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Gender Equality Mela 2017 at Miranda House

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Gender Equality Mela is one of the key annual events conducted by the Women’s Development Cell of Miranda House. It is a celebration of the will to survive and thrive. It is a part of the efforts at generating discussions and creating a space for saying what is often left unsaid and for including those who are often left behind in the ideas and plans of ‘development’. The Gender Equality Mela is a part of MH-WDC’s campaign with One Billion Rising (OBR).

This year’s Gender Equality Mela was based on celebrating feminist conversations towards equality, the central theme being ‘Gender and Work’. There was also the celebration of MH-WDC’s Coffee Table Book, ‘Azaad Labon ki Guftagu’ which strives to provide with snapshots of MH-WDC’s journey and their tireless efforts at ‘engaging with wanting to create a more equal and free world, a world where gender equality becomes a live reality for us’, as the book reads.

The 3-day event played host to numerous speakers and panelists like Suneeta Dhar (feminist activist, Jagori), Bulbal Das (legal feminist activist, All India Women’s Conference), Jyotsna Chatterjee and Padmini (Joint Women’s Programme). These speakers emphasised on the introduction to the history of the feminist movement. The topic of manual scavenging was taken up by Bezwada Wilson (National Convener of Safai Karamchari Andolan) and Bhasha Singh. The session on Child Rights and Child Sexual Abuse was taken up by Vaishnava (Bud Foundation), Veronica Xavier (Child Rights and You) and Natuve (dramatics society of Shaheed Bhagat Singh College). The round table discussion on Students in Politics consisted of speakers from Pinjra Tod and Ramjas students. An ‘unconference’ was also organised which placed emphasis on feminism through art, language and music.

On Day 2, the session on Gender and Intersectionality was taken up by Dr. Chandra Sagar and Kusum Ji (All India Network of Sex Workers) and Renuka Bhagat. The session on Trans Community and Work was taken up by Rudrani Chettri. A session on Women and Work through development framework was also conducted by Neetha N. (National Labour Institute). The interactive session on ‘Queering Workplaces’ along with Lafz 2.0, the open mic featured speakers from Nazariya and Delhi Queer Pride. Day 2 also showcased nukkad natak performances by children from SMS (Srijanatmak Manushi Sanstha), LSR dramatics society and Anukriti, the Hindi dramatics society of Miranda House.

On Day 3, the first session on Taking Feminist Conversation Forward was hosted by celebrated author and feminist Kamla Bhasin, wherein she presented her letter to patriarchy. The second session on Women and Media was conducted by Rakhee Bakshi (Women’s Feature Service), Shrey Ila Anasuya (Feminist and Freelance Journalist), Radha Rani (BBC) and Deepajana Pal (fiction writer). The session on Gender and Masculinity was taken up by Pavel (Breakthrough India), Ahmad Farz (CHSJ, Centre for Health and Social Justice) and Apurv Jain (worker on issues of gender and sexuality). The 3-day mela ended with a screening of the movie Hidden Figures.

 

Image Credits: Miranda House Women’s Development Cell

Joyee Bhattacharya

([email protected])

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DUB Speak

The Destructive Wave of Flawed Feminism

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It is often said that films are a representation of the real world and movie stars are very often the people we draw inspiration from and look up to. With the mass appeal they have, it is only natural to expect responsible and cautious statements from them, but a lot of times movie stars unconsciously end up saying statements which might be wrongly construed.

Mira Rajput added her name to the long list of celebrities speaking out the wrong thing. On being asked about choosing to stay at home with her daughter, Mira Rajput retorted,
“I am a housewife and wear that label with pride.” She said that her daughter Misha wasn’t a puppy and she didn’t want to spend just an hour a day with her and rush off to work.

The statement has triggered the fury of many feminists who took offence to her ‘new wave of feminism is destructive’ statement. They accused her of being regressive and having spoken from a position of privilege from where she failed to look at and understand the deeper dynamics of the circumstances under which women rush off to work and often do so to support their families. Her statement wasn’t well received and she was charged of belittling women who choose to not stay at home.

It is only human to err but all said and done, movie stars need to understand the profundity of their appeal and the influence they can have over people. As they say, “With great power comes great responsibility.”

