It has been rightly said by G.D Anderson, “Feminism isn’t about making women strong. Women are already strong, it is about changing the way the world perceives that strength.” Thus, sometimes as a father, sometimes as a brother, sometimes as a teacher, sometimes as a friend, sometimes as a husband, males have played an important role in making the world realize the inner strength of women. Today if a woman is able to reach the space, and take a march on Rajpath, termed as the Nightingale of the country, a brave warrior, then besides the strength of women, males’ role in transforming that strength can’t be denied. But, this journey was not easy either for males or for females.

During the 19th century, India was handcuffed in the chains of the British East India Company and women in the hands of malpractices and social stigma such as sati. Woven in the traditional beliefs of the Hindu religion, it was a rampant practice, But, change was bound to occur. Raja Rammohan Roy not only played an important role in being the torchbearer but also as a change-maker. Despite being in a patriarchal society, he not only made sati banned legally and intellectually but also made India realize that the end of a male’s life is not the end of women’s aspirations but the beginning of a new generation. The candle of change that was lit by Roy, had to go a long way in removing the darkness in women’s lives, but this would require that “the baton of change should keep changing hands but not the objectives.”

Even though women were safe still the plight as a widow was not very healthy. Amid conservative societies, a change maker was again needed. This time, it was made by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. Despite belonging to a conservative family himself, he had a liberal and open mind. Setting himself as an example for widow remarriage he played an important role in making the world realise that women are on an equal footing with men in having a life of dignity and respect.

Now women had dignity in living but were not very much empowered in realising that dignity due to huge illiteracy. At that time, girls were not educated after a certain age and were mainly involved in household chores. This time the teacher of women’s illiteracy became Jyotirao Phule, who not only initiated the development of girl education by establishing schools but also empowered them. Today if a woman is able to reach the Supreme Court bench, it cannot be denied that amid pebbles and stones, the torch bearer was a male only.

But this didn’t end there, it continued. Sometimes in the form of a leader like Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, who recognised the military capability of Lakshmi Swaminathan and made her the commander of the Rani Jhansi Brigade regiment of the Indian National Army and marked the beginning of the women's era in the military and other armed forces. Today’s accomplishments of Tanya Shergill - The first women parade adjutant or of Shivani Singh - The first woman Raphael pilot, can be traced in the light of the decision at that time. It is also important to note that this empowerment was not limited to a particular community but also made its mark in various other communities. Who could forget Raziya Sultana - the first ever woman ruler, Arun Asaf Ali - one of the greatest freedom fighters, and Meera Kumar - the first woman Lok Sabha speaker to name a few.

Just like a fire if misused can burn but if used properly can cook food, likewise, women have had potential since time immemorial, just needed a direction - when it was given the direction of education - she turned Kalpana Chawla, Kiran Bedi, Sarojini Naidu, Sucheta Kriplani, etc; when it is focussed on sports - she turned into Saniya Mirza, Mithali Raj, PV Sindhu, Geeta Phogat, etc; when given the view of politics - she became Indira Gandhi, Mayawati, Sushma Swaraj, etc and when given the power of justice - she turned into M. Fatima Beevi, Gyan Sudha Mishra, Ruma Pal, etc.

In spite of all these attempts still we happen to witness certain cruel intentions too in the name of the Delhi Gangrape case, Hathras case, Hyderabad case, etc. This makes us ponder on the thought that still some darkness is present in the room which needs to be wiped off with the light of empowerment. But as it is said, no matter how long the darkness remains light will continue to spread the hopes of empowerment in the form of - Malala Yousufjai, Greta Thunburg, and Sana Marin, to name a few for the next generation to believe in that “There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women."

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