Women's Day: A Celebration or Just Another Day?

A week before International Women’s Day, my phone was flooded with promotional messages. Taneera, a saree brand, kept reminding me of their special discounts. The newspapers were filled with editorials analyzing women’s position in political, social, and economic spheres. But honestly? It all felt like a joke.

On the morning of March 8th, my mother gave me a jubilant smile and wished me Happy Women’s Day. I wished her back, but deep inside, I felt nothing. Every single day, I detest being a woman. Every night, I sleep with a heavy heart, thinking: How can I change the world when I can’t even change my own life as a woman?

I cannot step out of my home at 7 PM for a walk. I cannot stroll in the park. I cannot feel the cool monsoon breeze on my face without looking over my shoulder. What kind of freedom is this?

From birth to death, a woman faces constant battles. Discrimination begins at home—whether as a child, a teenager, or an adult. I know so many women who live in beautifully decorated cages, adorned with diamonds and rubies, and look through thir narrow windows, this reminds of Hawa Mahal, built for the same purpose.  We are in the age of AI, yet women still struggle to step outside their thresholds. They are being given every comfort inside their homes—a salon, a showroom, entertainment. But no one has given us the freedom to just be.

Isn't it ironic? Rich husbands and fathers can buy their daughters and wives everything except freedom. The same freedom our leaders fought for, the same freedom that was promised to us, is still missing.

"Women are not born free and are everywhere in chains"

I once met a girl at a wedding. She was brilliant at makeup, and I casually suggested her to pursue fashion. She smiled awkwardly and said, I’m already enrolled in a computer course. Obviously, a career choice imposed on her.

Yes, even men in our society don’t always have full freedom in career choices. But for women, it’s not just about choice—it’s about permission.

Ever wondered why India has such low female participation in sports? Because society doesn’t “allow” girls to run freely, play on fields, or throw a ball like boys. "Hamari ladkiyan ye sab nahi karti," they say. And the debate ends there.

The irony? Manikarnikaa, (Rani Lakshmibai), who fought a war on horseback, was expert at Malkhamb and sword fight. She lived 200 years ago. Yet, today, girls are stopped from running on a playground. Progress? No. We’ve just modernized our prejudices.

Movies like Lapata Ladies and The Great Indian Kitchen raise these questions, but will they bring real change? Unlikely.

Even working women face a double burden—handling professional responsibilities while also being expected to manage the household alone. Because, of course, cooking, cleaning, and raising children are not "manly" enough.

And then, there’s dowry. Proud fathers educate their daughters in prestigious universities, only to later pay a hefty sum to "settle" them in marriage. 

"It’s normalized to the extent that people don’t even hesitate to ask for it anymore."

So, what is Women’s Day really? A few discounts on Zomato and shopping malls? A corporate email praising “women empowerment” while paying female employees less?

Yes, we have women flying fighter jets. But many still cannot fly through their own lives. Two Navy commanders recently sailed across the ocean, yet so many women cannot even steer their lives in the direction they want.

This day fills me with immense grief.

I cannot even change my own mother’s life. She once dreamt of being an entrepreneur, having her cloud kitchen. Now, she can only dream. She doesn't have the courage to fight for herself. She is silenced. Women neither have their voice, nor choice. 

But maybe, just maybe, someday I will.

Despite everything, I see a silver lining.

Women are fighting. We are not goddesses, not superheroes—just humans who refuse to accept injustice as our fate. We are striking back with our words, our choices, our resilience.

And maybe, one day, we will truly celebrate Women’s Day—not as a token, but as a reality and  I shall wish my mother with genuine smile and help her shape her dreams into reality. 

Happy Women's Day!