Image Credits: Mid Day.com
Akshara Srivastava
[email protected]

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Your Beat

What you need to know about the Not-All-Men hashtag

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The incident that took place in Bengaluru on New Year’s Eve popularised a phrase that has been in use as a defense against feminism for a couple of years now, not-all-men. Arguments against rape, misogyny and patriarchy can all be countered with, “but not all men…”. Artist Matt Lubchansky’s 2014 comic ‘Save Me’ is a typical example of the ‘Not All Men’ argument. The comic (in picture below) sees a superhero, Not-All-Man, playing devil’s advocate, when he thinks he suspects misandry.

Matt Lubchansky's 'Save Me'
Matt Lubchansky’s ‘Save Me‘

I had very indignantly begun ranting about the entirely irrelevant #NotAllMen to a friend when, before I could say “What is this rubbish?” I was countered with, “But not all women are raped. So what is your point?” It took me a while to recover from the initial shock of the question.

In my mind, the use of the statement “Not all men are rapists” trivialises the word “rape.” Rape, when placed in such a context, is not about the non consensual sexual act of violation, but about the individual. “Since I am not complicit in this crime, the crime does not concern me.” Here the ‘me’ take centre stage, giving the ‘crime’ a mere supporting role. By this logic, since all men are not rapists, rape is not very significant.

An act of violence, or any act that is non-consensual, whether it has been experienced by one person or many, is just as horrendous. Merely saying that not all men are rapists or patriarchal does not reduce the intensity of damage that a few people who may be either can cause. A road accident is not insignificant simply because you have not caused it.

Besides, the psychological impact of an incident, like the one that took place in Bengaluru, must also be taken into consideration. Whether or not all men are rapists, the thought that some men may be is ample cause for women to feel threatened and unsafe, even in situations that are seemingly tame. You’re constantly on guard. What if the man walking behind you, on your way back from the metro station,  decided to accost or grope? The road is deserted and nobody’s likely to come to your aid.

Several analogies have been made on the Internet to drive home the point: not all people are thieves but thieves are still a menace, or not all people are bad drivers, but bad drivers still cause accidents. The examples are countless. The problem remains just as significant.

image-2

Here’s an interesting article by Jeff Zimmerman for TIME on the Not All Men argument: http://time.com/79357/not-all-men-a-brief-history-of-every-dudes-favorite-argument/

Featured image credits: Odyssey 

Abhinaya Harigovind

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DUB Speak

Pink v/s Meninism: A debate to see who wins

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The recent upsurge of meninism on social media, when compared to an obviously feminist film like Pink, highlights a vital issue which we seem to have missed out—the question of simple human rights over that of ‘men’ or ‘women’.

“No means NO!” said a make-believe lawyer not very long ago, in a make-believe courtroom in a film. And it was enough to kick-start a storm of debates in the real world. In the recent history of Indian cinematography, a film like Pink perhaps does not give us as many reasons to celebrate feminism as it does to critique it. Nevertheless, it sets up a milestone of sorts. If it were not for Amitabh Bachchan’s fiery performance, would you and I bother to go to a movie-theatre to learn about ‘feminism’ of all things? The answer is no.
Feminism is too complex, too politically misused a term to be given a one-line definition. For simple folks like us, it is safe to assume that it includes the hope of ‘equality’ somewhere within that definition. Meninism, on the other hand, has a much shorter and bizarre history. The internet claims that it began with a group of male allies of feminism who were initially “opposed to all forms of misogynistic behaviour and sexist attitudes.” From there it went rolling down the hill, with #MeninistTwitter being used for all kinds of abuses being hurled at women. The reign of the trolls took over soon. Matters as serious as rape were trivialised through memes and crass jokes. At best, it can now be termed a reaction movement.
The problem, however, is not with rational people. It lies amongst those who actually believe meninism to be a legitimate movement, meant to satirise aggressive feminism. If women can play the ‘victim card’, so can men, is supposed to be the logic. Going by it, there are many who would find reasons to not go to a movie-theatre or waste a bucket of popcorn watching ‘wronged’ women have their justice served. This is also the point where your voice of reason should stand up and snatch that bucket of popcorns.
Long before meninism came into the scene, feminism had had its own set of vehement oppositions. And long before the term ‘feminism’ came to be detested, there was another ancient debate. But the fundamental problem with any debate between the opposite sexes has been, and still remains, in the fact that it is never seen as a battle for human rights. A woman crying out for justice after suffering years of domestic abuse is a human being first, and a woman later. It is an act of human rights violation. It is a woman asking for rights, not a debate to figure out whether women constantly use tears as a weapon to get their way.
In fact just as there emerges a ‘movement’ like meninism, there are numerous misconstrued perspectives of feminism. That is not to say that debates are invalid. But why should the value of a human life be forgotten in debate? Perhaps the greatest lesson you or I could take from Pink is not that it generates an age old debate. Perhaps what it is trying to tell us is not that either of the two parties—men or women—have to emerge victorious in the end. It is equality in the arena of human rights that matters, first and last.

