This article has been written for Techkriti Blog for a Cause Contest. The topic was: “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the World.” Write about a particular issue concerning the position of women in today’s society. For more information visit: http://www.socialscribblers.in/techkriti-blog-cause/

1. “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the World.”
Some flowers are nipped in the bud; some germinate but perish in the
harsh external conditions; then there are those which are destined to
bloom; come what may. Replace flower with women and the analogy
drawn between the two is inescapable.
It is the third category of women which the flourish of my pen hopes to
portray. Women who have bloomed despite the vagaries of fate. Women
who have not only conquered the inner space bounded by four walls but
also the boundless outer space. Women who have entered into those
fields that were till today considered the exclusive domain of men. In
doing so, they have challenged the very basis of male hegemony, that is,
male supremacy. These are the women who have changed the order of
society and shown a glimmer of hope to millions of their kind, who were
shrouded in the darkness of despair.
The primary reason why India has not been able to establish itself as a
developed nation is the gross underestimation of the potentiality of the
fairer sex, painfully sometimes by the fairer sex itself. Since the dawn of
civilisation the physical and mental faculties of women have been

2. considered inferior to those of men. Unfortunately this perception
permeated down to post independent free India. It is only in the past two
decades that there has been a paradigm shift in the attitude of women,
more so in the way this attitude is perceived. Women are increasingly
being conscious of their rights and abilities, and are pulling all shots to
explore it further. On the other side, men are finally taking a backseat and
acknowledging that their days of monopoly and dominance are
numbered.
This trend is conspicuously observable in almost all arenas of professional
life. Be it space, aviation, business, sports or politics; name it and they are
there.
In politics, their participation in mainstream political activity is now being
noticed. Though their representation is disproportionate and grossly
inadequate, they are holding some of the key positions .The office of the
President, Prime Minister, Speaker of the Lok Sabha and Leader of the
Opposition are some of the high offices that have been held by women.
We know too well about the woman who has been running an entire
political empire for the past decade or so. The woman reservation bill, if
passed, will make women all the more palpable in politics.
In business and finance women are working shoulder-to-shoulder with
men, sometimes even outdoing them. It is an established notion that
women make better managers. Efficient juggling between different roles
is inherent in them; be it at home or at workplace. In general women
have better communication skills and convincing power than men. No
wonder they are making inroads to the corner office, that too at a rapid
pace.
Then there are absolutely great women who have defied all the forces
holding them back (yes, gravity included) and ventured into outer space.
Truly “out of this world”!
Even in showbiz women are making their mark. It is difficult to
conclusively decide whether cinema reflects the society or the society is
influenced by cinema. There are no easy answers. In reality, it happens
both ways. The very identity of the quintessential Indian woman has

3. undergone a massive change. As stated before; she has started assuming
important roles not only inside but also outside the four walls of her
house. Then can her portrayal onscreen remain the same? Definitely no,
even if it does, it won’t work. Moreover women centric movies have
found an opening, albeit small, in the last few years. The audience has
finally begun to embrace stronger portrayals of women. It does work both
ways.
The higher success rate of young girls in academics and extracurriculars
alike is indeed a bearer of glad tidings. The story does not end here. Even
if the story does, the possibilities don’t.
Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, has accurately surmised the
power women wield in familial realm in the following sentence,
“If you educate a man you educate an individual, if you educate a woman
you educate a family.”
A woman (as a mother, sister or daughter) is the fabric that binds the
units of a family together. The most impactful role of a woman is being a
mother. In this regard it has been rightfully quoted, “As God could not be
everywhere, he created Mother”. Mother stays in close contact with her
child, exclusively for the first nine months, and particularly for the next
five years. Ergo she has the biggest influence in her child’s life as these
initial years are critical in shaping of his personality when his mind is most
impressionable. So it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to claim that in the role
of a mother, a woman holds the power to determine the fate of mankind.
The values that the child imbibes in these formative years form the
bedrock of his personality which he possesses till his last breath.
As a wife she supports and supplements her husband in day-to-day
functioning of the household. An educated wife is an absolute delight for
her husband. There is no dearth of instances where an educated wife has
stood as a pillar of strength and guidance for her husband. The most
powerful man in the world derives his strength and equilibrium from his
wife, who is even known to have helped him with key administrative
issues. In view of all this it is not difficult to believe that “behind every
successful man there is a woman”.

4. Indeed, the future lies in the hands of the woman who rocks the cradle.
She has been responsible for the genesis and fall of many a civilisation. To
be in denial of her prowess and consequent emergence is like adopting an
ostrich-like approach oblivious of the pressing realities. India cannot
afford it, mankind as a whole cannot afford it.
SAMANWITA SAMAL
TECH 56912