Every year on March 8, the world observes International Women’s Day (IWD) — a global celebration of women’s achievements and a powerful reminder of the ongoing fight for gender equality. It is a day that honors the spirit, strength, and resilience of women across generations, while spotlighting the challenges that still hinder true parity.
The roots of IWD trace back to the early 20th century, when women workers in New York marched in 1908 demanding better pay, shorter hours, and voting rights. Inspired by these protests, the first National Women’s Day was observed in the United States in 1909. The idea quickly spread across Europe, with Clara Zetkin proposing a dedicated International Women’s Day at the International Socialist Women’s Conference in 1910. By 1911, countries like Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland marked the first official IWD. The United Nations formally recognized the day in 1977, lending global support to the cause.
But beyond celebrations and slogans, IWD remains a crucial platform for reflection and action.
Despite remarkable progress in education, politics, science, and business, gender inequality persists. Women continue to face wage gaps, underrepresentation in leadership, disproportionate caregiving responsibilities, and increasing threats of violence—both online and offline. In many parts of the world, basic rights like access to education, reproductive healthcare, and legal protection remain distant dreams.
The International Women’s Day 2025 theme is “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” This theme calls for action to ensure equal rights, power, and opportunities for all women and girls, creating a more inclusive and equitable future for all. Studies consistently show that gender-balanced workplaces are more innovative, productive, and profitable. When women thrive, societies prosper.
India, with its growing pool of talented women in every sector—from sports and science to politics and entrepreneurship—has much to celebrate. Yet, stark realities such as female labor force participation, safety concerns, and social norms reveal how far we still need to go.
On this International Women’s Day, let us go beyond token gestures. Let us amplify women’s voices, challenge bias, invest in their growth, and ensure that equality is not just an ideal, but a lived reality. Because when women rise, we all rise.
Being a Woman, I don many hats such as that of a mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend and a colleague. I feel proud to be a Woman every single day every single minute.