Image Credits: www.buzzfeed.com

By Deepannita Misra
[email protected]

 

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A lady gave a befitting reply to end men’s discomfort about female coaches in metro

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Ladies coaches in Delhi Metro and the envy they generate in the male passengers is not a new story. However, what’s new are the kind of answer’s women are giving to such questioning envy. One such unforgiving response was given by internet’s “Badass Aunty”. This conversation shared by Dyuti Sudipta on her Facebook has gone viral ever since it’s been posted. She posted a conversation between two complaining men and one woman who put an end to their prejudiced dilemmas

Dyuti explains,

” Overheard in Metro.

Guy 1: Dekh ladies coach poora khali hai. Idhar side itna bhara hua  hai, par fir bhi hume wahan jaake baithna allowed nahin hai. Khali padi hui hain seatein.

Guy 2: Haan yaar. Dekh, poora coach de rakha hai unko, wo bharti hain nahin, upar se humare coach mein bhi do do seatein de rakhi hain, hum baith gaye to utha diye jaate hain, bhale poora unka coach khali pada ho. Wo to bhar lein pehle!

Badass Aunty: Aap log paida hi nahin hone de rahe ho na beta, aur naseeb se paida ho bhi rahi hain to unko padhne likhne, bahar nikalne se rok rahe ho jee jaan lagake.  Ye sab kaam band kar do, kokh mein maar dena, doodh mein dubo dena, rok tok karna, fir dekho na beta, metro ki seatein kya, office ki kursiyan, khel ka maidan sab kuch bhar dengi ye, par usi cheez se to darr rahe ho aap, hai na? Hai na beta?”

 The conversation involves three people travelling in a metro. Two of the male passengers compare women’s coach which was not crowded with their jam packed one . They complain about this and express their discomfort about having to leave seats meant for women in general compartments, especially when ‘they’ (women) have their own. It is at this point when all our feminist dreams come to life and the Badass Aunty highlights effortlessly the oppression women face through female infanticide, confinement of women and the like.

Interesting comments have also been posted on this Facebook status. In one such insightful comments, Dyuti Sudipta who had been an integral part of Women’s Development Cell of Miranda House, justifies having different compartments and reserved seats for women. She says, “Well what happens is if we see women sitting in those two seats, or have the idea of the presence of two women in a coach otherwise filled with men, women have the courage to enter the general compartment, that in turn obviously contributes to the increased safety of public sphere. We can’t forever isolate women in an all female setting and pretend we are achieving safety in public space. However, we will have to induce the participation of the minority in domains dominated by majority by making it legitimate according to the rules and when the situation gets better and the participation is no longer dependent on the rule, the rule maybe abolished. We haven’t yet reached that point where not having the rule makes sense”

The conversation not only speaks for women, but inspires them too. In a world where patriarchy artfully propagates girl on girl hate, women need this voice. Young female passengers often complain about the curious eyes of ‘aunties’ in the female compartments which make them uncomfortable. In this context, Dyuti is quite right when she says, ” Some aunties are bad; some are bad-ass.”

Can we have more bad-ass aunties please?

Featured illustration credits: Rajat Mahanti/AbsoluteDesi

Tooba Towfiq

[email protected]

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DUB Speak

Feminism on the E- Rikshaw: The patriarchy behind seat sacrificing gentlemen

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Feminism

I made an exit from the Vishwavidyalay Metro Station. I was tired, because that’s what a packed metro ride does to everyone. I saw a guy I recognised from the packed metro compartment next to mine, sitting in the E Rickshaw I was walking towards. He looked comfortable after having found a place to sit. However, once I approached, the rickshaw driver asked him to give me a place to sit instead. He was made to leave his seat and adjust next to the Rickshaw driver. I felt horrible, but I felt unable to stop him before the visibly tired guy dutifully made space for me. I did voice my concern to others sitting in the rickshaw, and they agreed.

