Happy International Women's Day - 2025

 यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवताः ।

यत्रैतास्तु न पूज्यन्ते सर्वास्तत्राफलाः क्रियाः ॥ ५६ ॥

Manusmriti : Verse 3.56: "Where women are honored, there the gods are pleased; but where they are not honored, no sacred rite yields rewards." 

World started celebrating International Women's Day (IWD) from 1911. (Recognized in 1975), But In India, women have long been revered as embodiments of strength, grace, and divinity. From the worship of goddesses like Durga (for Strength), Lakshmi (for Wealth & Prosperity), and Saraswati (for Knowledge and Enlightenment) to the everyday reverence for mothers, sisters, and daughters, the cultural ethos of India celebrates the feminine spirit as a source of life and inspiration. 

Indian women have marked remarkable achievements in recent years, breaking barriers and setting new benchmarks:

Sports: In 2023, Indian women athletes shone brightly at the Asian Games, Stars like Manu Bhaker (shooting), Harmanpreet Kaur (cricket), and Lovlina Borgohain (boxing) showcased exceptional talent. Notably, the Indian women’s cricket team achieved parity in match fees with their male counterparts in 2022, a historic move by the BCCI, with Test match fees now at ₹15 lakh per match.

Science: Dr. Tessy Thomas, known as the "Missile Woman of India," continues to inspire as the first woman to lead a missile project (Agni-V). In 2023, women scientists like Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist at WHO, were recognized for their global contributions to health research, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Finance: Nirmala Sitharaman, India’s Finance Minister since 2019, became the first full-time female finance minister, steering the economy through post-pandemic recovery and presenting the 2025 budget. Gita Gopinath, as IMF’s Chief Economist, remains a global economic influencer.

Business: Falguni Nayar, founder of Nykaa, solidified her status as India’s wealthiest self-made female billionaire, with her company’s success in the beauty e-commerce sector earning accolades in 2023. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw of Biocon continues to be a trailblazer in biotech, ranked among Forbes’ most powerful women.

The lives of women in India have undergone transformative changes in recent years, driven by policy, education, and societal shifts. Female literacy rates have risen to around 70% with schemes like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao boosting girls’ education. The 2018 Supreme Court ruling lifting the ban on women entering Sabarimala temple and the criminalization of triple talaq in 2019 reflect strides toward gender equality. The 2023 Women’s Reservation Bill further signals systemic change.

As of today, Indian women are not only achieving milestones but also reshaping societal norms. From the grassroots to global stages, their contributions in politics, sports, science, finance, and beyond reflect resilience and empowerment. International Women’s Day in India, March 8, 2025, will undoubtedly celebrate these victories while pushing for further progress.

Here is how some of great poets described the women by their beautiful poems :

Suryakant Tripathi ‘Nirala’ :

"वह चंचल लहर सी उठी, फिर भी गहराई में स्थिर रही।"

("She rose like a playful wave, yet remained steady in her depths.")  

Kunwar Narayan:

"नारी वह कथा है, जो समय के पन्नों पर अमर रहे।"

("Woman is that tale, immortal on the pages of time.") 

Amrita Pritam:

"मैं नारी हूँ, मेरे भीतर एक सृष्टि पल रही है।"

("I am woman, within me a creation is thriving.") 

Subhadra Kumari Chauhan:

"नारी तुम वो दीप हो, जो तूफानों में भी जलता रहे।"

("O woman, you are that lamp which burns even in storms.")

Bhawani Prasad Mishra:

"वह नदी है जो बहती है, और किनारों को जीवन देती है।"

("She is a river that flows, giving life to the shores.") 

Kedarnath Singh:

"वह पंछी है जो उड़ती है, आकाश को अपना घर बनाती है।"

("She is a bird that soars, making the sky her home.") 

Mahadevi Verma:

"नारी तुम केवल श्रद्धा हो, विश्वास रजत नग पग तल में।"

("O woman, you are not just faith, but the silver mountain beneath the feet of trust.")  

Jaishankar Prasad

"नारी तुम जीवन की कविता, जिसमें हर छंद है अनमोल।"

("O woman, you are the poem of life, every verse priceless.")  

Once again Happy International Women's Day to All. Thanks.