Women Empowerment in New India Synchronizing with PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat
In our country, respect for women, their status in society and their contribution has proved to be awe inspiring to the entire world, since ancient times. There has been a long tradition of Vidushis… women exponents or women champions. Many Vidushis of India have contributed in composing the verses of the Vedas. Lopamudra, Gargi, Maitreyee…it’s a long list of names. Today, we talk about ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’, ‘save the girl child, educate her’. But centuries ago, it has been mentioned in our ancient texts, in the Skand Puran(PM Modi on 28/01/2018)

This means, a daughter is the equivalent of ten sons. The ‘Punya’ that you earn through ten sons amounts to the same earned through just one daughter. This underscores the importance that has been given to women in our society. And that is why, in our society, women have been accorded the status of ‘Shakti’. This woman power binds closely together society as a whole, the family as a whole, on the axis of unity & oneness. Be it the erudition of the Vidushis of the Vedic Period… Lopamudra, Gargi, Maitreyee; be it the learning & devotion of Akka Mahadevi or Meerabai, be it the governance of Ahilyabai Holkar or the valour of Rani Lakshmibai, woman power has always inspired us. They have always brought glory to the Nation.(PM Modi on 28/01/2018)

Today women are not just advancing in myriad fields; they are leaders. Today there are many sectors where our woman power is playing a pioneering role, establishing milestones. A few days ago, Hon’ble President took an initiative. He met a group of extraordinary women who have achieved something significanty new in their respective fields.Women achievers of our country… the first female Merchant Navy Captain, the first female passenger train driver, the first female fire fighter, the first female Bus Driver, the first woman to set foot on Antarctica, the first woman to reach Mount Everest… ‘First Ladies’ in every field. Our woman power achieved extraordinary feats, breaking the age old shackles of social mores, creating new records.They proved that through perseverance, grit and a firm resolve, all kinds of obstacles and barriers can be broken & crossed, to chart out an all new path… a path that could act as a beacon of inspiration not just to their contemporaries, but for generations to come. It will infuse a fresh energy, newer enthusiasm into them. A book has been compiled on these women achievers, first ladies, so that, the entire country comes to know about the power of these women and derive inspiration from their life & work.(PM Modi on 28/01/2018)

Time and again we keep hearing people utter ‘There is something special that we as a people possess… no threat is big enough to annihilate our existence’. What is that ‘Special Something’? That ‘Something’ is flexibility, the ability of transformation. Leaving out things that are beyond the constraints of time and accepting betterment in things wherever necessary. And this is a salient feature of our society… relentless efforts towards self-improvement, self correction. We have inherited this Indian tradition as a cultural legacy. The benchmark of any living society is its self correcting mechanism. In our country, there have been unending endeavours against social ills and evil practices, both individually & collectively. Just a while ago, Bihar launched an interesting initiative. In order to uproot social ills in the state, the world’s longest human chain spanning over thirteen thousand kilometers was formed.This campaign made people aware of social maladies such as child-marriage and the dowry system. The entire state thus resolved to fight against these social evils. Children, the elderly, the youth full of energy and enthusiasm, women, girls turned out to participate in this battle. The human chain that commenced formation from Gandhi Maidan in Patna gained momentum, touching the state borders.(PM Modi on 28/01/2018)

On 22nd November, 1981, while announcing the inauguration of the University, Bhagawan, in His address to the students, declared, “Remember that all those whom we are accepting now as leaders, whom we respect as holding positions of authority, whom we worship as elders, were, some years’ ago, students like yourselves. Therefore, you, in your turn, will be the leaders, power-wielders and elders of tomorrow. Do not forget this destiny of yours….Along with subjects related to worldly knowledge, this University will impart instruction in ethical, moral and spiritual codes and sadhanas. It has, as its goal, the cultivation of the students’ minds on these lines. Virtues, purity of the mind, adherence to truth, dedication to the Supreme, discipline, devotion to duty – these qualities will be fostered and promoted in this University. Such seats of learning were established in ancient times by the sages and seers of India and, as a result of their self-sacrificing efforts, they have left for posterity the priceless heritage of Bharatiya culture.”(Excerpts from Sathya Sai Speaks)

One of the truly remarkable features of the Sri Sathya Sai System of Value-based Education is that Bhagawan, the Great Divine Teacher, has envisioned a process of continuing transformation for His students. Education in Bhagawan’s Institutions does not finish with the acquisition of academic degrees. The values of love and service imparted to the students during their period of study have to, necessarily, be carried forward into society, and, from thence, to the world. The ends of education at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning are Spiritual Upliftment, Self-discovery and Social Service.

