March 8 – International Women’s Day

March 8 – International Women’s Day

While celebrating the greatness of womanhood, this is also a moment to reflect on the true respect society must offer women, and the rough paths they have crossed.  

The measure of a society’s civilization lies in how respectfully and safely women are treated within it.  

Turning the pages of history, women’s past has often been shrouded in darkness.  

Across cultures, women were treated merely as household objects.  

They were denied education, had no property rights, and were forbidden to speak in public spaces.  

Cruel practices such as sati, female infanticide, and child marriage destroyed countless lives.  

Yet, amidst these oppressions, some heroines rose.  

Their struggles for rights paved the way for the changes we see today.  

Today, we live in a different world.  

From space exploration to national defense, from medicine to software, women have left their footprints everywhere.  

Educationally, they have achieved remarkable growth.  

Economic independence has strengthened their confidence.  

But bitter truths remain.  

Workplace discrimination in pay, the “glass ceiling” blocking higher positions, and online harassment are pressing concerns.  

The “double burden” of managing home and career continues to cause stress for many women.  

True freedom for women lies not in privileges, but in opportunities that match their abilities.  

Technology will increasingly enable women to access global opportunities from home.  

Studies suggest that as women’s leadership grows, wars decline and peace advances.  

Real freedom means women deciding for themselves what to wear, what to study, and when to marry.  

A mature society must see women not as commodities, but as unique individuals.  

Society’s duty is to ensure women’s dignity and freedom not as charity, but as their birthright.  

Protecting women does not mean confining them within four walls, but creating an environment where they can walk freely without fear.  

At the same time, women must avoid viewing all men through a single lens.  

Men and women are two sides of the same coin. 

Progress lies not in defeating one another, but in standing together as companions.  

Women are not just to be celebrated, but to be acknowledged.  

“When a woman is educated, an entire generation is educated” is not just a saying it is the cornerstone of social change.  

In today’s digital age, the portrayal of women as mere objects of attraction or consumption is deeply troubling.  

When appearance is valued more than intellect or achievement, social progress is obstructed.  

Men have a moral duty to challenge and resist degrading portrayals of women online.  

Respecting women means valuing their thoughts and efforts.  

Men must set examples by treating women with dignity in families, friendships, and online spaces.  

Only such a change in mindset can create a safe and respectful digital world.  

The sacrifices of mothers, sisters, and wives who shape our lives through silent struggles must be honored.  

A mother’s quiet battle of sacrificing her dreams for her children, a sister’s fight against social restrictions, and a wife’s daily challenge to preserve her identity—all reveal the injustices women endure.  

Their struggles must be seen not as stories, but as lessons.  

Understanding their pain is not mere sympathy it is a pledge to ensure future generations of women never face the same suffering.  

As a writer and poet, every word flowing from my pen must serve as a torch of awareness, proclaiming women’s evolution.  

My works must not merely narrate oppression and triumph, but sow seeds of change.  

Instead of portraying only feminine softness, poetry must highlight women’s intellect, indomitable personality, and struggles for social transformation.  

Literature is not just a mirror of society—it is also a sword that reforms it.  

Therefore, my creations must depict women not as objects of allure, but as intelligent equals.  

It is my poetic duty to voice the pains buried in their silence and the dedication behind their achievements.  

Since art has the power to shape society,

my writings must center on mutual friendship, equality, and respect between men and women.  

This creative journey is both an expression of my reverence for womanhood and a moral battle to build a safe, cultured society for future generations.  

On this Women’s Day, let us not only celebrate women’s achievements but also pledge to create an equal world for them.

With love,  

Sakthi Sakthithasan