Roshni April - June 2021 by aiwc

Roshni

April to June 2021

An Ode to the Past Presidents of AIWC

Margaret and James Cousins

Rajkumari Amrit Kaur and Mahatma Gandhi

Margaret Cousins was Secretary in the first year of AIWC in 1927

Margaret Cousins with members of the Standing Committee at Conference in Ahmedabad, 1936. Note the presence of Dr Sarala Ray, Vidyagauri Neelkanth, Sharifa Begum Ali, Rameshwari Nehru etc. Printed at : I G Printers Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi-110020

All India Women’s Conference

Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy-as a student, a doctor and a reformer

The bust of Smt. Sarojini Naidu at AIWC Head Office

Rajkumari Amrit Kaur

Sarala and Prasanna Kumar Ray

Ramanbhai and Vidyagauri Nilkanth

Maharani Chimnabai II in Durbar

On the Front Cover( L-R) Top Row: Lady Abdul Qadir, Smt. Hilla Rustomjee, Maharani Setu Parvati Bayi Bottom Row: Maharani Setu Parvati Bayi with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Smt. Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi as a child; Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Smt. Margaret Cousins

Rajkumari Amrit Kaur with Lord and Lady Mountbatten and Maulana Azad at Gandhiji’s funeral

Roshni April - June 2021 Contents

ROSHNI

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 Editorial.............................................................................................................................. 2

Journal of the All India Women's Conference

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April - June 2021

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Editorial Board

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Editor Assistant Editor Advisor Editorial Assistants

: : : : :

President Secretary General Treasurer

: Smt. Sheela Kakde : Smt. Kuljit Kaur : Smt. Rehana Begum

Patrons

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Smt. Chitra Sarkar Smt. Meenakshi Kumar Smt. Supriya Bhalerao Smt. Ranjana Gupta Smt. Sujata Shivya

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Maharani Setu Parvathi Bayi Tenth President of AIWC (1936)............................... 11

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Margaret E. Cousins Eleventh President of AIWC (1937)........................................ 13 -by Smt. Sheela Kakde

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Kalimpong Branch

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Darjeeling Branch........................................................................................................... 25 -by Smt. Gunkeshri Pradhan

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Meerut Branch................................................................................................................. 29 -by Smt. Beena Agarwal

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Pathankot Kandi Branch ............................................................................................... 32 -by Smt. Raj Dogra

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Pathankot Branch............................................................................................................ 32

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Swashakthi Abivruddi Samsthe Branch, Raichur Dist, Karnataka........................... 33

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RPM Women’s Welfare Association, Adambakkam, Chennai.................................. 33 -by Smt. Preetha Raj

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Srinivasa Gandhi Nilayam, Alwarpet (WIA Branch)................................................. 34 -by Smt. Vasanthi Ramesh

Vanitha Vidya Samasthe, Bengaluru ............................................................................ 35 -by P Vijaya Lakshmi

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Webinar on Personal Financial Planning..................................................................... 36

RPM Women’s Welfare Association, Chennai (Affiliated to WIA) -by Smt. Preetha Raj

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Webinar on Groundwater Use and Conservation by Suvarna, Kozhikode............. 37 -by Smt. Bhuvaneswari Ravindran

Webinar On Health And Wellness................................................................................ 39 Bhadra Mahila Samajam, Constituent Branch of Suvarna, Kozhikode -by Smt. Bhuvaneswari Ravindran

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Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu! A Webinar by AIWC South Zone –B........... 41

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Women in Tagore’s Writing (With special focus on Chitrangada and Streer Patra)..... 43 -by Smt. Indrani Sengupta

Uniform Civil Code ....................................................................................................... 44 -by Smt. Jyotika Kalra

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Hindi Section................................................................................................................... 47

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Vikas Mahila Sangam, Mayur Vihar, Phase-2 ............................................................ 28 -by Smt. Sapna Acharya

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Regd No. 26969/74

Kakinada Branch............................................................................................................. 27 -by Smt. N. Bhanumati

Nanthankote Vanitha Samithi, Constituent Branch of TVPM, Trivandrum.......... 30 -by Smt. K. Krishnakumari

Printed at : I G Printers Pvt. Ltd., 104, DSIDC, Okhla Phase - I, New Delhi - 110 020

Garia - Mahamayatala - Jadavpur Constituent Branch, Kolkata.............................. 25 -by Smt. Basudha Ganguly

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Rs. 250.00 Rs. 70.00

Bihar State Branch, Patna............................................................................................... 21 -by Smt. Kumkum Narain

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Subscription Rates Domestic Yearly Quarterly

Allahabad City Branch................................................................................................... 20 -by Smt. Ranjana Gulati

AIWC Educational Scholarships - Success Stories from Kozhikode ....................... 23 -by Smt. Bhuvaneswari Ravindran

The views expressed in the articles published in Roshni are those of the authors only and not of All India Women's Conference.

Rajkumari Amrit Kaur Twelfth President of AIWC (1938)...................................... 17 -by Smt. Kuljit Kaur

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ROSHNI Editorial and Business Office All India Womens Conference 6, Bhagwan Dass Road, New Delhi-110 001 Phone : 011-43389100, 011-43389101 E-mail : aiwc.roshni@gmail.com Website : www.aiwc.org.in

Memorable 8th AIWC Session in Calcutta ................................................................... 6 -by Smt. Mythily Jagannathan Smt. Hilla Rustomji Faridoonji Nineth President of AIWC (1935)........................... 8 -by Smt. Farida Hussain

AIWC has Consultative Status with UN Observer's Status with UNFCCC Permanent Representatives : Smt. Sudha Acharya and Smt. Seema Upleker (ECOSOC) (UNICEF) AIWC has affiliation with International Alliance of Women Pan Pacific and S.E.A. Women's Association CONGO Global Water Partnership World Renewable Energy Network

Lady Abdul Qadir Eighth President of AIWC (1934).................................................. 5 -by Smt. Mythily Jagannathan

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Smt. Kunti Paul Smt. Gomathi Nair Smt. Bina Jain Smt. Veena Kohli Smt. Rakesh Dhawan

Ode to the Glorious past: HOW IT ALL BEGAN ----................................................. 3 -by Smt. Sheela Kakde

Roshni

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From the Editor's Desktop From: Editor, Roshni To: Members, AIWC The quarter April-June 2021 found the country reeling under the second wave of Covid-19. Its horrific impact prompted our Hon. Minister for External Affairs, Shri S. Jaishankar to compare it with terrorism, drawing many parallels between these two evils. “None of us is safe until all of us are safe”, he said, while giving a boost to vaccination and safety protocols across all strata of society. Even the brave sisters of AIWC hit pause, but not for long. We are proud to bring you reports of how the branches reached out to those affected by the pandemic. Cooked food, medicines and essential supplies were distributed by our intrepid members to far flung, hard hit areas. The series on our Past Presidents showed us how we could draw inspiration from our courageous forebears. Lady Abdul Qadir, our eighth President, first proposed the structure we still follow todaywhere constituent branches choose backward districts to launch development projects, and submit progress reports to the Annual and Half-yearly Conference sessions, for discussion and improvement. Margaret Cousins, one of our earliest founders, and eleventh President, envisioned us as a network of committed women who would drive change. AIWC spearheaded many of the pioneering reforms of the twentieth century – the Sarda Act, the Age of Consent Bill, the Abolition of the Devdasi system, a number of Children’s Acts, and many more. The post pandemic world will present greater challenges, resulting from a shrunken economy and hardships due to job loss and ill health. Our organisation will have to identify and address them. The time has come when we must measure ourselves against the achievements of our heroic predecessors and carry their torch forward with honour. Chitra Sarkar

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Ode to the Glorious past: HOW IT ALL BEGAN ---By Smt. Sheela Kakde, President AIWC

th January, 2020, was a day of immense happiness for me, when I took over as the 42nd President of All India Women's Conference at Om Shanti Retreat Centre, Manesar. I had lot of plans for the organisation and community, but ‘Man proposes, God disposes’, is an old saying. We all experienced that within a couple of months, when Corona virus played havoc all over the world. During the first lockdown which started in March 2020, I was staying in the AIWC campus. On 23rd May 2020, I got an email from an unknown id, I opened it. It was from Dr. Sunita Borde, from Sangli, Maharashtra. She was inquiring about our first President Maharani Chimnabai Gaikwad II of Baroda and her Presidential address at the inaugural session at Ferguson College, Pune, when ALL INDIA WOMEN`S CONFERENCE was born i.e on 6th January 1927. I was very excited reading this. I knew that we will definitely have it in our ‘Margaret Cousins Memorial library and Research Centre’. It was early morning, I waited for some time and called up on the phone number given there. We got introduced to each other. And from there we moved on. Dr. Borde was writing a book on Maharani saheba, and she needed that very speech delivered by our first President in the inaugural session in 1927. I was aware that we have the minutes record of 1928 also, so was confident that we have the speech. I immediately

got in touch with our MIC Library, Dr. Yuthika Mishra, who was also very happy to receive the news. She then conveyed the same to our librarian Ranjana Gupta. Though the Library was closed, Ranjana could promptly locate it in the personal hard disk, and she sent it to me. Dr. Borde got my name and email id from our website. From there we remained in touch. Yuthikaji suggested to me to invite her to our HO for a talk, but the situation of pandemic wouldn’t allow it, may be till near future. That time I was introduced to the renowned writer from Maharashtra, Shri Baba Bhand, who has done lot of research work on Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, of Baroda, our President's husband who was a visionary administrator in real sense. 3

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- June 2021 our first President, on 14th September 2020, on the Webex platform. Smt. Manda Hingurao, the curator of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad Baroda Palace Museum, Dr. Sunita Borde, and Kum. Suraksha Ghongde read papers. The presentations were very well received. The idea clicked, and the demand to know about other stalwarts of AIWC increased. So the virtual meetings continued and were streamlined on YouTube. We took the opportunity positively, to express our gratitude to our past Presidents, who served society selflessly and worked dedicatedly in the Independence movement of the country.

He saw public service as his mission. In a chain of conversations with Dr. Borde, about our President, I realised that I did not know many things about Maharani Saheba. Maharani Chimanabai II was born to Shrimant Sardar Bajirao Amrutrao Ghatge of Devas in Madhya Pradesh in 1872 and named Shrimant Gajaradevi. She was married to Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III of Baroda, one of the main Maratha states. She will always be remembered for the work done in abolishing the Purdah system.She was bold enough to sit with Maharaja on the same sofa without purdah in public places in Baroda. And, secondly for abolishing Child marriage. Maharani demanded the abolition of child marriage at a conference which was attended by prominent Indian women of the time including; Sarojini Naidu, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay and Rajku- mari Amrit Kaur, who became our Presidents later.

Up till now we have presented about eighteen Presidents till the year 1945. I am thankful to our team for the artistic invites made by Jt. Secretary Supriya Bhalerao; very apt moderation at the virtual meetings by MIC Library, Dr. Yuthika Mishra; ever-supportive librarian Ranjana Gupta and Sujata; technical assistance by Program Officer Ritu Satmukhi, and of course all the different participants who have put in a lot of effort to showcase all the presidents from different angles with their close relatives. And thus we move on with enthusiasm, to pay our tribute and get inspired by the rich legacy.

