Celebrating March 8th is Russia's equivalent of Valentine's Day, and recognized as "International Women's Day", is a time to re-look at what has been the progress of Indian women. It is a time to empathise with the situation of the most beautiful section of the community together with the others who are in course of constant striving.

Indian women have always been the silent tenacious types. They have seen the fleeting of time before them and the changes from the good to the bad.

The natural impediments of a very narrow path was delineated by a conservative mindset of by gone centuries for women in India. The pressures on women always are brought forth through the patriarchal pressure mechanism that the society has devised. Heaping a pre-set notion of what constituted in the minds of men to be the "right thrust" also brought the reforms forth. This has heightened the worth of the achievements of Indian women in these centuries.

The fact also remains about the tenacity that is mentioned earlier here. Consider this: India is one of the earliest countries to have a woman prime minister in Mrs. Indira Gandhi. One of the earliest to have sent Ms. Vijayalakshmi Pandit as the first woman President of the United Nations General Assembly.

There is a striking recollection both from history and contemporary that women from the privileged class adorned high public places in political movements, business, social or for that matter, any other.

At a spiritual level, the Indian women are one of the most exalted with some of the virtues that sets them apart as one of the finest creations of humankind. Swarswathi, Lakshmi, Parvathi, Sita , and Ma Durga are special Goddess and no where do we have in so many in any other reliogion. Where will u find a Durpadi, Savitri, Meera, Shaku Bai and Adal amma.

On all occasions, Indian women have played the crucial roles helping and guiding their men. The time has come for them to assume equal charge, if not more.

The fact however also remains that Indian woman, when the time comes and she is pushed into a corner, she has the ability to fight ferociously. This is where she transgresses all imagination, there are no parallels to this uniqueness. Rani of Jhansi is one of the prime examples of how women in Indian history have risen to the occasion whenever the situation arose. Ma Jija Bai, Razia Sultana

In our own times, there is no greater example than that of Saraojini Naidu, Medha Patker, Indira Gandhi, Madam Bhikaji Cama ,Kanchan Gawde, Sonia Gandhi, Sushama Swaraj, Bhachider Pal, Kalpana Chawla, Ms. Neerja Bhanot, Arudhanthi Roy, Banwari Devi, Sushimita Sen, Shakuntala Paranjpaye, Waheeda Rehaman, and many unsong heronies, have fought for their rights. Our own Shanta Shina fighting for child rights.

Indian women have some of the unique qualities that set them apart and they are in a position to redefine the paradigms of social equality. It is the supreme spirit to sacrifice that makes an Indian woman unique. She is still the heroine for many individuals, who were fascinated by such an unselfish act of courage.

The commitments of Indian women to her close ones are a national folklore. She values relationships more than anybody else. This is another virtue that endows her with chances of all round success. Women even when they have the choice between family and career, they tend to choose the former. It is a combination of other factors like financial security or financial independence.

A man can always say of his child: "Let him/her cry for a few days, (s)he will get over it a couple of days." When you see a mother go to the office now a days in the morning tears welling down and when the child cries in affectionate protestation in the evening, the real essence of maternal worth is brought forth where no one can intercede.

We have a Taj Mahal for Muntaz Mahal and a Sati temple for Roop Kuwanri. We have a Dowry System, Desire for a Male Child, Eve teasing, Unequal share of inheritance , Lack of public toilets , Ill treatment of widows . Once Jawaharlal Nehru said, “You can tell the condition of a nation by looking at the status of its women”. It is a fact that the social condition of women of any nation is a pointer to the level of development of that nation. This is Our India.

It is this thing where we should stop blackmailing a woman and let her chose and not make her feel guilty for her choice by imposing maternity or other family responsibilities. This the kind of deliverance for the Women of 21st century. So make a difference, think globally and act locally !! Make everyday is International Women's Day. Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe, rewarding and EMPOWER Your WOMEN

Women in India have learnt how to Play men's Games!