“Why should he be made to vacate for me?” I wondered. I could have shrugged it off, it was only a humane gesture. But it wasn’t; it was a gendered one. While I am thankful for the seat and I feel guilty that he had to give up his, I do realise that I am not to be blamed. 

Though this happens very commonly, I find this “etiquette” to be quite contrary to how I have understood feminism. I do not mean to talk about a situation where the people compared are unequal and in dissimilar circumstances, for instance, a pregnant lady. I mean to talk about those who are quite similar in their situations and strengths.

Gender roles have created ways, moors and etiquettes which are seemingly “respect” giving but are actually patronising towards women and negative to both men and women.  While it might seem ‘proper’ for men to give women a seat, this can translate to deeming women inherently weak. A ‘gentleman’ in this case would paradoxically make you a victim of his apparent favour which is implicitly chauvinistic. Worse still, men are bound to follow such rules, because if they don’t, the same gender driven society will dismiss them ‘uncivil’. It is situations such as these which starkly elucidate the ways in which gendered etiquettes affect both men and women negatively.

It is imperative for us to be careful. Now that we are aware, we must also be observant. If we know our Gilbert and Gubar, Virginia Woolf, Gloria Stieman and Ismat Chugtai, we must also know how to execute our feminism. In times when we find our feminism being questioned and mocked at as something as ridiculous as “feminazi,” it is significant that we execute and endure the egalitarian spirit of feminism which we claim.

I promise to make sure to wait for another vehicle, rather than making someone leave his comfortable seat only because I happen to be a woman. If that’s the only rickshaw I have to board, I will make sure I occupy the seat next to the rickshaw driver. Once, an acquaintance on an E rickshaw said to me jokingly, “Ladkiyan bagal mani baithaingi toh Rickshaw walay ke mazay hojainge!” to which I retorted, “For how long? Ek din mazay, do din mazay hojainge ge.” If this becomes a trend, it would be normal seeing women occupy the uncomfortable seats which rickshaw drivers insist on having occupied. Nevertheless, this acquaintance was pleased, having heard something which made sense to him. It was a feminism he understood.

To all the men in line with me for a vehicle, leave me a seat if you see me as a tired human, not as a weak woman, because that I am not, none of us are! If you are equally tired, you don’t let archaic definitions of a gentleman hold you back. Let’s be kind because it’s human to be kind and not because it is manly to leave a woman a seat or feminine to accept that.

 

Image Credits: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/

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Features

Womenite: Inspiring equality from the grass roots

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Womenite has been founded by Harshit Gupta, an under graduate student from NSIT, alongside a core team also comprising of undergraduate students, closely working with the consulting experts in the fields of gynaecology and a counselling. The organisation aims at “awakening, encouraging, and asking people to understand a woman’s mind, her deepest reveries; to blaze forth a new wave of feminism where women are at par with men in every context of life.”

Deriving their inspiration directly from the belief that the society does not need heroes to rise and shine from the dust, but needs a change in the mindsets of those who think only one gender can rule. The team at Womenite wants to create a safe world for women where they can live free lives. Achieving gender equality is their salient goal, only to be realised through better awareness in the society. Their approach includes organising public workshops and events targeting issues, considered to be a taboo and building a comfortable haven where victims of abuse, assault, discrimination and violence, along with their family and friends can speak out about their experience without being judged or shamed. They believe their approach is unique, as they implicitly understand the power of young minds. Womenite gives prime importance to bringing a change from a grass root level, i.e. to start the process of change from within our schools.
During a set of workshops organized by the team, with young students, issues like online and offline stalking, harassment at school or home and eve-teasing were tackled, comfortably, with the students in presence of their educators. The workshops kicked off with more and more girls participating in the conversations.
Apart from the objective of covering as many schools in the vicinity and remote areas, ‘Womenites’ take the advantage of Rahgiri days. On every Sunday morning, when most of Delhi completes their sleeping hours, participants from Womenite, all under graduate students, venture out to spread awareness about ‘Unacceptable touch through Free Hugs, Free Hi-fives’ targeting issues such as sexual harassment on the streets or inside institutions, not limiting its scope to a specific gender and also inculcating Gender Equality.
Their growing impact and participations with renowned communities has gotten them the much needed support. The organisation offers participation to any student who wishes to redefine conventions and reduce gender gaps, as well as seek out related issues prevailing in our society today.
To find out more about Womenite and its work, pay them a visit at – www.womenite.com
If you want to be a part of the change, apply to Womenite here. 