I decided to share all this and much more,with the maximum number of our members. By June-July 2020, we had understood and accepted that physical meetings would not happen in the near future, and we would have to depend on virtual platforms. So, we organised a virtual presentation of Maharani Chimnabai Gaekwad II,

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An Ode To Past Presidents of AIWC

Lady Abdul Qadir Eighth President of AIWC (1934) By Smt. Mythily Jagannathan, Co-ordinator, Shahdara Project

in the successful organizing of the 1st All Asian Women's Conference, held in Lahore, in 1931.

nwari Begum, who later became Lady Abdul Qadir, was born in an elite family of Lahore, her father, Shekh Mohammad Umar being a distinguished advocate. Lahore, the capital of Punjab was an intellectual and cultural centre. While still in her teens Anwari wrote stories and articles for the Urdu journal Tahzeeb. After marriage to a leading barrister Sir Abdul Qadir, when he started the journal Makhzan, she became the Assistant Editor, and continued her writing, motivating women to take their rightful place in society, and educate girls. She held regular meetings in her home, where women were helped, and encouraged to send their daughters to schools. She started purdah schools for Muslim girls. She founded - Anjuman-i-Taraqqi-i-Naswan, a place where women of Punjab could meet and express their views.

Lady Abdul Qadir was among the powerful and influential women of Punjab, who without any instituitional support, braved social opposition

The Lahore Ladies Club with four branches in Punjab, was started in 1938. Later, this was merged with the West Punjab branch of AIWC. Lady Abdul Qadir was Vice President AIWC at the 6th session in Bombay, in 1930. She helped

Lady Abdul Qadir 5

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- June 2021 the new country, Pakistan, Lady Qadir was given charge of organizing welfare schemes for women, and led several women’s delegations abroad. She died on 29th July, 1965, after a life of honour, dignity and devotion to the cause of women.

and ire of the orthdoxy, to help women shed the shackles of a patriarchal system, started Teachers Training schools for women, purdah schools for Muslim girls, and healthcare for women. The liberal views and nationalism of the group soon swept them into movements like the Khilafat Movement in the 1920’s, and Gandhi ji’s Non-cooperation Movement in the 1930’s.

(Students of the women's movement in India, will be interested in the following references made for organizing the AIWC Webinar on 15th April, 2021, about Lady Abdul Qadi: Role of Women in the Freedom Movement, by Dr Aparna Basu, Indian Women Today by Margaret Cousins, Muslim Women in Social Work in British Punjab, by Dushika Syed, Role of Women in the Freedom Movement, The Light is Ours by Avabai Wadia, and Women of Pakistan, Two Steps Forward, One Step Backward, by Khawar Mumtaz & Farida Shaheed.)

Lady Qadir all along had the strong support of her husband, a leading barrister, and Member of the Punjab Governor-General’s Advisory Committee. Later, in 1947, when Lahore, like other cities in Punjab, was torn apart by partition riots, they led the rescue of riot victims, giving them shelter in their homes, with the help of friends and like minded groups on the other side of the border. In

Memorable 8th AIWC Session in Calcutta By Smt. Mythily Jagannathan, Co-ordinator, Shahdara Project

was remarkably frank in her opening address, in which she described herself as one with no pretensions to being well educted or erudite, but a humble worker who went door to door, meeting women, trying to help them overcome hardship and achieve better lives.

he 8th AIWC session was held in the Town Hall, Calcutta, on 27th December, 1933. AIWC delegates driving down in horse carriages were received at the red carpeted steps, with lively tunes played by the Calcutta Metropolitan Band. Over 200 members from 50 constituent branches attended, with observers and Representatives from United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Egypt and Iran. The opening address by Maharani Sucharu Devi, of Mayurbhanj, Odisha, was followed by speeches by renowned personalities including Sir S. Radhakrishnan and Sarojini Naidu.

Among her significant observations was that due to more and more people thronging cities, it was becoming difficult for families to survive on the income of a single person. Very soon, a time would come, when both girls and boys would need to work. Hence the need to establish a system of education and training of girls.

Anwari Begum, as she was known before her marriage to the leading barrister Sir Abdul Qadir,

She also wanted AIWC to organise welfare of large numbers of women in agiculture, mining, 6

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Calcutta Town Hall – the Venue

Maharani Sucharu Devi of Mayurbhanj

industry, cottage industry, and domestic workers, who lacked any form of social support.

finer values of life and culture, passing these down from generation to generation. Along with reforms and new initiatives, this vital role of women in preserving our identity as a people and as a nation, must be recognized”.

However her most intersting observation was that each member should select eight or ten of the most backward districts in the region, and with the help of the administration, plan, and launch all round development of the entire community. Members should report on the progress of the work at AIWC Annual and Half-yearly sessions, for discussion and improvements. About twenty years later, a similar objective led to the launch of Five Year Plans for commnity development, starting with fifty five backward districts of the country.

Arriving at the conference on the fourth day, Poet-Laureate Rabindranath Tagore was received with great enthusiasm and applause. Starting on a personal note he said that, “As a poet I owe my endless debt to womenkind, especially those who have taken part in shaping my dreams and my destiny”. His speech was full of humour, and was applauded repeatedly. Lauding the silent heroism of women who made daily sacrifices for the family, he described their characteristics as sweetness of service, simplicity and self- dedication, and offered his services in the cause of the women of India. A girls chorus then sang his composition Jana Gana Mana, in which the delegates all joined, with Smt. Margaret Cousins playing the piano. On 28th December, the AIWC session was held in the Senate Hall, Calcutta University, during the Centenary Celebrations of Raja Rammohun Roy, renowned social reformer, who opened the doors to women’s emancipation.

In the list of Standing Committee members, Smt. S.C. Mukherjee, the Organizing Secretary of the 8th Session, was a member of the host West Bengal branch Another member of the same branch was Smt. R.N. Tagore, from Shantiniketan, while from the East Bengal branch, there was Smt. Sujata Ray, from Dhaka. In his speech, Dr S. Radhakrishnan congratulated AIWC for taking up reforms which would give women their rightful place in the nation. “Down the ages, women have been the custodians of the 7

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Smt. Hilla Rustomji Faridoonji Ninth President of AIWC (1935) By Smt. Farida Hussain, Trustee, AIWC Old Age Trust

feasted daily, enjoying Hyderabadi cuisine – the famed biryani, haleem, and kababs -- as well as Parsi cuisine like Pathrani machhi and desserts like Badaam ki jaali (almond sweet) and Qubani ka meetha (apricot pudding). Guests would always be overwhelmed by her hospitality. Playing cards in the evenings and polo matches on holidays, she was a fun-loving personality. Many Parsi ladies -- including our own President of Hyderabad and Secunderabad branch of AIWC, Smt. Gool Chinoy -- were very good polo players.

mt. Hilla Rustomji Faridoonji, the nineth President of AIWC was a multi-faceted, versatile personality, a highly educated and cultured lady. She was at ease both with royalty and commoners alike. She was a good friend of Gandhiji, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and many other freedom fighters and political stalwarts. Her concern for women’s education brought her in contact with many wellknown women’s activists like Margaret Cousins, Sarojini Naidu, the Begum of Bhopal and Vijaylakshmi Pandit. Nearer home, she interacted with Princess Niloufer and Princess Durru Shehvar of Hyderabad.

Incidentally, I’d like to mention the close relationship between the Hyderabadi rulers and the Parsi community. Parsis who were refugees from Persia landed in India 12 centuries ago in Sanjan, Gujarat, ruled by Raja Jadi Rana. To Hyderabad, they came at the invitation of Salar Jung Bahadur 1, Prime Minister of the Nizam, and occupied high positions in the government. What worked in their favour was that they knew English and had a knowledge of Persian and Urdu. Bikaji Pestoonji Meherji’s family played a major role in the development of Hyderabad State. They were good accountants. The Nizam entrusted them with the working of the government Mint at Aurangabad, and they managed the finances of Hyderabad State. As promised by the initial refugees from Persia to Gujarat, Parsis integrated themselves like sugar in the milk and salt in the food, giving flavour to every dish.

Born in October 1872, in Bombay to a well-known Parsi family, she was married to Rustom Yar Jung of the Nizam’s Princely State of Hyderabad Deccan. She was tall and graceful. She had an imposing personality. Always well-dressed, she wore gara embroidered saris as well as Parsi gowns. She would look stunning in blue gowns matching her blue eyes, according to her niece Amy who lives in Mumbai. Hilla Rustomji spent a few years in Hyderabad after her marriage. She was a good hostess. Margaret Cousins and other activists enjoyed her hospitality at her palatial house near the famous Golconda Fort. Once, Margaret Cousins and her husband stayed for three weeks with her, and 8

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Hilla Rustomji Faridoonji’s early childhood and school education was in Bombay. After her marriage she came to Hyderabad Deccan. She was married to Rustomji Faridoonji. Many of the Parsis in Hyderabad knew her only as Begum Rustom Yar Jung, a title given by the Nizam to her husband, and not as Hilla Rustomji. Her husband was a high ranking official in Nizam Mir Osman Ali Pasha’s government. For some time, they lived in Warangal also. She was very close to Princess Niloufer of Turkey (a renowned beauty of the times) and also Princess Durru Shehvar. Both princesses were very concerned about social issues especially women's education. Princess Niloufer directed the construction of the Niloufer Hospital for women and children. Princess Durru Shehvar hospital was dedicated to the women of Hyderabad by her son Prince Muffakham Jah Bahadur. Similar to the Women's India Association of the then Madras Presidency, the Hyderabad Women’s Association was established in Hyderabad State. Hilla Rustomji was one of the pioneers in establishing and nurturing this association. When in 1929, the All India Women’s Conference needed funds to meet current expenses, Hilla mobilised funds for this purpose. She was in Warangal at that time. Hyderabad Women's Association donated Rs. 85 and interestingly, Hilla personally also donated Rs. 25. Hyderabad Women's Association was renamed Women’s Association for Educational and Social Advancement, or WAESA. Begum Rustomji was a moving spirit of this newly formed association also. Even to this day we have a primary school by name WAESA Primary School at Mallepally in Hyderabad, on the land donated by the Seventh Nizam. A farmaan was

Smt. Hilla Rustomji Faridoonji issued by the seventh Nizam to give the land and school building to WAESA and it is still available with the branch. The land and the school building were taken possession of by the then secretary of the association Smt. Taraporewala, another Parsi connection in Hyderabad AIWC. Hilla Rustomji attended the annual conference of AIWC in Lahore in 1930. She served as President of AIWC, Delhi, in 1935 and was ninth in the series of illustrious presidents. She is well known for establishing and administering South Asia’s first home science college, Lady Irwin College

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- June 2021 of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, who was fondly called Frontier Gandhi. They had three children. Hilla Rustomji Faridoonji died in Bombay in her granddaughter’s house.

of Home Science, Delhi. She believed in socialist ideology. She was against any type of reservation especially caste-based distinctions. She moved a resolution for the removal of special schools for different religious and caste denominations at the Madras Annual Session held in 1931-32, but the majority of the members of the conference were not of the same opinion so the resolution was dropped.

Hilla had a great vision for AIWC. In her own words, I quote,“We are only at the beginning. That beginning has been your work of love and enthusiasm.” In another letter to Lady Vidyagauri Nilkant, she wrote, “My earnest prayer is that this Conference may achieve something good and great.” As per her wishes AIWC has earned the status of being a premier NGO in India. It has hundreds of branches and is regarded as one of the pioneers in the field of women's empowerment. AIWC is also very active in the international arena of women's development, making true the vision she had.

