8th March is being celebrated as International Women’s Day since 1911. It is being observed in most of the countries.

Women have been discriminated and are being denied equal opportunity and equal justice in the  society. They are discriminated in jobs,wages,  society, home, schools, worship places – every where. Thousands of years of male dominance has relegated the women to a second position. This still continues and some times is increased.

All the religions have given prominence to men at the cost of women. The fundamentalists of each and every religion are targeting women. Attacks are on women world wide. They are molested, harassed, raped and killed. The recent statement of a convict in the Nirbhaya case, clearly shows the mindset of many in the society.

There have been many women Presidents and Prime Ministers in several countries, including India. But the condition of women has not improved as required. The mindset of the society has to be changed.

It is not a small fight. It is a very very long fight. It is not  the fight of women only, it is a fight by the men and women. The progressive forces and the working class have a great responsibility in the matter.

The society can not move forward with one leg, the women, tied to a post. Both legs have to move equally, freely  and in cohesion. In the socialist society, there will be no discrimination between men and women. They will have equal rights and equal responsibility.

Let us all pledge to day, to make all out efforts to bring gender equality, equality for men and women.