Renowned South Asian feminist Kamla Bhasin on Wednesday put faculty and students through the paces of what feminism meant in the true sense of the term at Assam’s Jorhat Engineering College.
Known for her poem ‘Kyunki main ladki hoon, main padhna chahti hoon’, Bhasin said feminism is not a western concept but that India too had its share of trials and tribulations.
Bhasin left her work in the UN to join Sangat – a feminist movement in India.
In the morning session, the Delhi-based poet & author addressed a gathering of faculty representing different colleges at Jorhat.
She delivered a speech on the topic ‘Gender sensitisation and women’s empowerment’ and in the evening she addressed the students of the college.
“Change is something which should come from within and has nothing to do with our patriarchal society. A man of quality is not scared of women’s equality,” said the septuagenarian.
The meet was organised by the EAP Cell and Women’s Cell of JEC.
Aditi Bezbarua, a professor at the college, while comparing Bhasin to Pandita Ramabai Saraswati, said Bhasin was the voice of women in India and South Asia.
Pandita Ramabai Saraswati worked for women’s education and emancipation more than a century ago in the late 1800s.
Former professor of the college, Parimal Bakul Barua recited the translated Assamese version of Bhasin’ s poem ‘Kyunki main ladki hoon’.