Tall and beautiful, Hilla aged gracefully. Till the last she maintained her imposing and impressive personality. She had two daughters Pheroza and Zarine. Pheroza married Shri A.P. Narialwala who was an ardent admirer of Pandit Nehru; he wore khadi all his life. They had no children. Zarine married Khan Abdul Ghani Khan, son

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ROSHNI welcomes your articles! Email us at aiwc.roshni@gmail.com. Writeups should be sent in MS Word format. Please do not send handwritten notes, PDF formats or Power Point presentations. Photos are worth a thousand words – make them well-focused and in JPG format.

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Maharani Setu Parvathi Bayi Tenth President of AIWC (1936) (Report prepared by Kum. Juhi Mol B.M., student of H.H. The Maharaja’s College for Women, TVPM and member of Yuvashakthi Volunteer Group of AIWC South Zone-B.)

he presentation on the life of Maharani Setu Parvathi Bayi, covered significant milestones in her life, from getting adopted into the Travancore royal family to her time as Amma Maharani and beyond. Smt. Usha Nair spoke of when Maharani was elected President of All India Women’s Conference, and how she played an important role in the shaping of a new Travancore, her influence that led to the Temple Entry Proclamation and

also in the setting up of several institutions and infrastructure for development. She spoke about Maharani’s role as Chancellor of the University of Travancore and other royal duties, and her active participation as a champion of women’s causes and aiding women’s organizations. After the presentation, guest speaker Princess Gouri Parvathi Bayi, granddaughter of Maharani Setu Parvathi Bayi, recollected her childhood with

Maharani Setu Parvathi Bayi

Princess Gauri Lakshmi Bayi

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- June 2021 Following this, Smt. Usha Nair made a presentation on Maharani’s work with AIWC, how she became the first president from Kerala, her wide knowledge on all topics and her bold take on birth control even at that time. Smt. Usha Nair shared excerpts from Maharani’s Presidential Address, including her concluding line acknowledged with thundering applause, “The clouds are lifting, and the dawn is breaking: may it be given to us to see the sunshine!”. There were audience interactions following the talk where Smt. Bhuvaneswari Ravindran shared an experience of her close friend Maya on meeting the Maharani and the Royal family and how her friend recalled them to be very simple and polite, and how they left a huge impact on her.

her grandmother. She shared moments with the Maharani and about Maharani’s passion for embroidery, in preparing Ayurveda medicines and documenting the information to preserve ancient knowledge for future generations. She recalled how even when the life of Maharani was structured and routine, she was friendly and shared stories with her granddaughters. She concluded by affectionately calling her grandmother “a wonderful human being”. Princess Gouri Lakshmi Bayi, younger granddaughter of Maharani Setu Parvathi Bayi, recollected her grandmother as a caring, warm and efficient woman. She spoke about her grandmother’s love for arts and how she mastered the veena. She was patroness to great artists including Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Guru Gopinath and Thiruvathirakali Bhavani. Dr. R. P. Raja, scholar and author of several books on the Travancore Royal Family, recalled Maharani’s love for reading and how books from the Public Library were first sent to her at the Palace. He also recalled her influence in setting up of the Titanium Factory, the first in Asia, the cement factory –the first of its kind to be set up in India and also her support that led to emergence of several notable industries across Travancore.

Smt. Sheela Kakde, President, AIWC delivered the Inaugural Address. Introductory Remarks were by Smt. Indira R Pillai, President, AIWC, TVPM branch. Smt. Supriya Bhalerao, Joint Secretary, AIWC delivered the Vote of Thanks. The webinar was coordinated by Dr Yuthika Mishra, Memberin-charge, MCM Library, AIWC Head Office, New Delhi. More than 100 people joined the webinar. All webinars in this series have been uploaded on YouTube.

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Margaret E. Cousins Eleventh President of AIWC (1937) By Smt. Sheela Kakde, President AIWC

argaret Elizabeth Cousins, our eleventh President and her husband James landed in India in Adyar, Chennai in 1915 and very soon India became their adopted motherland along with religion, customs and culture. How did that happen? Definitely not an easy task! For that we have to understand this vibrant personality, full of compassion and service to Humanity and her journey throughout the rest of her life and her background also. Margaret was the eldest of the fifteen children born to Annie and Joseph Gillespie: the first child out of eleven girls and four boys. She was born at midnight of 7th Nov.1878 in Boyle, Roscommon, Ireland. Her parents were Protestants and Methodists by denomination with musical inclination. Joseph was a petty sessions clerk. Young Margaret was called Gretta and acquired a reputation as a ‘good and wise child’, who could be trusted and who made original remarks. At the young age of 8, she thought that children should be not only seen but be heard as well. While describing an incident at that age she writes that she was introduced to the inequality of opportunity which then belonged to being a girl.She had sensed an air of disappointment after the fourth girl was born as boys were wanted and expected.There was an observable preference for boys, Gretta remarks.

Smt. Margaret Cousins from the usual three `R`s, she was taught French and given piano lessons by two cultured gentle - women who made a deep impression on her of public service. She was a voracious reader, and was fascinated by biographies of women saints particularly St. Catherine, St. Teresa, and St. Joan of Arc. Living with girls developed her power of working in an organized group of women. It also developed her sixth sense in judging character

Gretta had a sound elementary education in the co-educational National School, in Boyle. Apart 13

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which helped throughout her life.

initial negativity she was destined to grow into it.

After release from four years in a girl’s boarding school, she met plenty of young men during her first year in Dublin. Mr. James Cousins from Belfast came into her life in 1900. He did not match her dream ideal, but she liked him for being a poet. Mr. Cousins was small and fair, and an accountant.More popularly called Jim, he was a vegetarian and followed Theosophical philosophy of oneness. Though Gretta was eating fish, flesh, and fowl, later after marriage in 1903 she changed into a vegetarian. They got married on 9th April 1903 in Dublin and continued living there. They agreed to live a companionate marriage. It seems they pledged to develop themselves towards the higher mental and spiritual aims of their life. This, by any modern standards, was an unusual decision.

The Cousins lived in Dublin till 1915, after which they moved to India on the invitation of Dr. Annie Besant. Both Annie Besant and Margaret Cousins fought to raise equality of men and women in India. Politically, Annie Besant was more concerned with `Home Rule for India & Education’ and Gretta focused on `Votes for Women & Education`. In 1916, she became the first non-Indian member of the Indian Women’s University at Poona. In 1917 Cousins co-founded the Women’s Indian Association with Annie Besant and Dorothy Jinarajadasa. She was the editor of WIA’s journal, Stri Dharma. In 1919–20 Cousins was the first Head of the National Girls' School at Mangalore. Margaret Cousins was an ardent patriot. As the Joint Secretary of Women`s Indian Association, she kindled the fire of patriotism in all who came into her contact and thus awakened in them national and political consciousness. She inspired them to have devotion for their motherland, and the ideal of supreme service to the nation. Smt. Cousins spent a major part of her life working for the women in India. She and her husband James Cousins (later known as Jayaram Cousins) travelled extensively to understand this country and its people. They realized that the achievement of India's freedom was through the education of Indian Women. She raised a strong protest on behalf of her Indian sisters against the advice of Mahatma Gandhiji to exclude Indian women from participation in the Salt Satyagraha campaign and wrote in `Stri Dharma` the magazine published by WIA.

Both became busy in their own fields of interest. Jim wrote plays and was active in theatre. She studied music at the Royal University of Ireland in Dublin, graduating in 1902, and became a teacher. Her gifts of music were honed, satisfied and developed. In 1902 Margaret was introduced to a lecture by Annie Besant, one of the founders of Theosophy, but at the time she was not attracted nor impressed by either her subject matter or her personality. Jim was also warned off Theosophy by his parents in Belfast. But his impression of the meeting and of Annie Besant was different. He believed that Ireland was ultimately to emerge as the spiritual mentor of Europe’, as India had been for Asia. Dr. Besant was fifty five years old, short, grey haired, pleasant, yet serious. She had an intelligent face, spoke in easy language without notes. She had an attractive full tone voice. He records that it was all a lot to learn in one afternoon. Despite Gretta`s

FORMATION of AIWC The answer to organising the women of India came to Margaret Cousins after returning from a 14

Roshni tour of European countries in 1925. In the autumn of 1926, she sent out an appeal to women to form local committees and organize Constituent Conferences in the Provinces and States. These constituent Conferences were to draw up series of resolutions on education from the point of view of women in two main categories, local and national. The stalwarts in the cause of women`s advancement like Dorothy Jinarajadasa and Dr. (Mrs.) Muthulakshmi Reddy, would put them in order for discussion at the first session of the All India Women`s Conference on 6th to 8th January 1927, at Fergusson College, Pune, with Maharani Chimnabai Gaekwad II as the first President.

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‘Chronologically, it was largely owing to our agitation and support that the Age of Consent Bill and the Sarda Act were passed. Our Memorandum on Educational Reform is a handbook to educational authorities and is constantly consulted by them. We founded a Women's Education Fund of six lacs through which we have organized and established, the first Indian Women's college for Home Science, Lady Irwin College. We have shared in the abolition of the Devadasi system, and the passing of the Brothels Bill, increased the number of Children's Acts, and the rescue of delinquent children. We have gained such international reputation that visitors from foreign countries hasten to attend our Conferences.We also took the major share in bringing about the remarkable first All-Asian Conference in 1931 whose prestige and timeliness brought it into the circle of Women's Associations which form the Women's Consultative Committee of the League of Nations.’

Margaret Cousins travelled to Ahmedabad to attend the 10th session of All India Women`s Conference on 23rd December 1936 of which she was the President elect. Margaret Cousins addressed India as “My Adopted Country”. Excerpts from her Presidential address in the year 1936 at Ahmedabad:

She addressed the issue of the menacing growth of population in this country, and also about a permanent Central Office in Delhi: “Our immediate new task is to improve further our organization by establishing a permanent Central Office in Delhi…”

‘We have created an All-Indian organization of thirty-six Constituent areas, with one hundred and fourteen Sub-Constituency areas whose annual gatherings have been training grounds in public service and public speaking unequalled in the country, and unique in India as they are carried through by women only. We have created a most remarkable union of women of all classes, creeds, races, castes. Though originally a band of the intelligentsia we now are a solidarity of sisters such as never existed before in India ranging from Maharanees to Harijans, including Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians, all feeling the common link of conference connection, activities, friendships.

Margaret Cousins also expressed her views on Economic Empowerment of Women by highlighting the issue of unpaid care work done by women at their homes. ‘It is the expression of the economic value of the work of the women in the homes. Unless this economic value is given to women who work in the homes all laws giving the widow property and inheritance rights are only a minor detail of the revaluation of women needed. At present a premium is placed on women's work

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outside the home, its hours, physical conditions, wages are regulated. But the woman who minds the house and the children and the food has no locus standing in the organized world of labour. ‘

both started the task of recording their experiences and adventures over the years for their duography. Gretta`s contribution to the book of their memories, `We Two Together`, finished early in July 1943. The book of 770 pages was published in 1950. Both had started facing health challenges since 1940, more by Gretta and hence services were reduced.

EDUCATION FOR WOMEN Apart from formal education to girl students, Smt. Cousins regularly organized discussions on housekeeping, flower arrangement, women's movement, literacy, population problem, importance of waste paper baskets, food habits, hygiene, dress, beauty tips etc. She was more than a mother to all girl students. To Smt. Cousins nothing was too small to ignore and nothing too big to achieve. She inculcated this way of life among the girl students. She was an extremely disciplined person. The Cousins’ had presented a memorandum to the Viceroy requesting him to throw open schools for girls.

