Purnesh reflects on the various issues of Women’s Day and what it means, afterwards – even a day later. An exclusive on Different Truths.

A special corner of the office was decorated in pink. All the preparations were in progress for the last few days. I was sure, I was to host an extraordinary evening of excitement for the women of our office. Some of the best words were put together to sync with the global theme for International Women’s Day – ‘Better the Balance, Better the World’, #BalanceforBetter. As the day continued, the eyes got busy with the usual habit of reading and recording facts.

As the reading began, these were the first few words, which came my way.

Don’t understand why every HR person in every single office comes up with an idea of “doing something special for the women in their office on #WomensDay”.

If you really want to celebrate the spirit of gender equality, get both men and women in your offices to do something for those women who aren’t so lucky

These are already empowered women. If you really want to celebrate the spirit of gender equality, get both men and women in your offices to do something for those women who aren’t so lucky.

#women #womenleaders #genderequality

The above remark was made on a social media platform. But this remark wasn’t made with angst in the mind. If you can read it till the end, the remark ends on a positive note, which says – do something for those women who aren’t so lucky. Those nine words rang a bell in my mind. I changed the script for the evening. Since ‘balance’ had to be the objective, I too chose to strike that balance.

Change began with the sharing of these words to our women clientele:

Madam, Ms, Mrs, Miss, Grandmother, Mother, Daughter, Daughter-in-law, Sister, Wife, Companion, Friend, Mother-in-law, Professional, Sister-in-law, Boss, Colleague, Partner…

…they (women) will continue being inspiring, motivated, stronger… forever.

In versatile roles that women will continue being in, they will continue being inspiring, motivated, stronger… forever. 

To every woman in every role, our agency wishes a very happy International Women’s Day

Events for the evening started unfolding one by one. But some men were left a little shocked when the evening commenced with these words:

✔️ Gazing at women is not injurious to health

✔️ Gaping at women is not going to affect your mental condition

✔️Grabbing any women by surprise may always continue being understood as being cool

A gingerly silence hung in the air. It took a song from the good old seventies to revive the excitement.

Another bout of silence followed when the moment demanded that these thoughts be made public.

Men have always respected women by observing every physical attribute in statistical details. Secondly, over the years, the grammar of morning greetings has also changed. Every greeting begins with the prefix of a womanly expression and a bitterly dosed aftertaste of abuse.

On Women’s Day we are all out there to do the best…. But, in reality, how much of it is going to be evidently implemented!

It is during these moments that the clock started ticking. On Women’s Day we are all out there to do the best, showcase the best. But, in reality, how much of it is going to be evidently implemented! The very next day, on March 9, on a visit to the railway station to fetch the weekend news daily, I heard someone make a motherly remark.

As the title of this written piece suggests, these are just reflections from and after women’s day. Some of my friends who know me may also break into a debate analysing my opinion about women. Therefore, I would reflect on myself too by saying that somewhere I too feel too responsible for the rise and fall of women around me. No matter, all the kind of relationships that I have been sharing with them, in every capacity and position, somewhere I might have also disregarded their efforts, their presence, their significance. But, I am changing. By change, I mean change.

Even though it feels good for being applauded over what we did to make the women feel special, I think, we are not done yet. There will be many other celebrations throughout the year and year after year. But how well will we stand feeling proud of women? That’s the question, which needs to be answered. As far as my actions are concerned, I would like to stick to that last line from the first remark – do something for those women who aren’t so lucky.

©Purnesh Bhattacharya

Photos from the Internet