The purpose of National Girl Child Day is to increase public awareness of the injustices, discrimination, and exploitation that girls suffer in society.
India observes National Girl Child Day on January 24 each year. The ministry for women and child development project aims to support and create opportunities for Indian girls. With the intention of increasing societal awareness of the female child so that she might be loved and respected, the Indian government announced January 24 to be observed as National Girl Child Day in 2008.
The union government takes a number of initiatives to improve the status of women in society and to help them grow. Here are a few of the major initiatives taken by the government in this regard:
- Save the Girl Child,
- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao,
- Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
- CBSE Udaan Scheme
- Free or subsidized education for the girl children,
- Reservation for women in colleges and universities
When half of us are held back, we cannot all succeed. We encourage our sisters all over the world to be brave, to recognize their own strength, and to reach their full potential. – Yousafzai Malala
In the era of technology and social media, we as citizens of a prosperous country like India are quite aware of words like “Women empowerment” and have already thrived our way towards women’s safety and growth. Yet in today’s day, we do feel a need to push ourselves to reach the peak where women and men stand equally.
Besides today’s struggle and achievement, there were ladies who fought their way, not just through the narrow mentality of the past where women were restricted to their homes but also fought the forced rules of the nation: Britishers.
Women helped pave the road for India’s liberation and overthrew British dominance in India from the Revolt of 1857 to the day of independence in 1947. Why not pay tribute to these female martyrs who gave their lives in defense of the nation as well as the women who achieved success and earned the title of female freedom fighter? It is important to recognize and honour these powerful women liberation fighters’ lost legacies.
Here are some Women freedom fighters every Indian should know. My heart swells with pride while I write this article.
- 1. Aruna Asaf Ali- The Grand Old Lady Aruna Asaf Ali
- 2. Bhikaiji Cama- Raised Indian National Flag On Foreign Land
- 3. Tara Rani Srivastava- Indian First, Wife Duty Takes The Back Seat
- 4.Begum Hazrat Mahal- The Mehek-pari
- 5. Vijay Laxmi Pandit- First Woman To Lead The General Assembly of the United Nations
- 6. Usha Mehta- The Name That Should Be Tattoed In Every Indian’s Mind
1. Aruna Asaf Ali- The Grand Old Lady Aruna Asaf Ali
The Independence Movement’s “Grand Old Lady,” Aruna Asaf Ali, is well-known. She was a freedom fighter and supporter of Indian independence who is most remembered for raising the flag of the Indian National Congress at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay (now Mumbai) during the Quit India Movement.
Additionally, she actively took part in additional protest marches as well as the Salt Satyagraha movement before being imprisoned. She coordinated political inmates and arranged hunger strikes as a form of protest against the poor conditions in the prisons.
2. Bhikaiji Cama- Raised Indian National Flag On Foreign Land
As an Indian Ambassador, the woman raised the Indian national flag for the first time on foreign land in Germany. She was born to a Parsi family in Bombay on September 24, 1861. (now Mumbai). As a well-known liberation warrior known as Madam Cama, she is also well-known.
Her father, Sorabji Framji Patel, was a prominent figure in Parsi society and she came from a respectable household. She underlined the need for gender equality for both men and women. She donated all of her possessions to a young girls’ orphanage.
3. Tara Rani Srivastava- Indian First, Wife Duty Takes The Back Seat
In Saran, Bihar, Tara Rani was raised in a modest household before getting married to Phulendu Babu. Both participated in the 1942 Quit India Movement founded by Mahatma Gandhi, which controlled demonstrations and planned to hoist the Indian flag atop the Siwan Police Station.
They were able to form a mob, and they marched with the scream “Inquilab” toward the Siwan Police Station. Her spouse was shot as the cops opened fire as they marched towards the police station. Undaunted, Tara used her sari to bandage him as she led the mob to the station while yelling “Inquilab” and waving the Indian flag. When Tara got back, her spouse had passed away. She persisted in her fight for independence despite all of these obstacles.
4.Begum Hazrat Mahal- The Mehek-pari
We all know about Jhansi ki Rani, Laxmibai, but this warrior is the least known to us. Begum Hazrat Mahal, wife of the deposed ruler of Lucknow. The begam of Awadh showcased immense bravery and courage and fought in the Revolt of 1857 to protect her motherland.
Not just her, she also trained her son to fight and stand out for his own rights.
5. Vijay Laxmi Pandit- First Woman To Lead The General Assembly of the United Nations
Vijay Laxmi Pandit, a sister of Jawaharlal Nehru, was the first woman to lead the General Assembly of the United Nations. She joined the movement against cooperation. In conjunction with the Civil Disobedience Movement, she was imprisoned three times: in 1932, 1941, and 1942. She was elected to the United Provinces’ provincial assembly in 1937 and given the titles of minister of local self-government and public health. As India’s envoy to the inaugural United Nations meeting in San Francisco, she was instrumental in undermining British dominance.
6. Usha Mehta- The Name That Should Be Tattoed In Every Indian’s Mind
Usha Mehta was a voice without a face. When all the first-line leaders were captured by the British government before the Quit India movement. The batten was handed over to the second-line leaders. At the time of crisis, Usha Mehta marched the way forward for the young revolutionaries.
She was known for broadcasting on Congress Radio (an underground radio station). The radio station was hidden from all British government officials. The radio station was the main source from which the whole Quit India movement was directed and administered.
If you liked this story, please read the Article on – Our Favourite 8 Sudha Murthy Books, Sudha Murthy is an inspiring women philanthropist who serves as the chairwoman of the Infosys Foundation.
If you know more inspirational stories about a person, company, new idea, or social initiative, and want us to write them on mad4india.com, share such information with us on Facebook and LinkedIn.
