IMPORTANCE OF RESPECTING AND PROTECTING OUR WOMEN

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IMPORTANCE OF RESPECTING AND PROTECTING OUR WOMEN - Radhakrishnan

`Chanakya' Pillai

 

Bhishma, the warrior hero of Mahabharata, had once advised Yudhishtira: " A

society that does not respect women will perish. " It was this lack of respect

towards the fairer sex that caused the two great wars in our Hindu epics the

18-day battle in Mahabharata itself after Draupati was humiliated in front of

all men and, in Ramayana, the war in Lanka when Sita was kidnapped and taken

there by Ravana.

 

Even Chanakya refers to the priority women should enjoy in any emergency:

 

" From a dangerous situation he should move away with effort, after removing the

women-flock " (7.5.46).

 

In other words, even when one has to run away from a disaster or a dangerous

situation – he should do so only after rescuing women. You may ask: Where is the

need for such lessons when there's so much gender equality?

 

Well, ask your own female friends and relatives whether they think equality has

come in totally, or harassment towards them has ended completely.

 

Base your own decision on their answer. And if you believe a change in mindsets

is a must, read on to see how we can respect and protect women in our daily

lives:

 

1) IN OUR WORK PLACES

 

Today, the number of working women has increased in all areas. Be it in the

field of business, education or civil services.

 

All of us have to interact with women. Remember that men and women think

differently. It's a basic psychological difference.

 

When men and women work on a common project together, they bring in different

perspectives. Now if you are the boss, see to it that there is a gender mix in

every project. If you are just an employee, inculcate not only a respect towards

women but also a receptiveness to their point of views.

 

2) AT OUR HOMES

 

While a house is incomplete without a lady, the women in our family also have

talents that need to be given wings.

 

Identify it and give freedom to explore whether it's our daughter, wife, sister

or mother.

 

3) AS A NATION

 

Even though women have proved themselves in every field, we still have a long

way to go. Just look at the amount female infanticides still taking place, a low

girl literacy, prevailing practice of dowry, etc.

 

No social work can be complete till women are empowered. We refer to our country

as " Mother India " , but hardly allow her to have any daughters.

 

Swami Vivekananda had rightly said:

 

" Educate the girl child and the nation will awaken. "