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DUB News

Delhi Commission for Women accepts Pinjra Tod charter of demands at Jan Sunwai

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Students from different Universities of the capital gathered for a jan sunwai in Jantar Mantar on 10th October as a part of the Pinjra Tod campaign. The jan sunwai vocally presented the grievances and the demands of this expanding group of students protesting against the restrictive and biased hostel/PG rules. The event saw eminent academicians and feminists like Piyoli Swatija, Uma Chakravarti, Mary John and Janaki Abraham as the jury of the public hearing. A representative of the Delhi Commission of Women was also present to assess the demands of this campaign. The Jan sunwai started with a powerful poem by a student of Miranda House. It was followed by a song, composed and performed by two male students who have also joined this women’s movement.

Students from different hostels and PG’s presented their cases of moral policing, sexist and restrictive curfew timings and issues such as the number of late nights and the concept of local guardians. These included residents of hostels of St Stephens, Miranda House and Jamia Milia Islamia to name a few. In addition, residents of private hostels and PG’s such as Aparna Girls Hostel, Undergraduate Hostel for Girls and others also voiced their anger against the oppressive rules and regulations of their hostels as well as the conduct of their wardens.
The speakers left the crowd as well as the jury baffled with their stories. For instance, one of the student from Jamia Milia Islamia said, “Jamia Milia Islamia requires their foreign residents to seek permission from their respective embassies for a late night leave.”  Numerous cases of moral policing and use of abusive language by wardens was also voiced by the students of Delhi University.
The discussion was followed by a powerful Protest Performance, called Khol do. This was followed by the comments of the jury, who found it surprising that the condition and the rights of women have not really changed over the time. Uma Chakravarti, revered feminist historian said, “The university treats hostels as the extension of fathers control”. Janaki Abraham also exposed, ” the paternalism of the new UGC guidelines “

It was also highlighted that the Pinjra Tod campaign is not looking for freedom in a Utopian world and that the models of free and egalitarian spaces are present not very far, in the residences of institutions like JNU. The Pinjra tod activits read out their charter of Demands and handed over a petition signed by over one thousand supporters to the representative of the Delhi Commission Of Women, Farheen Malik. The Charter of Demands along with the petition was accepted by Farheen Malik,who termed all the demands ” genuine”
The Jan sunwai commenced with both male and female supporters shouting slogans such as,

“Pitta sapta dhoka hai,
Dhaka Maro Moka hai ”
and
“Gulami se samjhota karna chhod
Pinjra Tod  Pinjra Tod
Hostel ke darwazay khol
Pinjra Tod, Pinjra Tod “

The crowd dispersed after having danced to a Greek freedom song. The core members of the campaign thanked the supporters and also urged them to support the Pinjra Tod campaign in it’s future endeavours.

Read all about the Pinjra Tod movement here.

Photo by Uzma Rehman

Tooba Towfiq

[email protected]

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DUB Speak

Celebrating Femininity (Terms and Conditions Applied)

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There is a hypocrisy attached to the way society deals with women and their decisions about their own bodies. The recent incident of Instagram removing a picture showing a fully clothed woman with a small period leak is just one such occurrence in what is the general attitude towards women’s bodies. Although Instagram reinstated the picture (after removing it twice) following a furore on social media platforms, it is appalling to note the general idea perpetuating in society about controlling a woman’s narrative about her own body and it’s – to no one’s surprise – laced with double standards.

It is evident in the way the women’s breasts are objectified but the moment a young woman’s bra (everyday clothing for women all over the world) is visible, it becomes something worth debating and calling “over the top”. For instance, when the media thought it was a big deal for Taylor Swift to step out with her bra visible under a top. It is how women’s roles as life-givers are heralded but menstruation, a natural process influential to their ability to reproduce, is seen as something to be discussed in hushed whispers behind bathroom stalls. It is also about how society celebrates motherhood with pictures of new mothers serenely looking at their babies but banishes the very same mothers to breastfeed in bathroom stalls, which was talked about when a campaign “When Nurture Calls“ was launched in Texas, USA to support a woman’s right to nurse in public without being bothered or disturbed. It is worrying to see how people jump on the bandwagon of Meghan Trainor’s problematic “All About That Bass“, supposedly talking about body positivity, but are unwilling to look at a woman over size 10 in a crop top with anything other than disgust and mockery. The message is loud and clear: Love your body and celebrate womanhood as long as it is aligned with our shiny perceptions of what women should look like and do.