The Last Annual Session of AIWC for Gretta In December 1947, the 20th Annual Session of AIWC was held at Madras. This was where it had started . The All India Women`s Conference, Gretta`s brain child came into being in 1927. Jim took her to the opening meeting. He writes, “She was delighted to see many old friends from various parts of India. She could remember their faces and facts but could not recall their names.

Women's suffrage was only one of Cousins' feminist concerns. She wrote two books, Awakening of Asian Womanhood (1922) and Indian Womanhood Today (1941), and numerous journals and newspaper articles that outlined the areas that could be focused upon to improve the quality of women's lives. Child marriage, the purdah system, the plight of young widows, the scarcity of education for women, and vocational training were all issues that claimed her attention. She is credited with composing the tune for the Indian National Anthem Jana Gana Mana in February 1919, during Rabindranath Tagore’s visit to the Madanapalle College

She realized that the organization she had begun had become a national institution of unique achievement and profound influence, and she was SATISFIED. With her deep inner passion, ignited by suggestions from Jim, it seems that Gretta acted as a powerful catalyst with a golden gift for bringing people together and generating inspiration. Her deep and sincere love for humanity, and passion for justice, was the driving spiritual force which enabled her to become this huge dynamo for change. The marriage of this unique couple brought enormous creativity to many fields, but especially to their walk together on the long road towards full equality at all levels for men and for women, the two wings of humanity.

TWILIGHT YEARS After returning from the Annual session of AIWC in 1938, in Delhi, Gretta and Jim shifted to Kotagiri in the hills of Ootacamund. In 1939-40 16

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Rajkumari Amrit Kaur Twelfth President of AIWC (1938) By Smt. Kuljit Kaur, Secretary General, AIWC

ajkumari Amrit Kaur, Princess of Kapurthala, was born on 2nd February 1887 in Lucknow.

TIME magazine, named her one of the “Most Influential Women of the Century”, saying: “In leaving her life of luxury, she not only helped build lasting democratic institutions, she also inspired generations to fight for the marginalised”. “This was a young princess returned to India after studying at Oxford and was fascinated by the teachings and principles of Gandhiji and decided that her life’s mission was to help India break free from the colonial rule and oppressive social norms”. Service and sacrifice for the country became a passion for her. She worked as Secretary to Gandhiji for sixteen years. Before joining Gandhiji, she trained herself by tackling social issues: women’s education, right to vote and the Purdah System, speaking out against child marriage and the practice of Devdasis. The immediate trigger for her to join the freedom struggle was eye-witnessing the horrendous tragedy of the Jallianwallah Bagh massacre.

Rajkumari Amrit Kaur to him since he needed moral courage more than physical power”. In 1936, Gandhiji wrote to her: “From my childhood, I have been trying to make woman realise her dignity…. I am now in search of a woman who would realise her mission. Are you that woman, will you be one?” She believed that alongwith the freedom struggle, we can also fight against the evils of society including the subjugation of women, the purdah system, child marriage and polygamy.

What drew her to Gandhiji that she left her life of luxury and started staying in the Ashram? In a small room, shared by five others, scavenging, cooking, washing and living with Harijan women? In her own words: “When Gandhiji made a call to Indians to join the Army for the freedom struggle, he stressed that women shall be equally acceptable

Role as Activist and Freedom Fighter In 1930, she joined the Civil Disobedience movement. She actively participated in the Dandi March as well as the Round Table Conference 17

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along with Gandhiji. British authorities had appointed her Member of the Advisory Board of Education, but she resigned to take part in the Quit India movement and went to jail in 1942. She was amongst the first to be imprisoned, and she felt proud of it. She carried her spinning wheel (and copies of the Bible and the Gita) with her, and spun a saree which she gifted to “Ba”

Graduate medical students, we should have an institution which will enable young doctor students to have higher education in our own country”. By May 1956, the motion was adopted and the plan for the prestigious institution was born. It took her several years to collect funds for this, using her contacts and the goodwill she earned through her years of work at UN and WHO. For eight years, she presided over the Governing Body of AIIMS. She worked tirelessly for the welfare of nurses and doctors; and made her ancestral holiday home in Summer Hill, Shimla, called “Manorville”, available for their use. By 1961, AIIMS obtained a global reputation as one of the most prestigious institutes along with similar institutions in Canada, USA and Europe. In 1961, Queen Elizabeth and Mrs Kennedy visited AIIMS and were highly impressed.

In 1945-46, she was sent as leader of the delegation of UNESCO to London and Paris. Her participation was brilliant. Thereafter, she was elected to the Constituent Assembly to design the Constitution of India. As a Member of the Sub-Committee on Fundamental Rights, she strongly advocated equal rights for women, and gave a proposal for a Uniform Civil Code and for Universal Franchise

Post Independence (as Health Minister)

World Health Organisation (WHO)

She was the only woman invited by Jawaharlal Nehru to join the Union Cabinet after Independence as Health Minister after Gandhiji insisted on including her name.She remained so for ten years, after which she became a member of the Rajya Sabha. She was also the Minister of Housing, Sports and Local Self Government. Her zeal and contribution to the Health infrastructure of India is unparalleled. She was the driving force behind the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and established the country’s top hospitals and medical colleges. In fact, she inaugurated so many hospitals that the plaques were enough to construct a building!

She led the Indian delegation to the First World Health Assembly and soon became the champion of this new organisation. In 1948, she was the Chairperson of WHO and was unanimously elected President of the Third World Health assembly in 1950 – the first woman, the first Asian, the first non- doctor to be elected as Chairperson. She continued to be the chief delegate for India for five assemblies.When the Malaria Eradication Project of WHO was in financial difficulties, she travelled to European countries and collected funds. She campaigned for the prevention of Malaria, TB and Leprosy. Nearly 400,000 Indian lives were saved by mitigating Malaria. She helped get penicillin from the Canadian government as a “gift to the Health Minister Amrit Kaur”

A Dream Fulfilled: All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)

Contribution to International Red Cross

In February 1956, she introduced the Bill in the Lok Sabha and spoke from her heart:

She was Chairperson of Indian Red Cross for fourteen years

“It has been my cherished dream that for the Post

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First Convention in Poona. At that time, she was in England due to her ill health. She wrote

She introduced the National Sports Club at Patiala.

“Though I was away at that moment, I rejoiced when I read about the formation of the Conference and was present in spirit with the small gathering at Poona”.

She devoted time to plan for health and recreation and believed that no school or college should be recognised unless there is adequate ground for sports. “Games are the birth right of children, especially the rural girls, who should be encouraged to come forward”, she said. A Champion Tennis Player, she was President of the All India Lawn Tennis Association in 1954. The Rajkumari Amrit Kaur Coaching Scheme began during her tenure.

In the Annual Conference of 1931 at Lahore, she was the local member of AIWC Reception Committee. When she became President of AIWC in 1937, in her Presidential Address, she said:

Lady Irwin College

“Sisters, such meagre service as we have been permitted to render, if it humbles us and makes us see ourselves in a true perspective, is the only way where lies progress”. That shows her humility. As Chairperson, AIWC, she often consulted Gandhiji regarding the problems of AIWC. At times, other members also accompanied her to meet Gandhiji. AIWC grew from strength to strength. It had 148 Branches covering all provinces of the country. She believed that Branches should adopt villages and gave clear guidelines how through small committees in the Mohallas, members can reach families and help them grow. At present, AIWC continues to follow those activities. Her inspiration brought thousands of women into this field with the sole aim of working for the people.She devoted thirty eight years of her life to AIWC.

She started a Home Science Undergraduate College in 1932 in the firm belief that the cause of evils in society was that women did not have access to education. She was convinced that for women’s empowerment, this Institute of Home science was very important. Initially, there was a problem of funds. But she believed that “no good cause ever languished for lack of funds. It may languish for want of good workers”. She donated money from her own pocket to keep the college going. Throughout, she was a member of the Governing Body of Lady Irwin College and saw it growing into a Post Graduate College. Even when in prison, her moral support was extended to the College. The All India Women’s Education Fund Association was formed to manage the affairs of this College. She was so proud of this institution that whenever any foreign dignitary visited India, she would surely take them to the college and show them around.In 1961, when Queen Elizabeth and Mrs Kennedy visited India, she took them around the College with great pride and satisfaction.

She never married and transformed herself from Royalty to the Ashram to solitary confinement where she slept on the floor in the company of rats, eating half cooked food with pebbles. On her last journey, on February 7, 1964, so many flowers were placed on her body it seemed as if she was sleeping on a forest of flowers. Tributes poured in from Indian personalities as well as from countries like Switzerland, Australia, USA, UK and from the rest of the world.

All India Women’s Conference (AIWC) Rajkumari Amrit Kaur’s association with AIWC starts from the year of inception – 1927- at the 19

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Branch Activities

Allahabad City Branch By Smt. Ranjana Gulati, President

participated with full enthusism and their videos were sent to her

llahabad City Branch with its Constituent Branch Vandana Childcare Trust organized a program to felicitate women in different fields working tirelessly for society at a Holi Milan event in Hotel Placid on 4th April 2021. Chief guest was Smt. Rita Bahuguna Joshi.

During the lockdown, quality time was spent by our talented members, such as Chandra ji and Usha ji, who have utilized their literacy skills such as reading, writing poems, singing, exercising and also giving daily chore tips. Besides this, helping the needy by distributing masks and ration was

Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhawantu was organised by Smt. Usha Nair in which five members

Ready to distribute seed balls 20

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done in this dark hour of Covid 19. Eco friendly activity was done under Kamini Jain. Seed balls were made by packing seeds in a mixture of rich soil and cow dung and dried in shade and stored. Later these seed balls were dropped in barren lands in the monsoon season by our members and by students of different schools. Members conducted a prayer mission known as Bada Mangal every Tuesday in June. It was initiated by Suparna Agarwal and Bhavna Gaur and they both shared their responsibility every alternate week. This was to pray for the wellness of all the Covid patients and beat negativity all around. Even children made very sweet videos of doing prayer according to all different religions. Prayer meeting

Bihar State Branch, Patna By Smt. Kumkum Narain, Secretary, Bihar State Branch Patna

he first half of 2021 has been quite eventful and equally nonproductive from service point of view. Due to outbreak of second wave of Corona, we were confined to our homes and outdoor activities totally stopped. In spite of all these odds, we conducted virtual election of Bihar State Branch, Patna, which was due since April 2020. On account of the outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020 and subsequent lockdown, we had kept postponing the election since then. On 4th April 2021, we called a meeting to conduct the virtual election. By 24th April 2021 we completed

the procedure and declared the results of the election. On 23rd May, we had the first monthly virtual meeting of the branch. We organized one health awareness camp sponsored by our constituent branch, Gaya Branch, Gaya. The resource persons were Smt. Ankita Kesarvani and Dr Pankaj Mishra from Pratapgarh, UP. They suggested measures of keeping good health and reducing overweight. Our Branches are mostly situated in rural areas. There is a constant communication problem due to poor connectivity. Due to the lockdown, movements are restricted too. Still some branches are very active. 21

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On 4th April, Kshitij Branch organized a post Holi celebration. We honoured our member Shanti Jain for being awarded Padma Shree last year. We could not felicitate her last year due to corona. In this meeting we felicitated her and she presented selfwritten poems and songs. Tragically, we included her in the Executive Committee on 18th April, but she expired on 23rd April.

During the second wave of Corona Tilouthu Mahila Mandal, Tilouthu, adopted ten orphaned children whose parents died due to Corona. They are giving them food and shelter. In April 2021 Bariatu branch, Ranchi distributed 55000 doses of Arsenic album 30 medicines, among old age homes in Bariatu village of Manjhi block, Pithoria village, and Kanke Block .

