Mindset of Nepali society remains intact towards the Women

As a good friend of Nepal, such wishes from friendly countries should be taken in a positive way.

Now to come to the topic of today’s talk, well! I must admit at the very outset that neither I am an expert on issues related with the women, nor a media leader who can boast of so many things.

I am indeed a journalist tip to toe, not a senior one, instead a student of journalism with a desire to learn more what I have so far not learnt.

But then yet, I can talk some thing good of women. I see in women, the impression of my mother, daughter, my own wife, my grand daughter, and my sisters. I feel panicked and get disturbed as and when I see reports that describe the atrocities on women-whether they be at home, restaurants, hotels, offices and the likes.

We talk of women’s emancipation. We eulogize their efforts. We more often than not praise them for the contributions they have made in different sectors of the society.

But are we in essence, caring them and providing them what is their rightful due? Has the state been kind enough to look into their Himalayan problems and issues that they confront each day? Has not the State neglected the issues of the women folks? Yes! In paper works, the government recognizes them. Yes! The political parties too exhibit their passionate affection towards the women. And above all, the media too talks high of women but when it comes to the crunch, the women are dumped dubbing them as a weaker sex.

But are they really weaker? Perhaps not. We the males have injected in their minds that they were weaker to which they are not. They even excel the males.

In my opinion, contrary to the common assumption, women are often the primary earners of the family when the situation of the household is more vulnerable-their contribution to the household economy becomes very crucial

In addition, the total work burden borne by women as a result of their multiple roles often imposes enormous costs in terms of calorie deficiency and emotional pressure.

Similarly, they are the more often the victims of an exploitative work environment especially because of their higher number in the informal sector.

In our society, though the women contribute much, but yet their contribution has so far been neglected by the male dominated state machinery.

To me, I see immense potential in today’s Nepali women. They have talent, intellect, wisdom and enough capabilities who can take up even the hard task and can match or even excel their male counterparts provide they be given chance.

However, this is not so. The society has changed only in lectures or in various governments’ issued documents and papers. The plight of women still remains intact.

Above all, if the country is in crisis or in conflict, it is the women and the children who are the first victims-both from the State and the rebel side.

This phenomenon we just went through.

The medieval mind set of the society has not yet changed towards the women folks though we claim that we have turned into a modern society.

In this back drop and given the societal eye on looking into the women’s capabilities, we are now talking about their potential and talent that can be used for peace building efforts.

In my opinion, women must be honored with spaces wherein they can exhibit their latent potential. If we do so, I can guarantee that we have enough women intellectuals, leaders, activists and the likes who can provide a right direction to the society and also can contribute for peace building in the country.

However, the fact is that we ignore them. The political parties ignore them. Even the State is not judicious towards them. This is unfortunate. I condemn the ruling elites who underrate the intellect of women.

For example, we have some women activists in our midst, for example, Babita, Shobha, Maya and Kamala who have contributed for the enlightenment of the society. Whether they be media activist, a HR activist, a Badi activist demanding their rightful identity from the state, or even be a member of the what has been wrongly called as a DALIT, these distinguished women, if need be, I am the witness, have spared no efforts for the empowerment of women from their respective quarters.

I see courage and vigor in them. I hope they can and should change the society with their campaign they are currently associated with.

Thus, peace is not a commodity that we can buy from the market. Peace resides in the minds of the people. More so women demand peace for when peace gets disturbed, it is this set of our society that becomes the first victim.

I would encourage the ladies affiliated to women emancipation jobs to double their efforts in changing the traditional mind set of the society controlled by a handful of leaders and work for the prevalence of peace in their own country. Know your potential and use your intellect in the transformation of the society and bringing peace. I feel sorry that not single women have been elevated to the ranks of peace builder. This is a shame! I see the percentage of women in the parliament, political parties, and in media as well, and in different sectors, negligible. Though in papers there is a provision that at least this much of women must be included.

Now let me come to the media domain.

Yes the media can contribute a lot for peace building efforts and for the permanence of peace as well.

However, it could only be done, I beg pardon, when the media is non-partisan to any particular group or for that matter a party.

I at times fail to assess my own role as a media man as to whether I am contributing for the permanence of peace or doing just the otherwise quite contrary to what the society and the state expect from?

We can do, we have to do, let’s do is all what I can tell you dear friends.

I see reports at times appearing in various newspapers that women journalists suffer discrimination on grounds of sex and face heavy odds. The wearer should know perhaps where the shoe pinches. Yet some energetic women in the media are fighting for their rights against all the existing odds. This is good news.

Peace can’t be a choice, it is and should be a compulsion.

Welcome speech delivered by the Chief Editor of the Telegraph Weekly, at a Media Seminar on Women and Media in Peace Building process on 19th December, 2007, Kathmandu.

Posted on : 2007-12-30 10:52:23

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