Value of women is not merely that of a birth machine

“A woman is like a tea bag - you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.” - Eleanor Roosevelt “A virtuous woman who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.”proclaimed King Solomon in Proverbs Ch.31:10.Women are the most amazing, beautiful, passionate and remarkable masterpiece ever fashioned by God. She is the embodiment of grace and is venerated as the perpetuating angel of mankind. Her noble characters transcend all political boundaries and goes beyond any artificial human barriers. “Birth machine” literally means “created simply to give birth.”The apprehension regarding women’s role as simply being confined to give birth and serving within the four walls of the kitchen are regarded as obsolete and outdated. The social scene has considerably transformed. Her image has changed from that of a housewife to a valuable and instrumental person in all the spheres of life. Yes! She has proved herself as a potential political leader, a radical social reformer, an efficient administrator, a successful entrepreneur and so on. In fact, her physical weakness is no longer an impediment in getting herself established in the modern world!The schools and colleges are now conscious of imparting quality education and inculcating moral values to girls as it is absolutely essential to educate women in society. Brigham Young greatly remarked,” You educate a man; you educate a man. You educate a woman; you educate a generation.” Her education is a subject of paramount importance because she is the first teacher of her child and is it not true that,” the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world?”if the woman is an educated mother, she can raise her children- the future generation - in a more refined and better way. Even though, statistics from National Crimes Record Bureaus’( NCRB) Crime in India 2012 report reveals that Nagaland had the lowest rate of crime against women -1.9 percent,there is no room for complacency. It is disheartening to witness shocking stories of rape, sexual assault, Child molestation, abduction, domestic violence, are rampantly occurring in the state which is supposedly to be the safest haven for women. The root cause of violence and crimes against women are directly or indirectly related to our cultural practices, where we follow patriarchal family system.Gender disparity is actually practised and legalized by traditions. To eradicate these social evils, a heavy responsibility falls on the shoulder of women ourselves. Those of us, who have been privileged to receive education, skills, experiences and even power must be role models for the next generation of leadership. May we all be a voice for the voiceless and resolve to fulfil that duty!As Hillary Rodham Clinton clearly says,” To give others the same opportunity which I took for granted,to bring a change in the lives of those less privileged than me,is what motivates me to get up and strive unceasingly to work hard.” Citing the example of western countries, we question why the western countries have tremendously developed in all the fields of life? why their education, their health departments, the departments of information technology are the highest ranking? Because in western countries, men and women are working shoulder to shoulder in the same pace and both are contributing and playing their parts equally well in the developmental process. These breeds competition and where there is competition, there is invention and invention leads to massive development. Realizing that the most effective tool for development is women empowerment as stated by Kofi Annan, India had undertaken various governmental central and state developmental schemes for women empowerment. Some of the major schemes include Swadhar(1995),Swayam Siddha(2001),Sabla scheme( 2010).National Mission for Empowerment of women (2010),Bedi Bachao,Bedi Padhao(2014).All such schemes emphazies on upleaving the value of women across different age groups. All over the globe, women’s participation in social life have been increasing .Women are participating in social organizations and are developing taste for leading a life of social involvement. Their interest in social and cultural activities is increasing.Women’s organization like Naga Mothers Association and Watsu Mungdang are doing commendable work.It is no longer said,” Behind every man’s success there is a woman, “but the new saying is, “ by the side of every man, there is a woman trying to succeed.” As the UN theme for International Women’s Day,2016 is” Planet 50-50 by 2030.Step it up for gender equality”,women all across the world are excelling in every spheres of life.Be it Angela Merkel,Dilma Rouseff,Christine Lagarde,Shery Sandberg,all have proved that women are capable of achieving the dream they once dreamt of.Let gender be not the parameter of measuring the competency for a particular task or holding a high position but let it be judged on the basis of what a person can do irrespective of male or female, and the ability and determination to complete the task. Then only, the arc of justice will bend towards equality and truth. Coming more closer, Nagaland with a total women workforce ( WPR) of 44.7 percent as according to 2011 census,has produced many eminent world class acclaimed academicians, bureaucrats, Olympians, Beauty queens, Social workers, Engineers, doctors, Scientists who are becoming ambassadors of Nagas all across the world.To name some,Kilemsungla Jamir,UPSC board member, Imkongla M.Jamir, IAS, Personal secretary to the Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Chekrovolu Swuro, Olympian, Imlibenla Wati,Miss World Beauty India, Temsutola Imsong, social worker. They all are the perfect epitome to exhibit that Naga women simply were not born to give birth but to stand out and lead!They have broken the glass ceiling and have achieved great success to demonstrate that ,Yes!.others can succeed too! What if women are still confined to the kitchen and treated as a birth machine? There will be large untapped human resources which may hinder the economic prosperity and development of a Nation. Women came to this world not simply to give birth but to find her true value and contribute to the society with the best of her ability. What God had destined for every indivividual, man cannot repeal and take back.1 Corinthians 11:10 clearly points out, “ It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head because of the angels.” To all the women out there, the greatness is thrust deep within us. We just have to let it shine! Lets celebrate women! Let us smile like Monalisa, Stand tall like Miss Liberty, Make a change like Mother Teresa, Determined like Hillary Clinton, Courageous like Malala Yousafzai, be a leader like Cleopatra and Margaret Thatcher and burn like Joan of Arc. Lets be at our best and contribute the best we can because we all have one life to live and no great woman as another YOU will ever walk again in this world! “ She is sensitive,she is the Nations pride; She is caring, she is a wonder guide; She doesn’t demand respect, she deserves respect; She is very strong, she bears hardships; She is a woman. I am proud to be one!” Imkongnukla Ao BA 2nd Year Patkai Christian College, Dimapur,Nagaland