She is the one who brought you into this world. She is the one who spent sleepless nights to make us sleep. She is the one who spends hours toiling in some or the other work and asks for nothing in return. At times she can be as hard as a stone and another instant as soft as fur.

She can make you cry and at times she can be as humorous as ever. She is tough but she loves to be genuinely adored. She is hard working. Physically she might be on the weaker side, but mentally her strength of endurance is incomparable. She is brilliant. She is dynamic. She, is a woman.

8^th March 2012 is marked as International Women’s day and is the only day that is exclusively designated to pay homage, appreciation, love and respect to all the women of the world.

The history of this day traces back to its roots from the times when it started as just a social political event in various countries.

The International Women’s Day was first observed as a popular event after 1977 when the United Nations General Assembly invited member states to proclaim 8^th March as the UN day for Women’s Rights and International Peace. Since then, Women’s day has been celebrated in every nook and corner of the world.

Initially in India, the concept of patriarchal society and male chauvinism used to dominate the screen of our society. However, as time passed, notions changed.

A woman whose life was confined to marrying and bearing children began to grab space. She left the boundaries of her home, grasped the opportunities and envisioned a different world. A world whose limitations didn’t stop her thirst and longing for freedom and to experience things which were once beyond her horizon. This was the beginning of a new era, which sparked a sense of pride and independence in her.

Women now work and are granted similar rights like men. However, on a wider angle, celebrating Women’s day doesn’t seem to provide aid to the women who are still being oppressed and subdued in some countries.

Moreover, the innumerous violence that harm the very dignity of countless women have been increasing alarmingly all over the world.

Is it because of those men who cannot understand the very sanctity of feminism or they cannot understand the fact that how it feels like to get tortured when you have wasted or invested all your life living and coping up with the expectations of the people around?

Or is it because of the reason that those men cannot resist the influence or charm of a lady around?

Whatever the reasons be, the culprits are generally freed or sometimes it is the woman who takes it as her destiny to be like this which is totally wrong. Unless and until women stand up for themselves, nobody will address their grievances.

Women are an epitome of delicateness, love and their charisma is undoubtedly magical. Their very existence on earth symbolizes their importance.

In India, Women’s Day is also celebrated to mark the birthday of Sarojini Naidu who is considered to be one of the greatest feminist poetesses.

In some of her poems, she has beautifully described and displayed her reverence for femininity. Here is an excerpt from her one of the poems – “The Palanquin Bearers” in which she has splendidly described the temperament of a bride while she leaves the lanes of her parents and dives into the journey of the next part of her life.

The Palanquin Bearers

By Sarojini Naidu

(She floats like a laugh from the lips of a dream.

Gaily, O gaily we glide and we sing,

We bear her along like a pearl on a string.

Softly, O softly we bear her along,

She hangs like a star in the dew of our song;

She springs like a beam on the brow of the tide,

She falls like a tear from the eyes of a bride.

Lightly, O lightly we glide and we sing,

We bear her along like a pearl on a string.)