The realities of femininity do not fit into the neat little moulds that they are thought to be restricted to. There are period leaks and unkept body hair and rolls and bends and imperfections. It is time to stop preaching body positivity with statements like “real men love curves” because that defeats the very purpose of loving your body for what it is and not because it might seem more attractive to others in a certain way. It is time for women to take back control of the narrative of their own bodies. To truly celebrate femininity, we have to celebrate all aspects of it- the beauty and the struggle, the perfection and the flaws. We cannot pick and choose things to be proud of and things to quash based on skewed perceptions because there is nothing to be ashamed of about normal bodily functions and nothing ugly about our bodies.

Shubham Kaushik

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Campus Central

Women's Development Cells across Delhi University

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culture

th gang rape case as I think that is well established. But yes, I am talking about the inclusion of these lived experiences as a part and parcel of laying down the foundations of the numerous minds and attitudes that get shaped at colleges in Delhi University every day. I am talking about going that extra mile and to simply not wait for an event to shake us from the roots and later indulge in conversations expressing grief that last as long as a cup of coffee. Tracing some of the initiatives and going back to endeavours that started with trying to create and move away from a patriarchal society, one simply can’t overlook the setting up and introduction of various Women’s Development cells in colleges all across Delhi University. The increasing relevance of the same is closely tied with the context in which there is a need for them to function. Structures of patriarchy, consequent years of oppression, every experience unfolding an untold story and reiterating the belief- “ the personal is political”, that every action in the confines of your domestic sphere builds up to form a reaction and possibly similar actions in the public sphere is an ideology which most of these societies aim at instilling in the youth today. Some initiatives like the Sashakt which is a committee that strives for the empowerment and development of the students and faculty at Bharti College. It organizes several activities to help understand what is sexual harassment, educate students and staff on how to prevent and address harassment, and campaigns on prevention of sexual harassment through the medium of films, posters, banners, lectures and discussions  to create awareness. Lady Shri Ram College was one of the first few colleges in Delhi University to have started the Women’s Development Cell as a formal society in 1985. Banishing the view of being called “man haters”, this society aims at allowing its members to have a balanced view about the various gender issues that are a part of everyday living. It is an absolute necessity that every college has a women development cell as it opens up the minds on topics of sexuality, patriarchy and gender. In a series of events organised by this society, some of the ones that really stood out include a street play called Dastak by the Asmita Theatre Group. This street play was directed by Mr. Arvind Gaur and highlighted the heinous violence and harassment against women at public places. Additionally, the acclaimed documentary filmmaker Mr. Rahul Roy was invited for a discussion on ‘Masculinity and Gender Relations’. Deconstructing Gender, he brought to the fore the themes of masculinity and gender relations in the larger backdrop of caste, communalism, labour, class identities, culture and societal structures. In what constitutes an integral part of the curriculum of the cell, is the annual fest called “Udaan” every year showcasing plays starring eminent personalities like Tom Alter, panel discussions and heated debates amongst other activities. In speaking to one of the members of the Women’s Development Cell from Kamla Nehru College, she was quoted saying “These societies are imperative not only because they help in overcoming gender as a social construct, but help in engaging with Gender as a process and as a reality that one deals with on a daily basis” “One Billion Rising”, which was a global campaign for putting an end to such injustices was a smashing hit and it provided the societies of all these colleges to actively participate in the flash mob and the rallies. In a lot ways, it sent out a clear message of solidarity against these different forms of suppression of women and it was encouraging to see the huge numbers in which the youth had turned up with immense zeal and enthusiasm. It is not just women’s colleges but Women Development Cells are an important hub of activity in Co-ed colleges as well. Colleges such as Kirori Mal, Venky and Shivaji have really active WDC forums. At KMC a lot of its work is undertaken by the college gender forum, Parivartan, though, which is one of the most active ones in the university. Gender justice is now just not another feminist jargon concerning a certain section of the society, it is a responsibility that has now, more than ever before, assumed an unmatched level of importance and the setting up of Women’s Development Societies is no longer just an option but a necessity. By Tanya Kak ([email protected]) and Niharika Singh ([email protected])]]>

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