Akhilesh Chandra Saxena
Bareilly: The Department of Law at MJP Rohilkhand University, Bareilly, organized a symposium on International Women’s Day under the patronage of Honorable Vice Chancellor Prof. K.P. Singh and the guidance of Head of Department Dr. Amit Singh. The event commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp and garlanding of Goddess Saraswati by the esteemed guest, Dr. Shashi Devi, former Deputy Director of Secondary Education, Bareilly. LLM students presented a Saraswati Vandana to mark the beginning of the event.
Distinguished guests present at the event included Dr. Shashi Devi Sharma, Ms. Viparna Gaur (Organizing Officer, Bareilly), Advocate Soni B. Malik (Former Government Advocate), Dr. Jyoti Pandey (Cultural Coordinator, MJPRU), and Mr. B.K. Rai. Dr. Amit Singh welcomed Dr. Shashi Devi Sharma with a bouquet and shawl, while Assistant Professor Dr. Shehnaz Akhtar extended a similar gesture to Ms. Viparna Gaur. Dr. Anuradha Yadav welcomed Advocate Soni Malik with a bouquet and shawl.
In her address, Dr. Shashi Devi Sharma began with the statement, “Women, you are delicate but not weak.” She emphasized the importance of human values in empowering women, stating that equality between men and women is fundamental, as even Lord Shiva is worshipped as Ardhanarishvara, symbolizing gender balance. She further stressed that moral values and dignified behavior are essential for securing women’s rights.
Viparna Gaur, in her speech, started with a verse from Ramcharitmanas and highlighted the need for strong determination in achieving goals. She underlined the importance of education and a strong upbringing for women so they can fight for their rights and protect themselves from exploitation and oppression.
Advocate Soni Malik stressed the necessity of women’s empowerment, asserting that a strong nation can only be built on empowered women. She criticized societal orthodoxies and outdated beliefs, pointing out that workplace harassment remains a stark example of prevailing inequality and regressive mindsets.
Dr. Jyoti Pandey extended her best wishes for International Women’s Day and emphasized the need for women to recognize and harness their capabilities to move forward in life.
Dr. Amit Singh congratulated everyone on the occasion and remarked that while women have made significant strides in all fields, there remains a considerable gap in political decision-making and financial institutions’ leadership. He advocated for reservations for women to ensure their representation in political and financial spheres. Additionally, he pointed out the lack of wages for women’s labor in the agriculture sector, highlighting it as an instance of societal inequality. He urged the inclusion of women in decision-making roles not only in familial matters but also in political and financial institutions.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Shehnaz Akhtar, followed by the national anthem. The program was conducted by Assistant Professor Ms. Juhi Naseem. Among the attendees were LLM students, research scholars Shailendra Singh, Shraddha Swaroop, Rashtra Vardhan, faculty members Dr. Lakshmi Devi, Amit Kumar Singh, Dr. Lakshyalata Prajapati, Dr. Anuradha Yadav, Naimuddin, Preksha Singh, Priyadarshini Rawat, and staff members Gulab Singh, Ram Vachan, and Mohit.
