MUMBAI: Several impactful initiatives are being undertaken around International Women’s Day. On Friday, women bus drivers in Thane raised a cheer to their counterparts elsewhere, while female railway employees at the all-women managed Matunga station exchanged greetings and flowers.
On Sunday Mar 10, Shanmukhananda Sabha and SIES together will be felicitating eight women scientists of Isro who were part of the historic Chandrayaan-3 moon mission at Shanmukhananda Hall, King’s Circle.Isro chairman S Somanath, who led the lunar mission, as well as P Veeramuthuvel, project director, will also be honoured. The women scientists include Kalpana Kalahasthi, Nandini Harinath, Nigar Shaji, Madhavi Thakre, Athulya Devi, Revathi Harikrishnan, Usha K and Kalpana Arvind. A few among them are also playing a significant role in Aditya-L1, India’s mission to the sun.
The ceremony will be followed by Hema Malini’s performance of dance ballet ‘Durga’. Shanmukhananda president V Shankar spoke of his 25-year-long association with Isro. “For this function we contacted the Isro chairman Somanath in September 2023, right after the success of Chandrayaan 3. He was doubtful if the scientists would be able to attend, since government employees are perhaps forbidden from attending felicitation functions by private organisations or accepting cash awards. But we impressed our sincerity, and are thankful that they will arrive.”
Meanwhile, Harmony Foundation collaborated with Wilson College’s women’s development cell and department of sociology to host a special talk on March 7. The speakers included naval surgeon Captain (Dr) Srujana Bhaskar, women’s rights lawyer Flavia Agnes and journalist Aarefa Johari.
Bhaskar spoke of a greater number of women joining India’s defence forces while Flavia Agnes acknowledged the progress made in women empowerment while outlining the challenges that lie ahead. She also detailed the work of her NGO in combating violence against women. Interacting with students, Johari began her talk with the question on what feminism entails and the role of men within feminist discourse. She said that the goal of the movement was to dismantle patriarchy.
Abraham Mathai, founder chairman of Harmony Foundation, dwelt on the importance of “reshaping the societal mindset to empower women, especially the pivotal role that families play in fostering gender equality”. A film ‘Manchahi’ was screened to draw attention to gender-based discrimination in India. In parts of rural India, girls are often labelled as ‘unwanted’ or `Anchahi’ given the preference for male children.
On Sunday Mar 10, Shanmukhananda Sabha and SIES together will be felicitating eight women scientists of Isro who were part of the historic Chandrayaan-3 moon mission at Shanmukhananda Hall, King’s Circle.Isro chairman S Somanath, who led the lunar mission, as well as P Veeramuthuvel, project director, will also be honoured. The women scientists include Kalpana Kalahasthi, Nandini Harinath, Nigar Shaji, Madhavi Thakre, Athulya Devi, Revathi Harikrishnan, Usha K and Kalpana Arvind. A few among them are also playing a significant role in Aditya-L1, India’s mission to the sun.
The ceremony will be followed by Hema Malini’s performance of dance ballet ‘Durga’. Shanmukhananda president V Shankar spoke of his 25-year-long association with Isro. “For this function we contacted the Isro chairman Somanath in September 2023, right after the success of Chandrayaan 3. He was doubtful if the scientists would be able to attend, since government employees are perhaps forbidden from attending felicitation functions by private organisations or accepting cash awards. But we impressed our sincerity, and are thankful that they will arrive.”
Meanwhile, Harmony Foundation collaborated with Wilson College’s women’s development cell and department of sociology to host a special talk on March 7. The speakers included naval surgeon Captain (Dr) Srujana Bhaskar, women’s rights lawyer Flavia Agnes and journalist Aarefa Johari.
Bhaskar spoke of a greater number of women joining India’s defence forces while Flavia Agnes acknowledged the progress made in women empowerment while outlining the challenges that lie ahead. She also detailed the work of her NGO in combating violence against women. Interacting with students, Johari began her talk with the question on what feminism entails and the role of men within feminist discourse. She said that the goal of the movement was to dismantle patriarchy.
Abraham Mathai, founder chairman of Harmony Foundation, dwelt on the importance of “reshaping the societal mindset to empower women, especially the pivotal role that families play in fostering gender equality”. A film ‘Manchahi’ was screened to draw attention to gender-based discrimination in India. In parts of rural India, girls are often labelled as ‘unwanted’ or `Anchahi’ given the preference for male children.