First Prize

THE INDIAN WOMAN…

This world is full of men,
who are all lead by women.

Though she is very simple,
and her smile with a dimple.

all work is done by her palm,
and she is still calm.

at times she looks latent,
but exhibits all her talent.

with lots of fun and high spirit,
and result is always a merit.

independently managing every task,
unveiling the evil society's mask.

All the worries are hidden behind her smile,
though she might have to travel a mile.

From the fort of Jhansi rani,
Till the Janpath of Sonia Gandhi.

To rule this world with confidence,
she needs no guidance.

Women make all the difference,
Yet independence is her preference.

- Mabel Dhanraj

Second Prize

The Independent Indian Woman….

Hats off to India on its 60th independence day

I'm proud to say that I'm an Indian. I salute all those freedom fighters and the great people of India who have struggled during our independence till date, so that we women can enjoy freedom, liberty, independence, respect, rights etc.

Women have come a long way to be independent since 60 years,,,and they are still going on.....right from Indira Gandhi to the Sunita Williams of today, they have walked the path of success and led in every field they chose, competing with and sometimes doing better than men...

The first thing is we should do, is to thank our parents, who have given birth to us women and having taken care of us and taught us sound moral values. I think these moral values are being taught to every child whether it’s a boy or girl. Both are equal in every way! With proper planning, financial status, elder’s support, positive attitude and spirit, many Indian girls and women are being given a chance to express their talents.

Right from being a mother to being a working woman , all women are in one way or the other showing their talents and are in the news today with their success stories of ability and hard work. Doctors say women have more energy than men. In the olden days a girl was not given education, but she was taught moral values. Times have changed, in these fast ages, with the computers, all women are doing something, right from the women who are sitting at home and doing business to the women who are working outside home.

But there were times where women were beaten up badly and were also harassed. Even today these things do happen, but they are far less. We should try to help other women in such situations. We should also educate mothers who give birth to children but leave these unwanted children to die.

"God " has given us brains and body ,but its our duty to use it properly to be successful!

Women are now "independent" financially to help the family, emotionally to support everyone, physically to face all the problems and the responsibility of the family.
In the business world, within India or outside India, women are making money in many ways from taking tuitions for children, to fashion, beauty, trading in the stock markets, as computer professionals etc. Previously it was for a change from the drudgery of house work that they spent time on their own interests and hobbies. However, today it has become a purpose in every woman’s life.

I personally congratulate all these women who are showing the "successful path of life " to other women and I also thank sitagita.com for giving me the opportunity to express. The women working in sitagita.com, help other women in one way or
the other sharing information, encouraging and giving us support.
Isn’t this independence?

-Jai Hind
malini satyanarayana

Special Prize

HOW INDEPENDENT IS THE INDIAN WOMEN.

Are the Indian women really independent? Well, I personally feel that all the Indian women are not yet independent even after 60 years of India’s Independence. Is the Indian woman able to make her own choices and live without fear of being victimized? The Indian woman is a soft target specially in remote and not so developed parts in India as here they have to actually struggle for their daily survival. However, the women living mostly in big cities may have to live a life as a traditional Indian wife, mother and daughter-in-law and at the same time cope up with the demands of her career. A career oriented women of today though she may have to live, earn and contribute to the family income, she can claim herself to be an individual and aware of her rights and she may seem to be certainly better off then her counterpart elsewhere in India. But then we may find a small percentage of the whole lot and the plight of majority of the Indian women still remains the same.

I believe that the Indian women have a long way to go, until she has to feel guilty about being single and happy or pursuing a successful career, she is anything but independent. Though today’s Indian women have more choices but the compulsions still exist. However, though we find more educated women in the top positions, they are sometimes targets as they challenge the men folks. I would like to give an instance here, where my friend took up a job in a well established company; she was mentally and physically harassed by her boss, so much so she turned into a nervous wreck as she could not open her problems to her husband. Once when I happened to visit her, I found her totally shattered and only when I hassled her to let me know what was bothering her, did I get to know that her boss was constantly attempting offensive and intimidating behaviour which consisted of unwelcome verbal and physical conduct. As I am in a Social Action Forum, here, I informed my colleagues and this monster was immediately transferred with a threat that he would be handed over to the cops. So, can we say that our women are physically and emotionally independent? No way, until we are free from the shackles of men and the Government safeguards the rights of a woman.

I, for one never took my career seriously; family commitments were given top priority always. In these days of inflation, I feel one must earn one’s own income, i.e. every woman needs to have financial freedom. Being financially independent enhances your own self-worth. However, economical independence does not always secure the women’s rights, although it may be a powerful tool in her hands, but she may not be conscious of it, unless she is aware of her rights and gets rid of the psychological dependence, that has been drummed into her mind that she cannot survive or live on her own. A name has to be affixed to her; individually she cannot be known or considered a respectable human being. And indeed; single women who prefer to live alone and independently are mostly looked down upon.

When a woman marries she brings in dowry, and then she starts her life under the watchful eyes of the mother-in-law. Before she even realizes she becomes a production machine for the cherished male heir to the lineage and God forbid, if she produces only girls or no children at all, then she becomes a ridicule of the family and a burden to the society, she is ostracized and ignored for all important functions. This is so true, as my maid has 6 daughters, and she stands nowhere at the time of their festivals and pujas, she does not even get a well-deserved sari for the occasion. Isn’t this a shame?? And often as time passes and the transition from daughter-in-law to mother -in-law is complete, she inflicts the same tribulations on her daughter-in-law.

It is sad to see most Indian women are weaklings and taken for ride for the most of the time. The Indian women is portrayed or given the status of a Goddess, but is she really that???? Has she been accorded that level of respect in the society or even lived up to those expectations? In reality, the tale is different the Indian women faces quite of complexities. There are women who have to endure a lot, be it a psychologically, mentally, physically and even emotionally. Isn’t it sad to see our Indian women who do not have the basic education, specially in villages???

Although on the whole there are lots of women who come forward and raise their voices against any atrocious done to them, and with all the empowerment of women and social help groups, it is still not enough to give safety to the women, they are basically the product of their environment and living conditions.

Our Indian woman is not yet independent until and unless they are essentially educated and are aware of their rights and privileges. Once she is confident of herself she can make the necessary compromise cognizably, and she cannot be taken for a ride anymore. On the other hand there are also those that are educated and are not economically independent, though they are aware of their rights they cannot voice them due to psychological fear of abandonment or threat of physical abuse. One wonders whether a woman is perhaps a child of a lesser God???

Finally I would say that Independence belongs to all of us and that is why we celebrate it. Do you think, however, that our nation needs only men to serve it? Women should also take their part as women did in the early years of our nation. Now, we have a Lady President of our Nation and I pray that many more women come forward and contribute towards its development and for this the woman of today has to be well equipped with knowledge.

-ARLETTE AZAVEDO