The Two Faces of The Modern Eve
Modern Eve is on the march. In the bygone days, women were confined to a life within the foal- walls of a house, playing second fiddle to men folk.
In the modern days and age, they enjoy equal opportunities with men, competing with them in every way. They are successful lawyers, judges; police-officers and civil servants. They are at the helm of affairs in politics—what with the likes of Ms Sonia Gandhi shaping the political ethos of our nation! Even in areas which were exclusively the domain of men, they have made their mark. Women have ventured successfully in to the field of medicine space research and business. The age-old premise, that women are physically weaker and unsuitable for a job which involves risk, has been proved wrong, for now it is not uncommon to find them in various wings of the police, army or air force. The Indian astronaut Kavita Chawla has set a precedent for all those women who dare to be different. Dr Hinduja, a renowned gynecologists has brought hope to numerous issue-less couples. Shahnaz Hussain has proved that the world of business is no longer the exclusive domain of men. The Magsaysay Award winner, Mrs Kiran Bedi, has pioneered reforms in the jail, facilitating the rehabilitation of prisoners.
The above, however, applies to the urban woman. Rural women and women of the lower social strata, still have a long way to go. They are still grappling with narrow social conventions, illiteracy and backwardness. The evil of dowry continues to wreak havoc with their lives. Even today more often than not, the birth of a daughter in these sections is treated as a bane.
Is it not ironic that though the Constitution of India declares women at par with men, the truth is that she is treated as a second-grade citizen by most male chauvinists? It is high time we raise the status of rural Indian women as well.
Napoleon once made a very profound statement when he said, “Give me good mothers and I will give you a good nation.” It obviously implies that behind every successful man stands a woman inspiring him as a mother, a wife, a sister or a friend.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say,, that women play an integral role in shaping the political, economical and social life of a nation. Progressive, alert and aware women mean a progressive nation. Special efforts must, therefore, be made to empower the women of India so that they may prove an asset to the nation.
