On 8 March, the Bhiwandi Jan Sangharsh Samiti (BJSS) organized a spirited meeting, bringing together representatives from the Purogami Mahila Sangathan, All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), Bharatiya Mahila Federation (BMF), AIUTUC, Halat Ekta Forum, and Jamat-e-Islami Hind Girls Organization.
Trupti from Purogami Mahila Sanghatan, Nausheen of Halat Ekta Forum, Sankalpana from Bharatiya Mahila Federation, Kamala from AIDWA, Sameen from Jamat-e-Islami Hind Girls Organization and Comrade Tyagi of AIUTUC addressed the meeting.
They talked about the significance of International Women’s Day and its history. They spoke about the distressing conditions in which the majority of people in our country live and the need for rising up unitedly against all divisions of religion, caste, gender, region, language, etc. and fight for a dignified life for all.
Spirited songs inspired the participants. When the floor was thrown open for the participants, there was an excellent response. Some participants explained that the present system is democratic only for the ruling capitalist class, but a dictatorship on all of us – women, workers, farmers and ordinary people. The collective message was clear: unity and sustained struggle are essential to achieving equality and justice for all.
On 9 March, hundreds of women and men participated vigorously in a meeting to celebrate International Women’s Day in Thane. This meeting was jointly organised by the Thane Committees of Purogami Mahila Sangathan, Bharatiya Mahila Federation and the Jamaat-e-Islami (Hind). Comrade Bharati Bhoyar, leader of the women’s wing of Maharashtra State Electricity Workers’ Federation, also addressed the meeting.
The program began by saluting all those who had sacrificed their all for the emancipation of women as well as all the exploited and oppressed. Ongoing struggles across the world in which women are playing an important part were talked about.
Purogami Mahila Sangathan organised an interactive session which explained the fact that the root cause for the savage exploitation and oppression of women lies in the existing economic and political system. Speakers emphasised that the struggle for women’s emancipation is part of the struggle for establishing a society free from all forms of exploitation and oppression of persons by persons.
Members of the Bharatiya Mahila Federation highlighted the history of the International Women’s Day. They also performed a skit highlighting the struggle of women against exploitation and for their empowerment. They presented many songs.
Members of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind discussed the need to empower women and to enable them to express themselves. They also presented powerful couplets on the need for equality. They called upon people to transcend barriers of religion and caste, and unite in defence of the rights of all.
Comrade Bharati Bhoyar, spoke about various attacks on women, including the big attack of smart meters. She urged all women and men to strongly oppose the installation of smart meters.
At the end, the activists gave a call to women to participate in ongoing struggles with the perspective of ushering in a state and economic system that will ensure prosperity and protection for all. Let us fight for the goal of building a system where there will be no exploitation, oppression or discrimination on the basis of gender, caste, or any other consideration, they said.
The meeting concluded with powerful slogans:
International Women’s Day Zindabad! Inquilab Zindabad!