Women’s day is a chance to replenish, to re-affirm commitments

[dropcap]I[/dropcap] think, as I prepare my notes to mark International Women's Day—why do we need to celebrate this day? Aren't we in a post-feminism age? Then my attention turns to a rather revealing exchange between the Attorney General and Senior Advocate, Ms. Jaising. Long story short, after over five decades of being 'a very good lawyer', Ms. Jaising was compelled to point out that she is an individual in her own right and will not be defined by her marital status.

As lawyers say res ipsa loquitar – the facts speak for themselves. It may be (more) invisible and manifestly different, but the truth is that patriarchy is alive and kicking. There have been significant wins, forged on battles fought by women who resisted. However, the battle ahead remains long and hard. One can't ignore that patriarchy was built tenaciously over centuries. Dismantling this system is a gargantuan task.

That someone of Ms. Jaising's stature needed to affirm her position, then how much more difficult must making a demand for equality be for those far less privileged. What gives me incredible hope is that despite considerable odds, women have not given up, whether it is Indira Jaising in the Supreme Court, Sudha Bharadwaj, Soni Sori and Pavitri Manjhi in Chhatisgarh, Salima Memcha in Manipur, women are not bowing out.

Goals and strategies

This is the reason why we celebrate women's day — to acknowledge the bravery of these heroes and many others whose fight laid the foundation for equality for all. It is a reprieve, a chance to replenish, to re-affirm commitments, to count gains made and look squarely at challenges that lie ahead. It is a day to come together to introspect and to strategise. What does it mean to be a woman in today's age? Are the goals of the women's movement still relevant? How does the movement strategise to meet challenges in a technologically driven world? Have solidarities been effectively built with other movements? How diverse is the movement?