Indian women Archives - Lokmarg

Badminton Asia C’ships: Indian Women’s Team Edge Out Japan To Seal Final Berth

By LokMarg 17th February 2024

The Indian women’s badminton team on Saturday reached the final of the Badminton Asia Championships for the first time in the history of the competition, defeating Japan 3-2 in a thrilling semifinal.

With this victory, India also secured themselves a medal finish in the event. They’ll face Thailand in the final.

The star shuttler PV Sindhu seized the lead, facing off against Japan’s Aya Ohori. The Indian ace fought valiantly but finally lost against Ohori, who defeated Sindhu in two straight sets of 21-17, 22-20 to earn Japan’s first point.

With India behind 0-1, the onus was on Treesa-Gayathri to assist them claw their way back into the tie. Battling against the Japanese pair of Matsuyama-Shida, the Indians went all the way, bringing the game to three gruelling sets before grabbing the win in a nail-biter that finished 21-17, 16-21, 22-20 to bring India back level at 1-1.

India was on course to maintain its momentum, when Ashmita Chaliha delivered a stunning shock of former world champion Nozomi Okuhara, clinching the game 21-17, 21-14 and giving India a 2-1 lead.

Japan, on the other hand, was not about to go softly into the night without a struggle. Miyaura-Sakuramoto came out guns blazing against India’s Sindhu-Ponappa team, defeating the Indians in two sets of 21-14, 21-11 to square the game at 2-2 and force a final game.

It was all or nothing for Anmol Kharb, who was once again charged with assisting India in securing the victory that would advance them to the finals this time. And she delivered, defeating Japan’s Nidaira Natsuki in two straight games of 21-14, 21-18 to win the last game and bring India to the final. (ANI)

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Science Should Be Empowered With Women’s Participation: Modi

By LokMarg 3rd January 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday underlined the importance of women’s involvement in scientific research and that the increasing participation of women is a reflection of the progress of society and science.

“Today, the country’s thinking is not only that women should be empowered through science, but science should also be empowered with the participation of women,” the Prime Minister said in his virtual address to the 108th Indian Science Congress (ISC).
PM Modi said that the aim is to give new impetus to science and research. He pointed out that the efforts of science can bear fruit only when they are taken from labs to the land.

Underlining India’s positional growth in Global Innovation Index the Prime Minister said, “Today India is among the top 3 nations in startups. Till 2015 we were at 81st place in the Global Innovation Index of 130 countries, but in 2022 we have reached 40th place.”

Asserting the importance of science in making India Atmanirbhar PM Modi said that the efforts of Science can bear fruit only when they go from labs to land.

“Science should make India Atmanirbhar. The efforts of Science can bear fruit only when they go from labs to land. With 2023 being declared as the International Year of Millets, India’s millets and their use should be further improved with the use of science,” said PM Modi.

The Prime Minister said that India is fast becoming one of the top countries in the world in the field of science.

“We are also seeing the results of the scientific approach with which today’s India is moving forward. India is fast becoming one of the top countries in the world in the field of science. The role of India’s scientific power will be very important in the height at which India will be in the next 25 years. When the determination to serve the country is combined with the passion for science, then the results also come unprecedented,” said PM Modi.

PM Modi also highlighted the way data analysis has been rapidly moving ahead.

“In 21 st century of India, we have two things in plenty: Data and Technology. These can take India’s science to new heights. Data analysis is rapidly moving ahead. It helps in converting information into insight and analysis into actionable knowledge,” added PM Modi.

Mentioning the G-20 presidency he said that women lead development is also a major priority among the major topics of G-20.

“Right now India has got the responsibility of G-20 chairmanship. Women lead development is also a major priority among the major topics of G-20. In the last 8 years, India has done many extraordinary works in this direction from governance to society and economy, which are being discussed today,” he said.

PM Modi added that the participation of women is proof that society is also progressing and science are also progressing.

“In the last 8 years, the participation of women in Extra Moral Research and Development has doubled. This increasing participation of women is proof that society is also progressing and science are also progressing,” PM said.

He further asserted that science in India should be the one to make India self-reliant.

“The development of science in India, to meet the needs of India, should be the basic motivation of our scientific community. Science in India should be the one to make India self-reliant,” PM said.

He said that If the scientific community works towards the innovation of energy requirements, it’d help the country.

“We need to work on subjects that are important for the entire humanity and the increasing needs of India. If the scientific community works towards the innovation of energy requirements, it’d help the country,” said PM.

As the year 2023 is declared the ‘International Year of Millets’, he added, “At the request of India, the UN declared 2023 as the ‘International Year of Millets’. It’s indeed a matter of pride for the country. We can work towards making Indian millets better.”

The first session of the India Science Congress was held in 1914 and the 108th annual session of the ISC, a five-day event, is being held at Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, which is also celebrating its centenary this year. (ANI)

‘Hijab Ban Is A Toxic Mix Of Sexism & Communalism’

By LokMarg 11th February 2022

Dr Ruha Shadab, who provides mentorship to Muslim women startups, says better education and female participation in national workforce are bigger issues than their choice of clothing

It all started at a government college in Udupi (Karnataka) where six Muslim girls were not allowed to attend classes for wearing hijab, a headscarf worn by Muslim women. College principal Rudra Gowda said he wanted to ensure uniformity in classrooms. The ban triggered a political slugfest, spreading out of Karnataka to other parts of the country, with demonstrations in favour of and against the hijab ban. The matter is now being heard by the Karnataka High Court. But we are missing the wood for the trees.