At Anantapur, right from the inception of the Sri Sathya Sai Arts & Science College (for women), Bhagawan’s instructions were that the girls should be taught all the household arts and skills, along with academic studies, since His idea was to uplift the status of women without jeopardising the social fabric of traditional Indian society. Therefore, the girl-students had to sweep their rooms themselves, cut vegetables, roll chapattis/puris, clean the campus surroundings on Sundays, manage the dispensary, oversee the water-supply, weed the gardens, etc. Apart from all this, they were trained to take literacy classes for the adult workers on the campus, and Bal Vikas classes for the children of the workers. Though this routine may sound strenuous, regimental and demanding, since alongside these variegated activities, the girls had also to study for examinations at the end of each year, Bhagawan was very firm about the details of this discipline being meticulously observed, as the girl-students of those early years will testify.

Bhagawan’s visits to Anantapur, in those early days, were Gifts of Grace. He would advice the students about the need for women to be ideals to society. He shared with them His vision of a resurgent India in which women, no longer ‘abalas’ or weak, were endowed with the moral strength to create a cultural revolution.During one of Bhagawan’s visits to Anantapur in 1968, He told the girls that, being the upholders and protectors of Culture, women had to be educated in a different way than men. It was the duty of the elders, Bhagawan suggested, to see that the girl-students do not leave the institution without securing the ‘priceless treasure left by the sages of the past.’ A Women’s College, He said, ‘has the added responsibility to practise and preserve the essential values of Bharatiya Samskrithi.’ Thus, under Bhagawan’s Divine Guidance, an ‘Indian Culture’ Class was introduced - to be held every Thursday - to impart lessons on culture.

Blessed was it in that dawn to be alive, to be young was very heaven. Bhagawan’s Divine Plan for the redemption of humanity charged every student with a sense of ‘mission.’ Though not the recipients of Bhagawan’s proximity with equal measure as the boys, the girls hoped to participate in the unfoldment of Bhagawan’s Plan, if not by doing Great Things, then by doing Small Things in a Great Way.

The “Messengers of Sathya Sai” undertake all service-oriented activities as a humble and loving offering at the Divine Lotus Feet of Beloved Bhagawan, in gratitude to the Lord for all that He has given them, and taught them – a definitive spiritual goal, a noble path, and the loving way of walking it.

The Declaration at the bottom of the application form to “Messengers of Sathya Sai,” which every student seeking membership has to sign, sums up the sentiment:

Men should realise the high status of women, and honour and respect them accordingly. They should not make women weep and shed tears. A home where the woman sheds tears will be ruined. Men should therefore, as much as possible, lead their lives by giving women an honourable place and their due importance. The archetypal woman is described as Adhishakti (the primal source of all energy) having a whole array of powers.

he word Sthree is a combination of three syllables. They are the consonants, 'Sa', 'Tha and 'Ra'. Just as in the Aumkara we have 'A, U and M', in the word Sthree we have 'Sa, Tha and Ra'. First and foremost, 'Sa' signifies the Satvik nature of women. This is what leads to Salokyam (being in the same sphere of existence), Sameepyam (proximity) and Sayujyam (mergence). So it is the 'Sa' that represents the Divinity in Salokyam, Sameepyam and Sayujyam. Most women are endowed with this Satwik nature.After which comes the 'Tha' which signifies the Tamasik quality or Tamo Guna. But this Tamasik quality is not indolence, gluttony and slothfulness. Tamo Guna includes qualities like humility, kindness, shyness and modesty. The woman in all her humility serves the cause of the family and society honour in the right spirit. There is a saying in Andhra Pradesh: 'Judge a home by its mistress.' As is the woman, so is the home.The third and the final letter is 'Ra' which represents the Rajoguna. This does not mean pugnacity or aggression. This quality signifies the preparedness of women to even sacrifice their lives for the sake of their honour and the reputation of their family. Bharath’s history is replete with examples of women who fought valiantly and gave up their lives to protect their husbands and their honour. This is the quality of Rajo guna. To uphold the truth, they sacrifice everything; this is the main quality of Rajo guna. Hence the embodiment of Satwa, Rajas and Tamas is Sthree.(Excerpts from Sathya Sai Speaks)