Happy Women's Day Nirbhaya

Today, I would like to say congratulations  to every woman on the glorious occasion of ‘International Women’s Day (IWD)’ Every year on March 8, women from the around the globe celebrate this day by taking stock of the different social political and economic achievements made since 1909. Some historians even trace this holiday back to 1857, when a group of female workers in the textile industry decided to collectively stage a protest in New York City against devastating working conditions and low wages.

So that's how it started but let us dedicate this day to Nirbhaya who scarified her life for the woman rights.



So She is the first women who created a revolution for womans rights. Respect to her.

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First achievements by Indian women in various fields
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India's First Woman Railway Driver-- Surekha Shankar Yadav

India's First Woman Tabla Maestro-- Dr. Aban Mistry

India's First Recognized Billionth Citizen-- Astha

India's First Woman Airbus Pilot-- Durba Banerjee

First Woman Secretary General Of Rajya Sabha-- V. S. Rama Devi

First Indian Woman To Win Magsasay Award-- Kiran Bedi

First Indian Woman Cricketer To Get 100 Wickets-- Diana Eduljee

First Indian Paratrooper Of Indian Air Force-- Nita Ghose

First Indian Woman To Complete Her MBBS-- Kadambini Ganguli Bose In 1888

First Woman Cheif Engineer-- P. K. Tresia Nanguli

First Indian Woman At Antarctica-- Meher Moos In 1976

First Woman Foriegn Minister-- Lakshmi N. Menon

First Woman Commercial Pilot-- Prem Mathur Of Deccan Airways

First Woman Sahitya Award Winner-- Amrita Pritam

First Woman President Of Indian Science Congress-- Dr. Ashima Chatterjee

First Woman To Win WTA Tennis Tournament-- Sania Mirza

First Chief Justice Of Mumbai High Court-- Justice Sujaata B Manohar

First Indian Woman Advocate-- Regina Guha

First Indian Woman Barrister-- Cornotia Sorabji

First Woman Surgeon-- Dr. Prema Mukherjee

First Woman To Get Arjun Award-- N. Lumsden (1961)

First Woman Chairman Of Bank-- Tarzani Vakil

First Woman Chairperson Of National Woman Commission-- Mrs. Jayanti Patnayak

First Indian Woman To Receive Asiad Gold Medal-- Kamalji Sandhu

First Woman Speaker Of State Assembly-- Mrs. Shano Devi

First Actress In The Indian Cinema-- Devika Rani

First Woman Finger Prints Expert In India-- Sita Varthambal And Bhrangathambal

First Woman Doordarshan News Reader-- Pratima Puri

First Indian Woman To Reach In Olympic Games-- Sini Abrahim

First Indian Woman To Receive Norman Borlaug Award-- Dr. Amrita Patel

First Indian Woman IAS Officer-- Anna George

First woman IAS Officer of Independent India-- Isha Basant Joshi

First Woman President Of Student's Union-- Anju Sachdeva of Delhi University

First Woman Chairperson Of Rajya Sabha-- Violet Alva In 1962

First Indian woman producer and director-- Fatima Begum

First Indian woman to win the Miss World title-- Reita Faria in 1966

First Indian woman to become Miss Universe-- Sushmita Sen

First Miss Universe of the new millennium-- Lara Dutta

First Indian Woman to go in space-- Kalpana Chawla

First Indian woman to reach the final of an Olympic event-- P.T.Usha

First Indian woman to win a medal in an Olympic event-- Karnam Malleshwari

First Indian woman boxer to win an international event-- M.C.Merykom

First Indian woman to Swim across the English Channel-- Arati Saha

First woman Ambassador from India-- Vijay Lakshmi Pandit 

First woman Central Minister-- Rajkumari Amrit Kaur

First woman film star to be a member of Rajya Sabha-- Nargis Dutt

First woman Governor of Tamil Nadu-- Justice M. Fatima Beevi

First woman judicial officer-- Anna Chandy

First woman Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh-- Sucheta Kriplani

First woman Speaker of an Indian state-- Shano Devi


Thanks .. Mom, Sister and Friends ... Happy Womens day again

An Exclusive Interview with Indian Home Maker

So here I am with another interview with a famous blogger, IHM, Indian Home Maker.

I just randomly went through her blog few years back and since then I am her regular follower. Her blog is all about fighting against female injustice. And presently its one of the challenging issues which India is facing.

So we had a email based interview, a sweet interview. and I am thankful to her for spending her most precious time for this Interview

Prakhyath: Hello IHM

IHM: Hello Prakhyath,

(First and Foremost I asked what's her name, But she responded saying she will like it to known as IHM )

Prakhyath:Did you ever think for the first time that your post will have a splendid response from the readers  all over the world.

IHM : No I didn't, and but it's good to have a place to share one's opinion.

Prakhyath: How do you manage the time all over. I believe you are a perfect home maker as well as a perfect blogger.

IHM : Isn't perfection subjective and hence impossible? What is perfect for one person could be imperfect for someone else...  the blog is simply a place to interact with those who have opinions about the same issues. 

Prakhyath: Honestly, I feel your blog has touched millions hearts. A true example of using your time to the fullest. What do you wanna do in the near future.? something more than a blog?

IHM : I hope to continue blogging, like most bloggers now the blog feels like an online home :) I also plan to publish the collection of posts on Feminism, that won the TRBA 2011.

Prakhyath: Rape is the biggest concern in India, Do we have a permanent solution to remove this dead evil from the society?

