Highlighting the importance, relevance and the motive of celebration, the International Women’s Day was held at Women Facility Centre of Manipur University at its Canchipur campus near Imphal on Thursday.
The function held under the theme ‘Time is Now: Rural and Urban activists transforming women’s lives’, was being organized jointly by Manipur University Working Women Association (MUWWA) and Women’s Studies Centre, Manipur University.
A technical session on ‘Women as Agents of Change’ was also conducted as part of the programme.
Vice-Chancellor of Manipur University Prof Aday Prasad Pandey attended the function as chief guest, while head of the Department of English, DM College of Arts, Dr Ch Sheelaramani was the guest of honour and vice president of MUWWA, Salam Subhashini Devi was the functional president respectively.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof Pandey said, “Today is a very important day to celebrate womanhood, their social, political, cultural, economic achievements and their significant contributions to society. It is to celebrate the achievements of women as well as acting as a catalyst for change in gender equality.”
“Majority of women from the earlier times have been suppressed. In the field of education, business, and social sectors, women are doing excellent jobs in every field. If one woman is educated, she will educate the entire society,” he added.
Applauding the role of Manipuri women, he said, Manipuri women took pivotal role in the freedom movement of Manipur.
Earlier giving keynote address, Prof N Pramodini Devi highlighted about the role and responsibilities of women in the society. “Educating a man is educating an individual. But educating a woman is educating the entire family,” she said and reminded the words of Nelson Mandela in the context of educating women, “Education is the most powerful weapon to change the world.”
On the other hand, Dr Sheelaramani highlighted about this year’s International Women’s Day 2018 campaign theme, ‘Press for Progress’.
Emphasizing on the challenges faced by womenfolk, she said women have been suffering under the patriarch.
Struggles faced by the North-east women are manifold such as fighting against the European colonial rule in early times are clearly evident in the history.
In her speech, Dr Veena Pandey said, “If we want to see the real women’s empowerment look at the Manipur’s women.”