On 1st May, on the occasion of Labour Day Kshitij Branch distributed four hundred masks in the nearby slums with the help of the Argora Road Police Station In-Charge Shri Vinod Kumar.

In May 2021 food distribution program was conducted jointly by Bariatu Branch, Ranchi and Morabadi Maidan Bachao Samiti , Ranchi. In this program everyday food was prepared by volunteers for two hundred to three hundred needy people. The daily wage workers and their families benefitted from this charity work.

On 7th May,Koderma Branch distributed basmati rice, dal, maida, atta, onions, potatoes, saris and suits worth Rs 45000/- to two hundred Corona victims in the nearby village.

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AIWC Educational Scholarships - Success Stories from Kozhikode By Smt. Bhuvaneswari Ravindran, SCM (Editor’s note: During the half yearly meeting, it was suggested that success stories from recipients of AIWC scholarships should be covered in Roshni. Here are some from Kozhikode.)

suffering from an acute pancreatic ailment, in 2019-20 she completed her four-year course with flying colours, securing 75% marks. She has since got appointment as staff nurse at a reputed hospital in Kozhikode, the IQRA Hospital. A very positive girl, Fidha is smart, confident and very adept at taking sessions on several health-related topics, including Positivity, which are available on YouTube. She recently gave a talk on “Health and Wellness” in a webinar conducted by Bhadra Mahila Samajam, the YouTube link for which is https://youtu.be/JmcOYXaXle8. The audience was quite impressed by the confidence, depth of knowledge and commitment with which she handled the session. She is indeed a role model and inspiration for students receiving the AIWC scholarship.

n the past five years, Bhadra Mahila Samajam, Eranhikkal, Constituent Branch of SUVARNA, AIWC Kozhikode, have been able to help ten girls for undertaking Professional studies with financial support from the Educational Scholarship granted by the AIWC Education Trust. The main Branch, SUVARNA has also been helping one girl, who got admission on merit to a Government Medical College in Kollam securing high scores in the NEET exam, for pursuing her MBBS degree course, with the support of scholarship from AIWC. Of the eleven girls, so far four girls recommended by Bhadra Mahila Samajam, have completed their courses and are gainfully employed. The financial support these girls got from AIWC covered their Tuition fees and helped them in a big way to complete their studies.

2. Kum. Anishma successfully completed her BSc Medical Radio Technology course with distinction and first rank, and joined the prestigious Amrutha Institute of Medical Science, Kochi as Medical Radio Technologist. She received Rs.1,10,000/ over three years (2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20) as educational scholarship from AIWC.

1. Kum. Fidha Nehanu is one of the first girls whose case was recommended by Bhadra. Hailing from a financially weak family, she joined B.Sc. Nursing with the National College of Nursing Pooladikunnu in the year 2016-17. She was granted Rs. 1,10,000/ as financial aid from AIWC over four years from 2016-17 to 2019-20. Despite the fact that she has been

3. Kum. Princy successfully completed the twoyear D. Pharm course (2017-18 and 201819) for which she received Rs.40,000/ as

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- June 2021 2019-20) from Calicut University for which she received Rs 42,000/ as scholarship from AIWC. Having completed the course in 2019, she is employed in a Medical Lab in UAE.

scholarship from AIWC. She is employed as a Pharmacist in a Medical Shop. 4. Kum. Athira successfully completed a twoyear B.Sc. Microbiology course (2018-19,

Fida

Anishma

Princy

Athira

Kalimpong Branch

The eighty-nineth birthday of Honourable Smt. Yuden Pempa Hissey, Patron of AIWC Kalimpong Branch was celebrated virtually on 12th June with floral bouquets, cakes and gifts delivered to her doorstep. We wish her a long, happy, healthy and active life! 24

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Darjeeling Branch By Smt. Gunkeshri Pradhan, Secretary and Smt. Sumi Shrestha, SCM

Women’s Awareness programme on safety at Lubia Jote Baraghari Sabari (Siluguri Constituent Branch) in April 2021

Free cutting and tailoring class for 30 students under BPL by Darjeeling Main Branch.

Garia - Mahamayatala - Jadavpur Constituent Branch, Kolkata By Smt. Basudha Ganguly, President

MJ Constituent Branch arranged relief activities at Nityaberia Nazat North 24 Parganas near Sundarbans West Bengal on 30th June. We crossed the Betni, Raymangal, Bidyadhar I and Dasa rivers, which surround the area. We found on arrival that the villages had been devastated by the cyclone ‘YAAS’ as never before. The Cyclone hit West Bengal on 26th of May 2021. More than five hundred mud houses were destroyed and about five hundred families were in tarpaulin shades. Most of the mud houses were totally ruined. We distributed relief materials including rice 200 kg, pulses 100 kg, new sarees 50, tarpaulin 60 (size 12’ ×15’), Bisleri water 200 litres, milk shakes 210 pieces, ORS 200 pouch, bleaching powder 10 kg.

families, after when our stock was exhausted. Another sixty families were given Tarpaulin for covering roofs Tarpaulin sheets were in great demand, but unfortunately, we did not have enough for all those who waited in the queue. Total beneficiaries were two hundred and thirteen families. Nityaberia village was inundated after Yaas cyclone. Boats plied in waist deep water to rescue people. Now water has receded from houses but rice fields are still under water. People are in distress. Our route was by road to the Nazat ferry ghat, and then by ferry service across Betni river to Kalinagar Ghat. Then we went to Nityaberia village by Toto for nine kilometres. From Kolkata we covered two hundred and thirty kilometres to and fro.

We could provide all relief materials to 153 25

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Our AIWC Team

Cyclone Devastation

Relief Activities 26

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Kakinada Branch By Smt. N. Bhanumati, Secretary

e conducted a two-day workshop on Gender Sensitization at Zilla Praja Parishad High School (co-education), Gaigolupadu on 16-17 April. In the inaugural session we invited Deputy Educational Officer of East Godavari District, Smt. Subhadra and Parents Committee Chairperson Smt. Malleswari. Our Kakinada branch President Dr. P. Chiranjeevini Kumari presided over the meeting. Secretary Smt. Bhanumathi and Treasurer Padmajavani attended the meeting. Dr. Sailaja and Dr. R.V. Ramana Rao were resource persons in the first day. They interacted with boys and girls separately for some time. Then a presentation was made about Gender and Sex. Students were divided into five groups. We asked girls to draw boy image and boys to draw girl image. All the participants completed their task within the time allotted. After that they explained their findings on boy and girl.

individually and gathered their views as a man and as a woman and explained the importance of the family and its impact on the structure of society. We asked them not to discriminate against others. ACCEPTING BODILY CHANGES: Our Resource Persons, R.V. Ramana Rao (male doctor) and Smt. Sailaja (female doctor), conducted an interactive session with boys and girls separately. Participants expressed their doubts and fears about their body changes. GENDER BASED VIOLENCE: We explained to participants what is violence and what is gender based violence. Participants were asked what they know about each. They recounted some incidents about violence and discussed who is a victim. They understood the severities of gender bias. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: We told them Meena’s story. All the participants came from middle class families in the low income group. They knew many stories like “Meena”. Each group told separate stories like these with a lot of emotion.

GENDER STEREOTYPES were explained, and activities were done in participatory method. We gave some words about qualities and asked them to divide them by gender. After charting was done, we questioned them how can they define like this and explained to them the determinations of society which can we change. We asked boys their expectations on girls and asked girls their expectations on boys. Each participant wrote down their views on charts. Similar exercises were conducted on stereotypes in cultural traditions, division of labour etc. The resource persons explained about Gender Sensitization and equality.

SEXUAL HARRASSMENT: The resource person asked participants to draw an outline of the body on paper. Some students wrote down their experiences about their relatives and strangers when they travelled in bus or auto. GOOD TOUCH/BAD TOUCH: The resource person explained some situations and asked the students to recognise the difference between good touch and bad touch. She explained how they could protect themselves with self-defense techniques and enacted a role play also.

On the second day, societal norms, expectations and pressures were explored. In this session Resource Persons interacted with boys and girls 27

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UNDERSTANDING HOMOSEXUALITY: Our Resource Person explained about GAYS and HOMOSEXUALS and asked the boys and girls to act like them. She gave some statements on the blackboard and asked the students to respond to those sentences with AGREE or DISAGREE cards with reasons for their response.

CONCLUSION: After completion of the two-day programme, participants gained a lot of confidence and they felt that they could train another group of GENDER PROMOTERS. Lunch, snacks and drinking water were arranged for all the participants.

Vikas Mahila Sangam, Mayur Vihar, Phase-2. Plantation Challenge Programme By Smt. Sapna Acharya, Secretary

Plantation Challenge Programme saplings would be distributed among members. Specifically, drumstick and papaya plants were selected because of their numerous health benefits. As drumstick is considered a miracle tree, the products from this tree have many uses. It fights inflammation, lowers blood sugar level and protects the liver. However, papaya is the most nutritious fruit. The leaves of papaya are useful for dengue-affected patients. The small effort created a grand attraction among the members. Adopt one tree and get a benefit for good health is the best message to all.

ikas Mahila Sangam , a constituent branch of East Delhi, AIWC organized Plantation Challenge Programme on the occasion of World Environment Day dated 5th June 2021. By observing the challenging time due to Covid-19, members were concerned about propagating awareness about the importance of planting vegetation which is beneficial for health. Instead of choosing any other plants this time, VMS decided to distribute drumstick and papaya plants. Hybrid seeds were ordered from Raichur Karnataka to make the saplings from these seeds. Under the

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Meerut Branch By Smt. Beena Agarwal, SCM Oath Ceremony (Sthapna Divas)

greeted on 2nd April 2021 at Bhagwan Palace Meerut Cantt. The “Hindu Nav Varsh” and “Navratri” was celebrated by presenting the nine forms of Devi Maa by the members.

he New Team of Sanjeevni Mahila Sanstha, Meerut took oath and the old members were

Covid-19 Vaccination Camp Sanjeevni Mahila Sanstha organised a one-day Covid-19 Vaccination Camp for all 45+ age group people, free of cost for all at Sanjeevni Dispensary on 23rd June 2021,in which 158 people got vaccinated by Dr. Anees Rizvi and team.

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Nanthankote Vanitha Samithi, Branch of TVPM, Trivandrum

Constituent

By Smt. K. Krishnakumari, Secretary

doctor would be available twice a week. Even though Kerala is a state blessed with a robust public health care system, the place we had chosen was populated and the primary health centres were far and crowded. Moreover, the success of medical camps under the leadership of AIWC and members of Haritha Vanitha Samithi had reduced the distance between modern healthcare and the rural population of Vellayani. Mainly, the mental distance between the population and the doctors

ccessible health care to all has been one of the most important tenets of the All India Women's Conference. Nanthancode Vanitha Samithi put forward a small step to achieve this goal at the grassroot level by starting a Primary Healthcare Dispensary at PonnumangalamVellayani. Nanthancode Vanitha Samithi had conducted various health care camps around this area and the participation of people in these camps led NVS to think of opening a dispensary where a

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to provide worm medicines, haemoglobin tablets and folic acid tablets to women and teenagers and we could also at the same time create awareness regarding nutritional needs and menstrual hygiene care.

has reduced - it is their immense trust in us that has motivated us to start a programme like this. After getting the approval for this programme we had inaugurated the dispensary in April in the presence of Smt. R. Sandhya, Ward Counsellor, Kalliyor Panchayat, Dr Renjitha Rajan and members of Vanitha Samithi.

