Every day is Women’s Day

8 March is celebrated as International Women’s Day. Today all are wishing Happy Women’s Day. A friend of mine texted, “At least today everybody is praising our existence.” Another male friend commented, “Wishing once a year! How does it matter?” She replied, “On occasion as such, you men show us some respect.” This led me to think about how thought-provoking statements both have made. Why do we celebrate women’s existence once in a year? Is this the day when all women or a section of women felt empowered?

Women’s Day is not about empowering them only. It is to celebrate their sacrifice, power, affection, ambition, equality, etc. to make them feel special. A woman when born is a daughter, grows up to be a good sister, can become a trustworthy friend, understanding companion, a loving wife, a dutiful daughter-in-law, an understanding sister-in-law, an affectionate mother, an exemplary mother-in-law, etc. to name a few roles. She can be an ambitious woman, a helping colleague, fiery to those who wronged her, wonderous to those who stood by her. Just think how much sacrifice, adjustment, pain, and compromise she endures. She is an epitome of multitasking.

While creating humans, Nature knew the importance of women. A woman can stand up and handle any ordeal she faces. She is the one who brings a new life into this world. Giving birth is equivalent to breaking twenty-one bones of one’s body, which only a woman goes through. Even Nature is by gender female. We address her as Mother Nature. We address our motherland as Mother India. Our world is revered as Mother Earth. She is an effigy of sacrifice and pain. But, love, power, and fiery spirit are more synonymous with women. She gives rise to a new life- she is a creator. She can single-handedly nurture and care for children and needful people- she is a nurturer. She binds the family and relations. Wrong her and she will uproot you- she can become a destroyer.

A woman is very powerful. She is a kid’s first teacher. She shapes children’s values and ethics. The rein is in her hands. There ain’t a single field where women haven’t established and proved their caliber and authority. Best examples of women’s excellence in various fields are Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher, Marie Curie, Kalpana Chawla, Malala Yusufzai, Kiran Bedi, Kiran Desai, Mother Teresa, Queen Victoria, Razia Sultana to name a few.

A woman’s contribution is not limited to a day. She is limitless. So, every day is Women’s Day. She need not ask for respect. She earns it every day with her actions. She is respectful and beautiful in her own way. There is a mantra in Hinduism which describes various aspects of the goddess Durga. In each woman resides Maa Durga. She is Parvati, Sita, Radha, Meera, Yashoda, Kunti, Savitri, Anusuya, Menaka, Draupadi, Kaikeyi, Manthara, Razia Sultan, Rani Laxmi Bai.

A woman today needs to realize her importance. She should understand herself, believe in herself and cherish herself first. She should know to take the reins of her life in her hands. Never forget that she is the one in control. When a woman respects herself first, everybody learns to respect her. Women are awesome. Women are not needed to be celebrated. They should celebrate themselves. When women will live their life as a celebration of their womanhood and glory, then each day will be Women’s Day.