100 hits a month webpage. But before we do that it might be a good idea to understand the concept of IWD.

History of IWD:

According to the UN website : http://www.un.org/events/women/iwd/2008/history.shtml

1909: The first National Woman's Day was observed in the United States on 28 February. The Socialist Party of America(Yes, America) designated this day in honour of the 1908 garment workers' strike in New York, where women protested against working conditions.

Following years saw some anti war protests by women and further protest for better working conditions and right to vote(!) on March 8th.

1975 was International Women’s Year and since then UN has celebrated March 8th as the IWD.

Here is the UN General Assembly’s observance on the need for IWD:

Two reasons:

human rights and fundamental freedoms require the active participation, equality and development of women; and to acknowledge the contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security. For the women of the world, the Day's symbolism has a wider meaning: It is an occasion to review how far they have come in their struggle for equality, peace and development. It is also an opportunity to unite, network and mobilize for meaningful change.

So without further ado, I present my nomination list. Since these exceptional ladies or their work rarely make it to print/screen it might be a good idea to put in a few good words for them.

The Nominations Are:

1) Irom Sharmila Chanu: This brave woman continues her 9 year fast to persuade the Indian govt and people to dispel the repressive and dread law called AFSPA act. Here is the latest news on her.

Sharmila Released, Resumes Stir

2) Krishnammal Jagannathan: The winner of year 2008 Right Livelihood Award and the founder of LAFTI (Land for Tiller Freedom). I met this incredible woman during her Seattle visit and in her singing tone she narrated her story to us. Curious I read her biography called “Color Of Freedom” and discovered how this tireless woman has been constantly fighting for “equality, peace and development”. Here is a short video from democracy now(please follow to part II)

3) Dayamani Barla:

Tribal activist and journalist from Jharkhand, Dayamani Barla has won several prestigious awards for her coverage on displacement of tribals due to Arcelor Mittal’s steel plant. Born to parents who were cheated out of their land she paid her way to University by working as maid and sleeping at Railway stations to save money. Here is BBC coverage on her: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7610127.stm Here is another interesting article on her work. http://www.indiatogether.org/2008/dec/ksh-steel.htm

4) Women of Khabar Lahariya:

Khabar Lahariya - Bundeli for ‘News Waves’ - is a fortnightly rural newspaper written, edited, illustrated, produced and marketed by a group of women - most of them from marginalised Dalit, Kol and Muslim communities - in Chitrakoot and Banda districts of Uttar Pradesh in north India.

Checkout these clips on the newspaper: http://www.nirantar.net/khabar_taaza.htm

5) Arundhati Roy: Thanks to her best selling novel and activism she does not need an introduction here. I nominate her for her continued activism and her articles like "9 is not 11" and "Listening to the Grasshoppers". Some good writing from her is on http://www.zcommunications.org/zspace/arundhatiroy

There are many more like Vandana Shiva, Medha Patkar and those others who are never talked about in the mainstream media. Forget about getting an hour’s worth of coverage like Amrita Arora got on her wedding on Star Plus. This list, therefore, will remain incomplete.

PS: Here is TOI's last year IWD winner: http://onethoughtcriminal.blogspot.com/2008/12/meanwhile-in-wonderland.html