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International Women’s Day 2026: “Give to Gain”, a slogan well coined
Opinion | Articles | Joseph M Thohrii | 07-Mar-2026
“I want every girl to know that her voice can change the world”.
(Malala Yousafzai)
India's women have made significant progress since the days when they had to endure severe exploitation and conform to well-defined societal norms. In the last few decades, taboos have been inseparable from women's journey toward emancipation. Such taboos have made women's lives miserable in achieving what they want and crushed their dreams of a bright career, particularly in the fields of education, business, and politics, where societal expectations often limit their opportunities. But today, women in India are slowly coming into their own within the broader context of the social and economic milieu. They have shattered the barriers and initiated significant progress.
If women are to be empowered, it is the bounded duty of “WE MEN” to ensure this. It is believed that a country is considered civilised or developed if the fairer sexes are empowered by giving them special status with honour and dignity. In this country, there is a lack of convergence between belief and action. Our action necessarily doesn’t go in sync with what we believe. For example, India is the birthplace of several goddesses – Jeneni, the mother of the universe; Laxmi, the goddess of wealth; Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom; Durga, goddess of justice; and Sita, the model of perfect womanhood, to name a few. These goddesses are women personified. They are worshipped and glorified across the length and breadth of the country, particularly in the Hindu tradition. But, in this very country, women continue to be deprived of their rights and dignity in many Indian societies. The preference for boy child over a girl is still prevalent, while adult women are subjected to random domestic violence, discrimination in places of work, molestation, rape, etc. In some religious traditions, they are even denied their rightful places in administrative and spiritual positions. Despite the fact that their respective religious texts hold women in high esteem, these conditions persist.
The good news, however, is that this regrettable state of affairs is slowly but steadily changing. Today, women in our country are increasingly challenging men in various fields, and education has proven to be the single factor that has made a significant difference. Given the opportunity, women have outshone men in many areas. They have emerged as toppers in schools and university examinations and in competitive examinations, including the prestigious civil services examinations. They have even broken barriers and entered into professions once considered to be the exclusive domains of men. Their forays into the armed forces as officers are one of the nearest examples. In other words, the story of the Indian women of the 21st century is different from what was commonly known in the past. There is practically no profession where women have not made their marks. We have women engineers, doctors, IAS officers, ministers, CEOs, scientists, politicians, etc., and the list goes on. The “5Cs” for women’s career success often refer to leadership qualities like courage, creativity, curiosity, confidence and communication, helping them navigate workplaces. This has also made a huge change in attitude and outlook towards women. As the famous women's tennis champion Serena Williams once said, “Every woman’s success should be an inspiration to another. We’re strongest when we cheer each other on."
Apart from education, the other factor that may be mentioned as helping the progression of women is the model of matrilineal society, where women are given higher status, as seen in tribes like the Bunt from the region of Tulu Nadu in Southwest India; Nair, an Indian caste from Kerala; and Khasis, Garos, and Jaintias from Northeast India, which exemplify women's pride and empowerment at present in India. Tribes in India like Bunt from the region of Tulu Nadu in Southwest India, Nair, an Indian caste from Kerala, and Khasis, Garos and Jaintias from Northeast India are tribes with a difference. They are examples of women's pride and empowerment at present in India. The attitude towards women and the mindset as sex objects need to be changed. The use of words such as “second sex” or "less capable" and so forth needs to be erased from the male dictionary. Laws on violence and discrimination need to be implemented to protect women's rights and promote gender equality in society. The quota and reservation systems need to be revised for women to ensure equal opportunities in education and employment, thereby promoting gender equality and empowerment. The quote or idiom, “Mould a girl child make a society," needs to be imprinted on everyone. With all these and many other upliftment programs for women, we can make them smile and say to themselves, “I know who I am now." Regarding men, it is often said, 'Behind every successful man, there is a woman'; however, for women, the saying goes, 'Behind every successful woman is herself,' which holds a significant truth.
There are several examples of women in India making significant contributions in government and the corporate world. Women today are leading the change for shaping a sustainable future, which encompasses financial sustainability, community resilience, leadership succession and intergenerational equity. Although much is still needed to ensure that all women enjoy equal rights as men and climb the ladder of life, the beginning is not that discouraging. The theme of International Women’s Day 2026, “Give to Gain", is a call for a mindset rooted in generosity, collaboration and shared progress. It highlights the power of reciprocity: when individuals, organisations and communities invest in women, opportunities expand, systems get strengthened and ultimately the society thrives. A country, a people, and a society must believe that women to can be catalysts of change and development. Most importantly, the self-belief in women about being capable of accomplishing what they aspire to must not diminish, as this belief is crucial for fostering their potential and driving societal progress. “She is rare. She is real. She is remarkable" must be the collective slogan.
(The Author, is a PhD research scholar, School of Social Sciences, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Delhi NCR . He can be reached on mtjo89@gmail.com. Views expressed are personal)
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