IHM :  Not a permanent solution, not sure that is even possible, but definitely deterrents would help. 

As of now our culture actually protects rapists by making it very difficult for rape survivors/victims to report rapes, by blaming, shaming, naming the victim. 

A better conviction rate; sexual assaults being taken seriously; support, empathy, counselling for the victim; faster, clearly laid out procedures to ensure medical reports, investigations etc are carried out without the usual lackadaisical attitude.

Unequivocal condemnation (and shame, blame, name etc) for the rapists; and an end of looking at street sexual harassment as light hearted teasing - eve teasing. 

It would help tremendously if rapists do not hear the victim being held responsible for their crimes.

Also campaigns to explain that Only Yes means Yes, whether the victim is a sex worker, a date, a person with active sex life - sex without consent is rape, and that rape is a serious and punishable crime. The Tehelka sting exposed the ignorance (or misogyny) of the cops - some of who seem to have no concept of consent. If we seriously want to deal with sexual crimes, education about consent and personal autonomy would be like a huge first step.

Prakhyath: How do you see the future of India? Definitely not in the safe hands now. how are we gonna survive ?

IHM :  In politics? Hopefully we will see newer faces emerging, and hopefully we will support them and bring them to power... 

Socially I think we are better than we have ever been before. We are questioning oppressive norms like we have never done before and in general... for example, the simple fact that more rapes are being acknowledged as rapes (and not as lessons the victim deserved, or dishonor and ruined life for the victim). 

Now it is a crime to sexually harass a colleague or an employee. Now it's possible for a rapist in position of power to be taken to court - unlike ever in the past. 

Although daughters have never been welcome in Indian families, now we are not only questioning it, we even have laws (not enough, but more than ever before) to help change attitudes. 

Unfortunately we also hear voices against these changes, but I am confident that we are going to see a more humane society in the coming times.

Prakhyath: For all these rapists, I believe they are using the girl's lack of physical strength as an advantage. Don't you think martial arts/gym and being strong will help them?Do you believe in self-defense kit for girls to fight rape?

IHM : I should blog about this. While physical fitness would help in any crime or violent situation, I am not sure if it would protect a woman from a gang of, say eight or ten, or even four violent criminals. But since most rapists are someone known to the victim, it might help in dealing with acquaintance rape, where there is only physical force being used and not some other form of coercion (like blackmail or verbal threats). 

Martial arts require a lot fo practice, how much time should women be expected to devote to keeping themselves safe from sexual assaults? Also not all victims are young adults, there are also the disabled and older women and children, not sure who and how much gym and fitness would help. But I am sure, it could give confidence and could ensure that they are able to escape if and when there is a chance to escape. Being able to jump over a wall or fence, being able to run reasonably fast, being able to drive, use a cell phone, knowing emergency numbers etc would also be equally helpful.

Prakhyath:
Thanks for your Interview. Wish you all luck ahead!!

About IHM:

http://indianhomemaker.wordpress.com/

She blogs about the everyday life of an urban Indian homemaker and her reactions to what’s happening in the world around her. So she blogs against violence and intolerance, and against our use of tradition, culture and religion to justify anything that common sense might refuse to accept; she write against gender bias, (a lot of this), and the biases against girl children even in educated families; against all stifling stereotypes, about her kids (teenage son and daughter), pets and family, her domestic helpers, her neighbors and friends, and animal rights and politics etc. And about her blogging experience : )

Blogging is cathartic for her. Injustice and cruelty  bothers her. She feel there’s always something we can do. When we can do nothing else, we can create awareness.

IHM Facebook Page

Jacintha Saldanha suicide:Pranks gone wrong

What was the prank?

Two presenters from Australia's 2DayFM radio station, Mel Greigand Michael Christian, called King Edward VII hospital, pretending to be William's grandmother Queen Elizabeth and his father Prince Charles.

Despite unconvincing accents, presenters Michael Christian and Mel Greig were put through to the ward where Kate was being treated and were given details about how she was faring.

Saldanha, who shifted to Britain from Mangalore some 10 years ago, had answered the call as it was early morning and there were no receptionists on duty, and had passed it to a nurse on the ward.

A recording of the call was widely available on the Internet and many newspapers printed a transcript of the call.

She is believed to have killed herself after suffering the humiliation of having to listen to her voice on television and radio asking the pretend Queen to hold on while she passed on the call to Kate's nurse.

Her death comes days after the King Edward VII hospital apologised for being duped by an Australian radio station and relaying details about Kate's condition which made headlines around the globe.

"It is with very deep sadness that we confirm the tragic death of a member of our nursing staff, Jacintha Saldanha," John Lofthouse, the King Edward's chief executive told reporters outside the central London hospital.

"We can confirm that Jacintha was recently the victim of a hoax call to the hospital. The hospital had been supporting her throughout this difficult time."

The radio station launched its stunt in the wake of a frenzy of media attention in Britain and worldwide after officials announced Kate was pregnant with a future British king or queen.

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While I am sorry for her death. The two hosts did not cause her suicide.Charging them for murder will not bring her back nor will it bring any solace to her family. People have to realize that this was a joke gone horribly wrong, but she was not intentionally harmed.The hosts did not badger her or shame her or bully her. I feel bad for her family and all that they are going through, but lets not forget that she had the ultimate say in whether she lived or died. 

Suicide is a not a permanent solution to a temporary problem.