8th March: A momentous day in the life of a women

 This is the day when one can make women feel special. This is an appropriate day to thank them for all the sacrifices they have made at each step of their life. There is hardly any one who has not heard of International Women’s Day. But does everyone know that it was by the United Nations way back in 1975, and that the entire month of March can be remembered for many important revolutionary events.

You will be surprised to know that when the First War of Independence started in India during the month of March in 1857, there was another revolution that broke out on this very day (March 8) in America, in which garment workers in New York City, mostly women, marched and picketed, demanding improved working conditions, a 10-hour day, and equal rights for women. Half-a century later, there was a march in the same factory on March 8, 1908, honouring the same 1857 March, demanding the right to vote.

It was later on March 8, 1910 that the American Calendar marked this day as the day when we honour and respect women.

The Lawrence Textile Industry Strike took place in 1912, during which a large, forceful agitation was organised largely by immigrant women workers in America, protesting against the deplorable conditions they worked in. Now, the struggle has been taken to the next level, in which women wanted a more dignified and humane life.

The history is marked with events, which made Women’s Day what it has become today. It was marked with struggles for women’s existence to be at par with men. In Europe too, there were solidarity marches during the First World War for better living and working conditions.

Meanwhile, Indian women were also gaining courage against the atrocities of the British Government, and in 1918, Anasuya Sarabhai led the  strike in Ahmedabad. It was finally 1975, when the United Nations declared the year as ‘International Year of Women’ and adopted the convention to celebrate March 8 each year to honour women and their work.

From then onwards, consistent efforts were made by women across the world to draw attention to the inequalities, deprivations and discrimination faced by women. While individual women have overcome many barriers since the inception of International Women’s Day (IWD), global statistics still reveal a deplorable and pitiable condition of