Womens movement exhibition draws crowds in Bhubaneswar

A womens movement exhibition is drawing large crowds in Bhubaneswar.

Bhubaneswar (Orissa), Sept. 18 : A women's movement exhibition is drawing large crowds in Bhubaneswar.

Organised by the self-help group 'Zuban', which fights for womens' rights, the exhibition traces the rise of women in the country through 1,500 posters and accompanying write-ups.

"The idea is to collect posters from the women's movements all over India and to try and make a history of the movement through visuals. Another thing is to see what were the kind of campaigns that had been important in the movement," said Urvashi Butalia, one of the organisers of the event.

Visitors to the exhibition appreciated it.

"These posters are a very good medium to inform people about women issues. All women should come and watch this exhibition and become aware about their rights," said Sravani, a visitor.

The exhibition will travel to other parts of the country as well.Women played an important part in India's independence struggle.

Rani Lakshmi Bai, the Queen of Jhansi, led the Indian Rebellion of 1857 against the British. She is now widely considered as a nationalist hero. Begum Hazrat Mahal, the co-ruler of Awadh, was another ruler who led the revolt of 1857.

Some of the famous women freedom fighters include Bhikaji Cama, Dr. Annie Besant, Pritilata Waddedar, Vijayalakshmi Pandit, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Anjali Ammal, Aruna Asaf Ali, Sucheta Kriplani and Kasturba Gandhi.

Razia Sultana became the only woman monarch to have ever ruled Delhi. The list also include the Gond queen Durgavati, Chand Bibi, Jehangir's wife Nur Jehan, Shivaji's mother, Jijabai,

In South India, many women administered villages, towns, divisions and heralded social and religious institutions.

Besides, many women emerged as leaders of local movements. Several had launched anti-liquor campaigns in Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and other states.

Since the time India attained independence, women have been pioneering the cause of their rights.

Be it dowry deaths, rape, domestic violence, female foeticide and infanticide, women education or political reservation, women have not had it easy in the male-dominated society.

Though India is among few countries in the world where women like Indira Gandhi and Pratibha Devisingh Patil have risen to occupy the highest offices of the land, the lot of women at large has not much changed in society.

ANI