It was been three months since the inception of this programme and we can proudly say that it has been a very successful venture. Our dispensary also worked as an information dispersal unit to bring about awareness regarding immunization, sanitation and hygiene, thereby trying to increase the standard of health in rural spaces. Since the main users were women and children, the less advantaged group in rural society, we focused our efforts on child and maternal care and family planning. The biggest advantage of this dispensary was that the medicines were free; therefore it helped the women and the disadvantaged groups to a greater extent.

The doctor was available twice a week. During the functioning hours, women and children constituted the main bulk of patients coming to visit the doctor. Most of the teenage girls reported to the clinic with a complaint of fatigue and dysmenorrhea. Most of them were found to be anaemic and were prescribed an iron tonic. Women were especially comfortable to discuss their health issues with the doctor, who made them understand the health issues and guided them to the specialist at the referral hospital. Other bulk of patients included people who came for regular checkups of BP, diabetes etc. Regular diabetic patients visited the clinic for the dressing of their wounds. Some cases of trauma required dressing of wounds and they were referred to PHCs for further examination. Many patients visited the clinic with cough, cold, body pain and fever. The basic examination was done, medicines were given, and they were guided appropriately. We were able

In the coming months, we will still work in a people-centred approach upholding the spirit of “health for all” and bring about health equity. Our goal for the coming months is to involve people in their own health care and also to take support of the leaders at the panchayat level to bring increased awareness regarding common infectious diseases and how to prevent them.

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Pathankot Kandi Branch By Smt. Raj Dogra, SCM

n World Health Day, with the collaboration of Anandvahini, our NGO AIWC Priyadarshini, Kandi area, Pathankot, arranged a Covid vaccination camp in Mirpur Colony. A team from our branch also got vaccinated in the camp. Our team members, S/Smt Raj Dogra, Sheetal Mehra,Veena Dogra, Sudesh Sharma, Renuka Chaudary, Santosh Rana, Sunita Jandial Gogi etc. gave full cooperation.

Smt. Raj Dogra at the camp

Pathankot Branch

Dr. Beena Mishra, SCM, and Branch members at the Free Vaccination Camp, Pathankot 32

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Swashakthi Abivruddi Samsthe Branch, Raichur Dist, Karnataka

Vaccination Drive

Mask Distribution

RPM Women’s Welfare Adambakkam, Chennai

Association, By Smt. Preetha Raj, President

n the wake of the second wave of the Corona pandemic, RPMWWA decided to create an awareness among the people on the importance of staying home and abiding by Government Rules. On 10th May, the members held placards creating slogans, which reminded us about the various do’s and don’ts during the lock down. The 4 slogans were STAY HOME STAY SAFE/ ABIDE BY GOVERNMENT RULES / LET’S DRIVE AWAY COVID19 / HAVE STEAM INHALATION, HOT WATER GARGLING, NUTRITIOUS FOOD. The video of this project was posted in various social media platforms by our members to

serve the purpose of creating awareness among the people. World Environment Day is celebrated worldwide on June 5th every year. In 2019, Project Coordnator of RPM Women’s Welfare Association, Smt. Indumathi Anand, conducted a session on Terrace Gardening, explaining in detail how she started growing plants on the terrace as a hobby, which grew into a big Terrace Garden containing 70 different varieties of trees, vegetables, fruits, flowers, herbs, greens etc. She encouraged all the members to begin gardening at their homes by distributing small saplings and seeds from her own 33

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garden. Inspired by this session many members started their home garden in the balcony and terrace. Pandemic lockdown leading to confinement at homes, helped the members to spare more time to take care and improve their gardens. After two years, this year in June, our members were asked to flaunt the pictures of their garden and the result was breathtakingly amazing.

Srinivasa Gandhi Nilayam, Alwarpet (WIA Branch)

By Smt. Vasanthi Ramesh, Secretary and SCM WIA, Chennai

ur free dispensary and tuition center were running successfully till April . The breakout of the second wave of Covid-19 made our whole nation stand still. The sudden surge in the corona virus compelled us to close our tuition center and free dispensary due to the new lockdown. But for a short period of time our hands were idle. One of our members suggested the idea of catering either breakfast or lunch to the front line workers of our nearby primary health center. As the sudden surge brought total chaos, front line workers such as medical officers, nurses and ward attenders were not able to cope up with their daily routine of packing and bringing food from home. End result was that they started skipping their meals. Upon hearing this pathetic situation, SGN decided to cater them lunch. Our nearby UPHC, San Thome, is a center for deputing nurses, ward attenders and helpers for the mainstream govt hospitals to treat the corona affected patients. We started providing twenty five front line workers lunch for about nineteen days (20.05-21- 07.06.21). As nutritious food is

our motto, varieties of rice, vegetables, sprouts salad and boiled legumes were catered by us. On the requisition of the medical officer, we supplied paracetamol, Calpol 500mg, 5000 tablets as the vaccination aid for the vaccination drive. 34

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Vanitha Vidya Samasthe, Bengaluru By P Vijaya Lakshmi, SCM, President 1. We distributed 30 provision and medical kits at Harohalli Govt Hospital to the tribals on 27th and 29th May of 2021.

2. We distributed Grocery kits to poor and needy families around Chinthamani off Kolar district on 16th June 2021

3. We distributed Provision kits to Thaan Da tribal community on 16th June 2021 who do not have any kind of basic amenities. There were twenty two families at this Camp just off 17 kms from Ramanagara towards Magadi.

4. We distributed food kits to the people living in Anekal forest range on 19th June 2021 I hope all of us can keep doing our best to help the ones in need during these hard times.

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Webinars

Webinar on Personal Financial Planning RPM Women’s Welfare Association, Chennai (Affiliated to WIA)

By Smt. Preetha Raj, President

PM Women’s Welfare Association organized a webinar on 11th April, to create an awareness on planning finances effectively and saving available resources in the right way. The Guest speaker of the day was Shri Binu Raj, Partner Director of Engineering and Site Leader, Microsoft, a highly qualified and experienced financial planner, and brother of President Smt. Preetha Raj. Vice President Smt. Preetha Suresh rendered a warm welcome address. Introduction of the guest speaker was done by our President Smt. Preetha Raj Shri Binu Raj started the session with an introduction about the current economic scenario, emphasizing the need to plan and save our earnings judiciously for future requirements. He also expressed concern over the attitude of the present day youth spending on various unwanted items. The session covered topics on the need to save, the right way to save, analyzing the returns from savings, saving for post retired life, investments in the right areas etc. The presentation was ably supported with an excellent PPT. The aspects highlighted by the Speaker regarding the right way to channelize our savings were: Û Investing in Mutual Funds after studying about the background of the MF for a duration of more than 10 years. Û Buying a first property yes, but no to second property if it is on loan. Û Investment in Gold 5-10% Û Knowing about KYC before investing in

Mutual Funds Û Investment in Bonds for less than 5 years after studying about the stability of the Company Û Tax Saving Schemes Û Avoid Stock market, if not constantly watching it. Elaborating further, the speaker emphasized the importance of starting to save from an early age and the returns that it would fetch. The investment, if done judiciously in the right form will produce good returns, instead of investing in just Fixed Deposits or Recurring Deposits. Insurance is not a form of saving, as the returns are low. Answering queries, the speaker explained about the various websites, from where the investor can verify the credibility of the Company in which they are planning to invest. Star ratings are given to companies which invite Mutual Funds, and our investment should be based on the star ratings. He also stated that, mutual funds provide better results only after a considerable period of wait. The National Pension Scheme was discussed in detail as this is the best way of investment for persons working in Private Sector as it provides both tax relief and Pension post retirement. The Guest Speaker also shared his PPT with all the listeners of the day with his Google group id, stating that he can be contacted in the group for any assistance with regard to investment. The educative and enlightening session came to an end with ‘Vote of Thanks’ by RPMWWA Secretary, Smt. Bharathi Srinivasan. 36

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Webinar on Groundwater Use and Conservation by Suvarna, Kozhikode By Smt. Bhuvaneswari Ravindran, Secretary, SUVARNA, Kozhikode

t was raining cats and dogs in Kerala, with the onset of monsoon in June. Usually, Kerala gets double the quantity of rainfall as compared to many Indian States. Still, who can imagine that when it comes to ground water availability, the State’s graph is down to almost the lowest level? That too when the State boasts of 44 rivers to its credit. This revelation by Adv. Mohanan K.V., a Senior Hydrogeologist retired from the Kerala Department of Ground Water Authority had a startling effect on participants during a WEBINAR on “Groundwater Use and Conservation” organised by SUVARNA, on 14th June 2021 via Zoom meeting, in conjunction with World Environment Day.

in terms of water consumed was interesting to note. Some points like requirement of water for production of one kg. of wheat was only 1000 liters, whereas for producing one kg of beef, the quantity of water required was as high as 15,500 liters were quite baffling. Another eye opener was that we use or waste a huge amount of water every day for our daily ablutions – using up (or wasting) 225 litres of water when we take a shower bath of 10 minutes – and while brushing our teeth, if we keep the taps off, each time we save 17 litres of water and so on. Talking of alarming levels of depletion of ground water levels, particularly in Kerala, Adv. Mohanan listed the unbridled activities of clay mining, conversion of wetlands, laterite mining, indiscriminate pumping, sand mining, deforestation, etc. as its main reasons. All these point towards how man is exploiting this precious and scarce resource. He also took pains to explain possible solutions to guard against depletion, such as using artificial recharging methods by way of Terracing; building, Contour bunds, Check dams etc. Participants found the discussion on the methods of roof water harvesting and filtering of the water interesting and practical. According to Adv. Mohanan, water literacy was avoiding

Through an exhaustive presentation, Adv. Mohanan tried to dispel some other notions about ground water - which is any sub-surface water available and drawn through tube-wells, borewells, or open wells. Though 71% of the earth’s surface is water covered, of this whole water available on earth, only 3% is fresh water and the rest 97% is saline water. Even in that 3% of fresh water, surprisingly, 2% is not in usable form and ground water available for our actual consumption is only 0.6%. That all our activities, whether our daily routines, or production of various crops, food items or industrial goods or construction, all can be measured and valued, 37

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pollution and misuse of water; adoption of water recycling and re-use; water conservation methods; and water recharge methods.

ourselves to be responsible and learn its judicial use. Remember - conservation is as good as creation of fresh resources.

Though the subject seemed highly technical, the speaker with his thorough knowledge and simple articulate presentation made it interesting and educative. There was a very healthy interactive session where several valid points and concerns were discussed and de-mystified. The talk stressed upon the importance of conserving water and being a scarce natural resource, we can promise

If we make conscious efforts with small actions, for minimizing overflows of taps and pausing a minute every time before we use excessive water, we are taking a step in the right direction. The audience and the readers being educated women and responsible home makers, let us hope that this knowledge will percolate down to families and into the society faster.

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Dr. Mrs. Manorama Bawa, Patron, AIWC left for her heavenly abode on 5th June 2021. Roshni joins all members of AIWC in extending our heartfelt condolences to her family. Dr. Bawa began her association with All India Women’s Conference when she was elected Executive Committee Member in 1974. She was Secretary General from 1996 to 1999, and President from 2005 to 2008. Her academic qualifications include a gold medal and a U.G.C. fellowship for her PhD. thesis, which was titled "Impact of welfare programmes for women and children in rural Bihar” She was deeply committed to social causes and her valuable guidance will be deeply missed by all who worked with her towards the betterment of Indian society.

