It’s a strange time to be a woman and in India. On the one hand it feels like we’ve come such a long way and that we’re poised for a time when equality is not such a distant myth after all… women are making such an imprint in so many spheres both nationally as well as globally. But on the other hand, it really feels like a large part of our existence is still rooted in the dark ages. Horrific occurrences like the one just past pound our sensibilities and dull the patina of our secure steps into a shining future.
I truly feel like I deserve to be treated with equality and respect, as I am sure you do as well. It’s time to quell the thoughts born of archaic mindsets, to sensitize the minds of people across the country and inculcate, at the very least, a sense of human empathy in their hearts and minds. Before some men can be persuaded to not objectify women as sexual targets and possessions, they have to be made to unlearn some very deep-rooted conditioning to avoid this Pavlovian response occurring repeatedly.
I encourage women of all ages to step up to this challenge, because it eventually means change for the better, for us all. As women we are the energy core of many groups… be it our families, our friends or our colleagues. We are each capable of evoking great change in thought and attitude, which in turn translates into long term behaviour change.
I wish you success in everything you attempt this year.
Very warmly, Ishita
