Every year on 8th March, the world celebrates International Women’s Day. Phones begin to buzz with greetings from morning. Social media is full of messages praising women. Institutions organise special events. Suddenly, women are celebrated as mothers, sisters, daughters and wives. Words like Devi, Shakti and superwoman are generously used. It is a day when womanhood is celebrated and women are placed on a pedestal.
Yet behind these celebrations lies a quieter reality. Women constitute nearly half of India’s population. The country’s sex ratio has improved in recent years, with surveys indicating around 1020 women for every 1000 men. And yet, in many spheres of life, education, employment, safety and leadership equality still remains a work in progress.
This contrast raises a simple question: is Women’s Day merely a celebration, or is it also a reminder?
Does society recognise the place of women in society, or are they simply rituals that last for a day before life quietly returns to normal?
Some women appreciate the celebration even if for a day because it highlights the issue of gender justice. Others feel that celebrating one day in the name of women sometimes creates an illusion that disappears the moment the day is over. The truth perhaps lies somewhere in between. If the day encourages us to reflect honestly on the position of women in society, it certainly serves a purpose.
Personally, I consider myself fortunate. I was born into a family where boys and girls were treated equally. We were four siblings, two boys and two girls. Times were not easy, but our parents ensured that all of us received the best education they could provide. They never stopped us from speaking our minds or pursuing our interests.
As a child, I was often outspoken and outgoing but that never became an issue at home. Each of us was allowed to grow with our own personality. That upbringing gave me the confidence to face life and shaped the person I eventually became.
But I am also aware that not every woman grows up in such an environment.
Even today, many women live within invisible boundaries. Some do not have access to education. Some lack financial independence. Many remain confined within the expectations of family and society. Sometimes it is fear, sometimes lack of resources, and sometimes simply years of conditioning that prevent them from stepping out of those boundaries.
Education levels highlight progress and inequality of a society. India’s literacy rate has improved significantly over the decades and is almost 80 percent today Yet a gender gap still exists. Male literacy is around 87 percent, while female literacy remains about 74–75 percent.
On paper, the difference may appear modest. In reality, it represents millions of girls whose education stops too early.
Even women who appear successful often reach that position after making many sacrifices that remain unseen. For women, the path to progress has rarely been easy.
It is also important to understand that equality does not mean sameness. Men and women are biologically different and that is natural. Gender equality does not mean women must become like men or compete with them. It does not mean giving up femininity or entering into a constant battle between genders.
Equality simply means dignity and opportunity. It means that women should have the same chance to study, to work, to participate in decisions and to lead.
In many ways, society has progressed. Women today are visible in almost every profession. The glass ceiling has certainly cracked. But it has not completely disappeared. Women often have to prove themselves again and again in situations where men are accepted more easily.
One clear indicator is economic participation. Women’s participation in the workforce in India is still far lower than that of men. Estimates suggest that only about one-third of women are part of the labour force, compared to more than two-thirds of men.
This gap cannot be explained by lack of ability or education alone. Social norms, safety concerns, lack of childcare support and the burden of unpaid domestic work continue to limit many women’s opportunities.
Biases also continue to exist quietly in people’s minds. We can see this in the low number of women in positions of political leadership. Even in local governance where reservations exist for women, it is not uncommon to see male relatives exercising real power behind the scenes.
Education shows a similar picture. While more girls are going to school today, dropout rates remain high in many places. Professional choices are still influenced by stereotypes.
Another disturbing reality is the continued violence and harassment faced by women. Official crime statistics record over four lakh cases of crimes against women in India each year. These numbers represent only reported cases. The true scale may be far larger.
News reports frequently remind us that respect for women is still far from guaranteed. In many spaces, women are still judged more for their appearance than their ability.
But beyond all these structural challenges, there is another burden that many women carry silently, the burden of guilt.
A woman’s day rarely belongs to just one role. She may be a mother, a daughter, a wife, a professional, a caregiver and a leader, all at the same time. While society talks about equality, the expectation that she must perform every role perfectly often falls heavily on her.
If she spends more time at work, she worries about neglecting her family. If she prioritises her home, she worries about falling behind professionally. Many women constantly feel that they are not doing enough in one role or the other.
Interestingly, men are rarely expected to experience this kind of guilt. Even today, the emotional wellbeing of children and the overall functioning of the family are seen mainly as the responsibility of women. Time-use surveys show that women in India spend three to four times more hours on unpaid household and caregiving work than men.
Perhaps true equality will begin when these responsibilities are seen as shared responsibilities.
Our own culture actually offers a beautiful way of looking at this balance. In many Indian traditions, a wife is called Ardhaangini, literally meaning “half of the whole.” The word itself suggests that a man and a woman together form a complete unit.
If that idea had truly guided society, the question of inequality may never have arisen.
An even more powerful symbol exists in the concept of Ardhanareeshwar, the divine form that represents Shiva and Shakti together in one body. Half masculine, half feminine, yet completely balanced.
The message is simple. Creation itself depends on the harmony between these two energies. Neither is superior. Neither is inferior. Both are necessary.
Unfortunately, somewhere between philosophy and everyday life, this balance has often been lost.
During my years of working with rural communities through the Maharashtra State Rural Livelihood Mission, I have seen both the struggles and the strength of women very closely. Women who used to hesitate to speak in weekly meetings of the self-help groups are managing the groups, their savings, negotiating with banks and running small enterprises.
Many of them had nothing to invest but with the support of the SHGs could build something meaningful for themselves and their families and communities.
They may not be making news or appear in headlines, but they represent the true spirit of empowerment.
My academic work on the multi-dimensional socio-economic and legal impact of desertion on deserted women reflects their hardship and social stigma. But their resilience even in those difficult situations, is remarkable.
Women do not seek sympathy but an opportunity to stand on their own feet with dignity.
My experiences over the years have convinced me that empowerment is not about glorifying women or placing them on a pedestal. It is about restoring balance.
Perhaps that is the real purpose of Women’s Day.
Not to worship women as goddesses for a day, but to recognise them as equal partners in the journey of life.
A healthy society cannot be built when one gender tries to dominate the other. It can only be built when men and women walk together with mutual respect and understanding.
If the spirit of Ardhangini and the philosophy of Ardhanareeshwar truly guide us, the path forward becomes clear.
And perhaps one day we will reach a stage where such reminders are no longer needed.
Until then, Women’s Day remains a moment to pause and reflect not on how extraordinary women are, but on something much simpler and far more important. That women, like men, are human beings with dreams, abilities and the right to live with dignity.
R.Vimala, IAS,
Resident Commissioner & Secretary,
Government of Maharashtra &
PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay