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Webinar On Health And Wellness Bhadra Mahila Samajam, Constituent Branch of Suvarna, Kozhikode

By Smt. Bhuvaneswari Ravindran, Secretary and SCM, Suvarna, Kozhikode

hadra Mahila Samajam, Eranhikkal, Constituent Branch of AIWC Kozhikode - Suvarna, organised a Webinar on “Health and Wellness" on 29 June 2021 via Zoom platform. In her talk, Kum. Fidha Nehanu the Resource Person, reminded us that “Health indeed is Wealth” and, in the current scenario, "Prevention is Better than Cure". She urged all to take care of health, howsoever demanding our busy life may be and even when we have to chase career, wealth etc.

as persons who have recovered from COVID 19 or have Asthma. In this Chinese method, one sits straight on a chair (or lies down on the back), relaxing muscles by easy stretching. Next, take a long breath through the mouth, inhaling slowly and hold the air in the neck area for 5 seconds; then swallow the breath and saliva as if swallowing food. Immediately after swallowing, exhaling is done deeply and slowly through nostrils (not mouth); the process is repeated seven times.

Kum. Fidha, a recipient of Educational Scholarship granted by the AIWC Education Trust, graduated with flying colours in nursing and is currently employed with a renowned hospital in Kozhikode. Her talk centred around four main factors symbolised by the acronym “E.A.R.N” - Exercise; Activity; Rest and sleep; and Nutrition.

Discussing “Activities”, the role of Yoga and Meditation to help relieve stress, maintain mental health and having a positive mindset was emphasised. She equated our body to a mobile phone which needs timely re-charging, saying that our body also needs adequate “Rest and sleep” for it to get recharged and also to get our cells repaired, which happens during sleep. Stress from lack of adequate sleep can lead to several illnesses such as diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression etc., while too much sleep, especially during the afternoon, can cause obesity.

The importance of Exercise - be it breathing exercise or walking - for people of our generation who are mostly lacking in manual work, was emphasised. She pointed out that those who walk for losing weight need to do it for at least 3045 minutes every day because fat stored in the body begins to is burn out only after the initial 15-20 minutes of walk. She also demonstrated a simple “Tortoise breathing exercise”, which is very relevant, specially for those who need to increase lung power for more oxygen intake, such

Speaking of Nutrition, Kum. Fidha drove home the importance of having a balanced diet containing Protein, Carbohydrate, Calcium, Zinc, Fat, Vitamins, Iron etc. We should try to get all the nutrients from the right kind of food. Being in a women’s group, Kum. Fidha focussed on Calcium,

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- June 2021 Iron is another important nutrient, particularly for women. Haemoglobin in our blood, which carries oxygen to other parts of the body, has two components - the Haemo part contains iron and Globin is protein. Normal level of haemoglobin for women should be 12-16 gm/deciliter and for men 14-17 g/dL. Its deficiency leads to Anaemia, with symptoms of paleness, whiteness in nails and under the eyes, white patches in tongue, palpitation while climbing, headache, swelling in feet, fatigue etc. For iron, we can include Soya seeds, Oats, Dry fruits, dates and raisins, fig, small fish, Green leafy vegetables, especially Palak (Spinach), Drumstick leaves, Til, Pomegranate etc., in our diet.

Protein and Iron and the food items that contain these. Women in general have Calcium deficiency causing joint pain, muscle pain, hair loss, brittle nails etc. At the same time, she warned against taking excessive Calcium because during the calcification process, by-product Oxalate produced by Calcium supplements may stick to the walls of the kidney and turn into stone over a period of time. She suggested drinking adequate water after taking Calcium supplements to wash away the remnants. Some Calcium rich food items are: small fish varieties, Broccoli leaves, Cabbage, Ladies finger, Green leafy vegetables, Egg, Milk and milk products, Gooseberry (Amla), Oranges, etc. It was quite surprising to learn that 100 gms of Sesame (Til) seeds contain 925 mg of Calcium as against 125 mg found in 100 ml milk.

During the session we received some useful tips like: replace sugar with jaggery, which is rich in iron, for sweetness; processed soya chunks have little nutrient value, use soya bean seeds was recommended; opting for steamed food instead of fried; making salads, soups or spreads using nutrient rich foods like leafy vegetables, carrots, dal etc. to make these appealing and attractive for children.

Protein, an important macronutrient in every cell in our body including skin, nail, ligaments, blood, hair, muscle, and bone, is the building block or foundation of our body. Requirement of Protein for adults and children was stated as 1 gram/kg and 1.2 gm/kg of weight respectively. Its deficiency can affect functioning of the brain, cause diabetes, hormonal imbalance, digestion problem, PCOD complaints in women, and lead to several other problems such as brittle nails, hair loss, muscle pain, lack of immunity, aging, wrinkles, lack of concentration etc. While meat, chicken, fish and egg have abundant protein, vegetarians can get Protein from dairy products, green leafy vegetables, cereals, dals etc.

The basic thrust of Fidha’s talk was that by ignoring health, we invite diseases and end up spending a lot of our valuable time and wealth in fighting disease. Investing in nutrient rich food is much more economical than buying medicines and settling hospital bills. Our members were quite impressed by the confidence and energy with which Fidha approached the subject and gave useful tips.

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Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu! A Webinar by AIWC South Zone –B (Report prepared by Juhi Mol B.M., student, Government College for Women, Vazhuthacadu, Trivandrun and member of AIWC Yuvashakthi Volunteer Group)

webinar was organized on 9th May 2021, to spread positivity and hope in the backdrop of the prevailing atmosphere of pandemic and gloom. The webinar included live and video messages, recitals and prayers from AIWC members and well-wishers across the globe. The webinar started with a recitation of the theme by Smt. Radha Devi from Trivandrum. This was followed by the recital of a Vedic prayer by President, AIWC, Smt. Sheela Kakde. Next was a message from Rajayogini Dr. Binny Sareen, Founder, Global Initiative for Peace, Bramakumaris, Mt. Abu, on the benefit of meditation and yoga to refresh the mind. Smt. Kuljit Kaur, Secretary General, AIWC recited a Sikh prayer. Smt. Mythily Jagannathan read a poem suggested by Smt. Santosh Aggarwal, Vice President who was unable to join the webinar. Smt. Bhavana Joshipura, Vice President, recited prayers. Senior members such as Smt. Janaki Rajaram from Delhi, Dr. Meena Pimplapure from Indore, Smt. Mythily from Delhi and many others also joined with prayers and recitations. An audio of the recital of the al Fatihaah of 1Surah of The Quran was played by Dr. Jameela Begum who gave a brief introduction about the same. A rendition of the Maha Mrithyunjaya Mantra, which is a prayer to Lord Shiva to protect devotees from untimely death followed a brief explanation of the Mantra by Dr. Kamini. Kum. Arshinder shared a video

of herself chanting from Sikh holy book on the banks of river Ganga. The Mrithyunjaya Mantra from the Rig Vedic text was chanted also by Smt. Lakshmi Nandakumar from Suvarna, Kozhikode. Smt. Sindhu of Sathgamaya constituent branch of AIWC Chirayinkeezh sang a melodious prayer in Malayalam. Kum. Ajitha and Dr. Parvathy Menon from Priyadarshini Mahila Samajam, AIWC Neyyatinkara branch performed live singing of Bhajans. Parvathy from AIWC Chirayinkezh recited the Guru Sthuthi. Little Leela joined from Brazil with the Lord’s prayer in Portuguese followed by chanting of Asato Ma Sat Gamaya. Jincy, daughter of Smt. Maria George of Suvarna, Kozhikode, rendered a very melodious Christian song. There was a recorded video from YouTube of the famous ‘Lead Kindly Light!’. Kum. Dominique of WCEF, a France based organization and partner of AIWC in several programs, recited a prayer in French. Young Kavya Ramakrishnan joined with a prayer from Chennai. Smt. Susan Idiculla from Trivandrum had sent a beautiful video of the well-known Jim Reeves favourite ‘Where do I go from here?’ which had Dr. Idiculla playing the song on guitar against the background of some stunning visuals capturing the spirit of the song. Smt. Geetalakshmi of Suvarna AIWC Kozhikode branch recited the Dhanwanthari Maha Mantra and a stanza from the Narayaneeyam, a

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- June 2021 members were also shared in the webinar. There was a beautiful video featuring a dance by Garima Arya to the first stanza of the popular song ‘Itni Shakthi Hame Dena Data’. Smt. Shweta Talwar and a child from the hills sang two stanzas of the same song on video. The webinar concluded with a full rendition of the song, with all participants joining in the singing.

prayer to Lord Guruvayoorappan for health and protection from ailments. A number of videos submitted by members of AIWC, dances by Smt. Ranjana Gulati and Smt. Kiran Gupta and songs by Pramita Srivastava and Superna Aggarwal (all from Allahabad City branch), prayers by Kum. Krutangi and Kum. Shubhangi from Maninagar, Ahmedabad; Mousumi Maity of East Kolkata Constituent Branch, Smt. Chandrani Neogie, MIC-Short Stay Homes, Geeta Balasubramanium from Suvarna Kozhikode anda short message from Smt. Nukala Bhanumathi, Kakinada were also played. Smt. Sheveta Talwar had arranged for a video message from Shri Vaishnava Charanan Das of ISKON on giving up materialistic desires for a joyful life. The Mahabhodhi International Mahabodhi Centre shared a video message from Bhikhu Sanghsena. Messages were received from Rabbi Ezakiel Isaac Malekar of Judah Hyam Synagogue, Delhi and Syed Yadir Gurdezi Gaddi Nashin of Khwaja Garib Nawaz Ajmer Sharif. Several other videos suggested by AIWC

Smt. Usha Nair, Zonal Organiser, AIWC South Zone-B gave the vote of thanks. She expressed gratitude to the office bearers and all the participants as well as to everyone who shared videos and messages for the webinar. Special thanks were offered to Smt. Bhuvaneswari Ravindran, Suvarna Kozhikode who had beautifully coordinated the webinar and to Smt. Shweta Talwar, Assistant Secretary, AIWC who had obtained messages from significant persons of different faiths. A full capacity of 100 participants attended the webinar which lasted more than two hours. It was also live streamed on YouTube. The link is https://youtu.be/ AurBChKbE1w

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Smt. Santa Das, of Samyukta Branch, Punnalal, Trivandrum District; erstwhile Vice President and Zonal Organiser of AIWC, passed away on 25th May 2021. Roshni conveys our condolences to her family.