The choice of a woman’s clothing has been policed by men in our society and in our civilization for millennia. Women are pushed to fit into a narrow approved-limit of what they can say or cannot, what they can do or cannot, and what they can wear or cannot. Such patriarchal stereotype is not just a violation to the right of Indian Muslim women; this is a direct affront to the human rights. In this light I believe the current hijab ban is a toxic mix of sexism and communalism.

This is hardly the first time that a woman’s choice to cover one’s face or head — using a burqa, niqab or hijab — has created controversy. In 2013, Turkey lifted its decades-old ban on headscarves in the civil service. Many European countries like France, Switzerland, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria and Russia prohibit full-face veils (niqab and burka) in public spaces such as courts and schools. The debate and disagreement carry on.

ALSO READ: A Headscarf Lifts The Veil Off BJP

In India, interestingly, this episode has taken the wind out of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao slogan. Many political leaders, such as Mehbooba Mufti, have called out the hollowness of this slogan when Muslim girls are being denied the right to education simply because of their attire.

***Dr Shadab says hijab ban takes the wind out of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao slogan***

Over 50% of Muslim women in India are illiterate today — literacy being officially defined rather generously to include just about anyone who can read and write a sentence or two. The situation in the northern states, and rural areas, is particularly dismal. About 85% of rural north Indian Muslim women are illiterate. The situation in the South, especially in urban areas, is considerably better, with 88% literacy rate among women.

Education indicators of our country are not where they should be, not only in terms of getting more people educated but also in terms of the kind of education that we provide. There are some communities which lag behind national indicators for the average of education and employment indicators. The Muslim woman community is one of them.

This means we need to create a more empowering space to help these marginalised communities to achieve the education level and employment aspirations that we all hold as a country. What is happening right now is the diagonally opposite. Indian Muslim women constitute a community of 100 million people and it is not a homogenous group; even on the matter of hijab, there is a spectrum of opinions among Muslim women.

The hijab is not an issue that this country needs to waste its energy and resources. The problem that needs to be addressed is why are women not an equal participant in the national workforce? Why are women not leading Indian companies in a respectable ratio? Why are our education enrollment and outcomes ratios of some women communities lower than the national average? These are the real issues that beg our attention.

‘Winning A Beauty Pageant Title Is An Empowering Moment’

By LokMarg 15th December 2021

Joie Bose, Mrs India (East) winner and Mrs India 2018 finalist, says Harnaaz Sandhu’s win at Miss Universe pageant must be an inspiring moment for all women in India

I’m so happy about Harnaaz Sandhu’s win at the Miss Universe pageant. She brought the coveted crown back to India after 21 years, and deservedly so. Her answer in the last round was exemplary, her confidence amazing. As her answer suggests, women actually need to believe in themselves if they want to live a happy and fulfilling life.

Beauty pageants have been decried by many for many years now, and their argument is it forces women to adhere to ‘societal norms of beauty’. On the contrary, I believe these pageants are absolutely empowering. As long as the participant is there from her own free will, the experience is as liberating as any other choice a woman makes.

I speak from experience. I became a finalist at the Mrs India pageant in 2018 after winning the Mrs India (East) crown. After giving birth to my son in 2011 I had struggled with weight issues. At 120 kg, my self-belief took a hit. It is then that I decided to do something just for myself; to achieve an identity beyond my home and hearth.

I had a full-fledged career before my marriage but had taken a break from work to be with my family. I exercised in a disciplined manner and soon lost enough pounds to be able to compete for the Mrs. India title in 2018.

I cannot express in words the feeling when the crown for Mrs India (East) was placed on my head. I felt like a princess from the fairy-tales I had grown up reading. I felt I could do anything I set my heart to. My belief in myself in that moment was complete. I have not looked back ever since.

I have been doing everything I ever wanted to do: publishing an anthology of my poems; taking up a management course from IIM (Kolkata) and acing it; participating in vintage car rallies and being adjudged the best female driver; yoga; even kickboxing. I then worked my way up the corporate ladder. My pageant win inspired me to live my life to the fullest. I also work actively on social issues, particularly on domestic violence.

So yes, Harnaaz Sandhu’s victory should be celebrated by people. She is so comfortable being herself and that is what is most important right now, especially in our country, where women often second guess themselves and are treated as second class citizens. Women in India are conditioned to think their role is that of a caregiver. Beauty pageants (it can be different things for different women) is about a woman putting herself first.

***Bose is a fan of former Ms World Priyanka Chopra as well as coporate leader like Indra Nooyi***

I love former Ms World Priyanka Chopra for exactly that. She is so confident, so unapologetically herself and yet cares about others too. It is not only beauty pageant winners who inspire me. Corporate leaders like Indra Nooyi, Arundhati Bhattacharya and Barsha Sanyal are equally my role models. Any woman who is comfortable being herself is a winner.

People who belittle beauty pageant winners by saying they have given in to patriarchy are again trying to fit women into one particular mould, a mould which they think fit. A truly emancipated woman is a woman who makes her own choices, no matter what they look like to others.