Inspirational Celebration of International Women's Day

When women, in substantial numbers across our country, come to the realisation that the cause of their subjugation in the family and in society is the capitalist system, and therefore the only way to end their oppression is to bring this system to its end, then they will become such a powerful force for change that it will be difficult to calm that storm. We have seen the determined force of women in struggles across the country today — in Manipur, in Kashmir, in Singur, in Kashipur, in the Narmada Valley, in Delhi, Mumbai and in countless more villages and towns. These various movements will one day grow into one mighty wave to challenge this system.

The spirit and voice of such a challenge found expression in the programme to celebrate International Women's Day, organised on March 11 in Sanjay Colony in South Delhi. The militant speeches, the skits and songs, all expressed the resolve of the advanced guard of fighting women from among the residents of this JJ colony. The programme was organised by Purogami Mahila Sangathan, Lok Raj Sangathan, Hind Naujavan Ekta Sabha, and the Sanjay Colony Nivasi Sangharsh Samiti. The Rang Bhoomi Natya Manch contributed with a skit. The whole stretch of the road in front of the stage and the two sides bordering the road were filled with women, men and youth who had come to participate in the celebration.

Forced to live in the most abject poverty, squalor and without any basic water and sanitation facilities, the women of this J.J. Colony have joined the Nivasi Sangharsh Samiti in large numbers; this has been the outcome of their own experience which has brought them up against the entrenched vested interests at every turn. Whether it is for water, or for toilets, or the defence of their homes and livelihood, they have been either ignored or pushed aside with arrogance by these interests, who are entrenched in this system and want to preserve it so as to ensure their own profits from the system.

The activists of Purogami Mahila Sangathan demonstrated their recent experience with their MLA when he blatantly refused to take responsibility for the lack of a public toilet in their area, and worse still, tore up their petition and sent them away most arrogantly. How much longer should we put up with being oppressed, with being violated, with being treated as less than human beings, with being ignored by those who are "elected" to serve us — this was the question that came up with each incident of violation of the rights of women across the country that was enacted. The conclusion was clearly expressed that the answer lies in taking the power to make decisions in our own hands.

This demand of women for empowerment is growing louder and stronger as women become more conscious, through their experience, of the bias of the system in favour of the rich. How to effect a meaningful change in the system has become an important question that faces the women. In various programmes held across the city to celebrate March 8, several issues of concern to women have been raised - of the safety of and security for women as they go out to study or earn their livelihood, the threat to their homes and dwellings, domestic violence, etc. These are all grave issues but they cannot be solved without addressing the basic issue of the power to make decisions. This decision making power lies only with a very few who are wielding their power in favour of one small section of the population.

The skit by the Rang Bhoomi Natya Manch dramatised skillfully that the role of people, men and women, is limited to casting a vote in the elections for one or another criminal of the established political parties. The skit highlighted the criminality of the electoral process and came to the conclusion that what the people of Delhi, who are aspiring for security of life and livelihood, quality basic services, and opportunities for all to raise their conditions of living, must do is to speak with one voice against these political parties and start the process of selecting and electing a representative from amongst them who will be accountable to the people.

The real content and logic of the existing system of democracy and its political process must be addressed by all those who are genuinely fighting for the empowerment of women. The entire machinery of the Indian state — the executive, the parliament, the police and army — has been an instrument of suppression of women. What is the change that is necessary and how it is to be brought out are grave concerns for all those in the struggle for emancipation of human beings. Women have a stake in the new that will be created and hence must actively participate in the innovation, in the attempts to create this new process of decision-making. And that was the call of the International Women's Day celebration in Sanjay Colony.

Speakers from Purogami Mahila Sangathan, the Sanjay Colony Niwasi Sangarsh Samiti, the Lok Raj Sangathan, Ankur and the Jan Pratinidhi Manch elaborated on the necessity to wrest the decision-making power from the established political parties that represent the rich to bring it into the hands of the people through the election of Jan Pratinidhis. With the nomination of the candidates. for MCD elections on the cards, the women in the Niwasi Sangharsh Samiti are poised to use the opportunity to pose a challenge to the vested political interests.

Long live International Women's Day!