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Women in Tagore's Writing (With special focus on Chitrangada and Streer Patra) By Smt. Indrani Sengupta, MIC- Art and Culture

webinar was organised on May 8, 2021 to observe the Birth Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. The resource person was Prof Sharbani Mukherjee. She spoke on the vast landscape of Tagore's literature. Being born in an enlightened family of Bengal, his creativity had ample scope of blossoming to its fullest. Tagore was much ahead of times and the presence of enlightened and educated women in his family helped him to guage the intricacies of the women's mind. Tagore developed a rare sensibility towards women. The inhuman neglect of body and soul of women in society was appalling and Tagore reflected his concern through his women characters Tagore's women protested, some silently, some openly. For example, the silent protest of Chandara in the short story Shasti (Punishment), where she accepts the death sentence for a crime she hasn't committed. Her husband who claims to love her asks her to take the blame of the crime instead of his brother. She is too shocked to react and accepting the blame is her protest. The same silent protest is seen in the smile of Haimanti when she tells her father not to be so concerned about her, in the farewell scene knowing in her heart of hearts that it was the last time she was seeing her father. Hers is story of utter neglect by in-laws. On the other hand

Mrinal in Streer Patra(Wife's Epistle) writes in her letter courageously that she is not returning home and decides to live life on her own terms. Bindu's death has shown her the place of women in society. Chitrangada, the princess of Manipur proudly declares to Arjun,the great Pandava of Mahabharata, that she wants to be treated as an equal, striding through life side by side. Chitrangada and Mrinal are from two widely separated states of life but the urge to liberate themselves from restrictions placed by a society ridden by gender bias is common to both protagonists. This is where the women of today can relate to the women of Tagore fighting to free themselves from shackles imposed by patriarchal mores. Tagore in his poems, stories, novels, drama and dance drama has empowered women with admirable qualities, protesting against the ill treatment meted out in the garb of prevalent social practices. Each character is unique in portrayal. Tagore was writing at a time when the first wave of feminism was gaining the world attention, yet he was already reflecting the feminism of the third wave His was a genuine concern for suffering women. The true success of such webinars is influencing participants to read Tagore in original or translation and enrich themselves.

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Legal Eagle

Uniform Civil Code By Smt. Jyotika Kalra, SCM- Ujjawal Women’s Association and Member NHRC (Editor’s Note: This article appeared in India Today on 10th August 2021. It was sent to Roshni by its author. Views expressed are personal.)

before the law with regard to his/her personal laws. The existing personal laws are also not solemn, they need to be relooked also as the laws in themselves, lack uniformity. For example, Section 2 (2) of the Hindu Marriage Act (HMA), excludes the applicability of the law to the Scheduled Tribes, sections 5 (5) & 7 state that customary practices will override the provisions of law.

niform Civil Code is debated as if it is a controversial topic -- if the same is secured, a section of society will benefit at the cost of the other section, and so is it at all required? This is an incorrect question. Instead, it should be seen only from one angle and that is the angle of human rights, “equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family”.

Not only that laws lack uniformity, there are multiple laws on the same subject. For example, Sikhs and Arya Samajis are covered by HMA, but there are two distinct laws dealing with their marriages.

This debate is not recent. It goes back to almost 200 years. Lex Loci Report of 1840 recommended that personal laws should be kept outside the realm of codification.

A LONG PROCESS As is being said, unification of the code is not a destination but a journey. The era towards unification of personal laws dealing with succession, maintenance, marriage or adoption (secular laws) started in 1925 when the Indian Succession Act dealt with all the testamentary succession irrespective of the religion of the person writing the testament or the will.

This reservation about the codification of personal laws continued even during the Constituent Assembly debates. Mohd Ismail was of the view that Muslim personal laws should be exempted from UCC. B Pocker Saheb said even the Hindu organizations are against UCC. It is being argued that primarily the challenge is that UCC is pitched against Article 25 of the Constitution of India, which guarantees the right to practice, profess and propagate religion.

The law of maintenance of wife, children and parents etc. was provided under Section 125 of CrPC. Penal laws regarding harassment due to dowry and recently, the law on protection of women from domestic violence have been widely practiced.

As a matter of fact, in almost all religions, personal laws have been codified despite having the fundamental right to religion. UCC is required to ensure that each citizen gets equal treatment

A similar secular law was the Child Marriage 44

Roshni Restraint Act, which was recently amended in 2006. There had not been any opposition to these laws by any community despite the fact that they dealt with personal matters.

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property for Hindu women came in bits and pieces. In 1935, Hindu women got limited right to property. In 1956, she got equal absolute right to property in succession and finally, a daughter got equal rights to the coparcenary property and agricultural or rural lands in 2005.Equal rights cannot be ensured just by one stroke. It requires consistent efforts and commitment for a long period of time. My purpose of giving the example of Hindu law dealing with right to property of women was to emphasise that there was no unification in property rights of Hindu women. It was different at different points in time.

The most recent secular law is CARA guidelines dealing with the adoption of children.

JUDGMENTS SETTING THE TONE OF UCC We also have judgments by the Supreme Court and High Courts, which deal with the contradictions in law and settle controversies with judgments. To begin with the Shah Bano case, which ensured maintenance for Muslim women under CrPC, Sarla Mudgal case, which held that in the case of conversion to Islam, just for marriage, the marriage would be void, Shayara Bano case on triple talaq, independent thought case, where the court held that sex after marriage with a girl below 18 years of age will be rape.

THE WAY FORWARD There may be issues in all personal laws which need to be addressed and there are areas which have not yet been codified. First exercise should be identification of all personal laws, their classification as per the religion and further identifying areas of personal laws which have not yet been codified.

As has been said in the beginning about the tribals being kept out of the applicability of HMA, the 2021 judgment by Delhi High Court highlighted this issue and mentioned that conflicting provisions in different personal laws create problems for young people belonging to different religions.

Also, we need to identify the contradictions in the existing laws and suggest the removal of those contradictions. In order to ensure equal and inalienable rights of all, at the first incidence, the laws should be codified wherever required. These codified laws should be in line with the existing secular laws and different judgments on the subject. Once these laws are codified, each law will automatically stand the scrutiny of Part 3 of the Constitution, i.e. the part dealing with the fundamental rights.

STAGES OF CHANGE The manner in which UCC was dealt with by the British in 1840, the issue is discussed with same apprehensions even two hundred years later. The Shariat Application Act of 1937 protects the application of different laws as far as the Muslim Personal Law is concerned, but despite this, many personal laws of Muslims have been codified. The last in the row is the law of 2019, protecting Muslim women's right of marriage.I am emphasising that the unification of the code will require reconsideration of personal laws relating to all religions, including Islam. Equal rights to

UCC is something which can never be answered in ‘Yes or No’. It has no one word answer. It is a process which has been going on and must continue to ensure rights of all members of society. The unification of code is not possible until society is serious about codification of the code. Codification is a pre-requisite for unification.

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 April

- June 2021 SUBSCRIBE TO ROSHNI!

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Roshni

 April

- June 2021

ll hindi section ll eSa dkSu! ukjh rsjh aßLo;Þ dh [kkst! vflLVsaV lsØsVsjh 'ksork jk; ryokj eSa dkSu\ eSa dkSu gw¡] eSa dkSu gw¡A

Njgjh ckfydk cu [kkst iq'iks ds f[kyus dk ekSle]

eSa dkSu dh vKkr I;kl us eq>s igqapk;k]

vkbuk ds lkeus mUen xzLr brjkus dk ;ksou]

ckfydk ls] cqvkjh & cgw ls]

es?k cjl] cu lkSa/kh feêh dh [k'kqcwA

cgqer dh igpku]

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esa o`)k rdA

rksM+ csfM+;k¡ ik;y dh]

feyh rks igpku [kwc]

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dbZ :i esaA dy & dy ukfn;k lh cgh rw]

dj/kuh dqafBr dkjkxkj cuh!

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vcyk ugha] rw lcyk cuA

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l`f"V dh vuqikr] fjrq jktrw]

dks[k ls dQu dh nwjh rw]

viuh lq[khZ fy[k Mky rw]

lesVs lc dh egRodka{kk,a rwA

u;k jp ,d lalkj rw¡A

fj'rks ds /kkxs] nkf;Ro ds dk¡Vs] eerk us ckVs]

ifjp; dh çLrkouk]

dB iqryh lh c¡/kh & ck¡/kh ukph rwA

fç;rek esa Lo;a dks igpkuuk]

rw dkSu\ ijNkbZ us iwNk]

fojçl qls fojkaxukA

esus dgk dbZ fj'rsA

,d u;k lQj rw yka?kukA

oks cksyh rw dgk¡ bl lcesa\

rsjh ;s p.Mh lh ykfyek] nqxkZ] y{eh]

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ljLoLrh lh HkkoukA

vkt lquk] viuh pkgr ds xhr]

ueu rq>s] vkt gj O;fäRo esa rsjs igpkuukA 47

Roshni

 April

- June 2021

6 csfV;k¡&&&& csfV;k¡ gksrh gSa ,d migkj Ã'oj dh rjQ+ ls nks dqyksa dks c<+kus okyh nks oa'kksa dks pykus okyh llqjky dh ft+Eesokjh rks fuHkkrh gh gSa ij ek;ds dks Hkh dgk¡ Hkwyikrh gSa llqjky ds fy, fonk gksrh gSa tc ek¡ cki dks vklw¡ ns tkrh gSa rc csVk pkgs NksM+ ns

ek¡ cki dk lkFk csVh lkFk [kM+h ut+j vkrh gS nsdj viuk dksey gkFk 'kknh ds ekgkSy esa mYykl Hkj nsrh gS x+ex+hu ekgkSy dks Hkh gYdk cuk nsrh gSa bl fy, esjh fourh gS ;gh csfV;ksa dk frjLdkj gks u dHkh mudk dgÈ Hkh vieku u gks mUgsa ges'kk lEeku nks lEeku nks l-------larks"k jk.kk

Vice President AIWC Priyadarshini Kandi Area Pathankot

Jagriti Women’s Conference, Haridwar By Dr Karuna Sharma, Secretary ds laL—r foHkkx dh vè;{k M‚ çfrHkk 'kqDy us dgk fd ekrk ds :i esa Hkwfe og LFkku gS tgk¡ ge tUe ysrs gSaA ij i`Foh ds :i esa Hkwfe foLrkj dk fo"k; gSA vk;qosZnkpk;Z M‚ dqlqe mikè;k; us o`{kksa dh esfMflu yoSY;w ds fo"k; esa foLrkj ls crk;k rFkk dgk fd o`{kksa dk gekjs thou esa cgqr egRo gSA gesa gj gky esa o`{kksa dk lja{k.k djuk pkfg,A mi'kk[kk roorkee dh vè;{kk mÆeyk iqaMhj us lHkh dk èkU;okn fd;k rFkk osfcukj ds lQy vk;kstu dk Js; lfpo M‚ Hkkjrh 'kekZ dks fn;kA

ekg twu esa laLFkk ,oa mi'kk[kk :M+dh }kjk World Environment Day

ij ,d osfcukj dk vk;kstu fd;k x;k ftldk fo"k; Fkk&Þ Hkkjrh; dkO; ijaijk esa i;kZoj.k vkSj ç—fr % ,d Çpru vkSj f'k{kkßA blesa çfrHkkfx;ksa us fgLlk fy;kA eq[; vfrfFk M‚ vkuan Hkj}kt] eq[; f'k{kk vfèkdkjh gfj}kj us XykscyokÉex ds çHkkoij tkudkjh nsrs gq, ;qokvksa dks Çpru ds fy, çsfjr fd;kA fof'k"V vfrfFk mÙkjk[kaM laL—r fo'ofo|ky; 48

Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy-as a student, a doctor and a reformer

The bust of Smt. Sarojini Naidu at AIWC Head Office

Rajkumari Amrit Kaur

Sarala and Prasanna Kumar Ray

Ramanbhai and Vidyagauri Nilkanth

Maharani Chimnabai II in Durbar

Rajkumari Amrit Kaur with Lord and Lady Mountbatten and Maulana Azad at Gandhiji’s funeral

Roshni

April to June 2021

An Ode to the Past Presidents of AIWC

Margaret and James Cousins

Rajkumari Amrit Kaur and Mahatma Gandhi

Margaret Cousins was Secretary in the first year of AIWC in 1927

All India Women’s Conference