Mysore/Mysuru: Dr. S.P. Umadevi, a well-known litterateur of the city, felt that the importance of Women’s Day is not just to speak about the anguish of the woman but to become a voice for the voiceless.

She was speaking in connection with International Women’s Day organised by JSS College of Arts, Commerce & Science, Ooty Road, Mysuru, on Mar. 14.

She said that since the Vedic times to the most sophisticated modern age women have faced the same problem and exploitation. We should accept that women’s exploitation is not the dominant factor in the matriarchal society as it is hard to forget the patronage of men for women empowerment and with their support, we should take our responsibilities as challenges.

In the due course the status of women has undergone a drastic change and her condition today is not unlike her predecessors, she said.

Even today many countries have refused to accept a woman as their leader but India is an exception where a woman is treated as a divine power for which we have to be grateful to Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule who encouraged women’s education.

Today there is an overall improvement in the life of women with a positive response from the society. She is provided with academic and economic support which was deprived to women once upon a time. At present there are many role models in the form of Indira Gandhi (late), Kiran Bedi, Sudha Murty, Nirmala Sitharaman and others. A woman is capable of balancing both personal and professional life, she noted.

The speaker observed that one cannot imitate men in all respects but with our limitations we should lead a positive life.

Prof. B.V. Sambashivaiah presided. Dr. H.C. Honnappa, Principal, welcomed. Sannidhi of I MSc., rendered the invocation. Dr. Kumudini Achchi, Assistant Professor of MSW, proposed a vote of thanks. Sujatha Kumari, Assistant Professor, Department of History, compered.