The whole world is going to observe International Women's Day on 8 March. The history of how it came into being is long. But it could enter the UN calendar only in 1977.
It’s a triumph of the legendary ladies who were ahead of their time and fought for the emancipation of Women's rights in all spheres of life: right to vote, equal wages as their male counterparts, eight hours working day and above all dignity in life. It’s just about a hundred and fifty years ago that these demands started surfacing.
Even in USA, considered as the most advanced country in the world, White women got voting rights only in 1920,Black's even much later. In 1857 the garments workers, mostly ladies, came out to the streets of Chicago for establishing equal wages, reasonable working hours and humane treatment.
The industrial revolution taught Europe many things. Amongst those we have democracy, social justice and freedom from capitalist exploitation. The movements grew in Germany, Austria, Denmark, Switzerland, England and other parts of Europe. Germans were of course spearheading the workers and peasants movements. By 1848 great German Economist, Philosopher and Political Scientists Karl Marx and Frederich Engels have published their epoch making Manifesto of the Communist Party.
In the manifesto they urged the working class of the world to rise against all oppressive measures of the capitalist owners and revolt. The publication ends with the revolutionary quote," The proletariat of the world has nothing to lose but their shackles whereas they have the whole world to conquer." This electrifying statement energised the working class and they started gaining ground by getting organised in groups. Trade Unions were yet to be formed en masse.
Two prominent German ladies Clara Zeitkin and Rosa Luxembourg came up fighting together with some other brave comrades of theirs to fight shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. They specially put forward the plight of the lady workers in different fields. In America too the voices grew stronger and in 1909 for the first time a day was observed on 28 February to put forward the just demands of the womenfolk. It was a striking success.
And in 1910 in a preparatory meeting of the Second International (to be held in Copenhagen in 1911) a proposal was put forward by Clara Zeitkin to observe an International Women’s day every year to press forward the demands of the women working class. It was passed unanimously and every year it started to be celebrated in different countries but on different dates. It is needless to mention that world socialist movement which was growing by the day in that era was the driving force behind the celebration.
After the establishment of USSR the momentum grew. The day was fixed as 8 March in memory of the Chicago garments workers movement. The whole socialist block and their like minded parties used to observe the day since then in due solemnity. In the Socialist block countries it was a public holiday and a day of celebration, as all demands of equality were fulfilled in those countries.
Persistent follow up by those countries, empowerment of women in other countries and the success of women in every field of life as their male counterparts convinced the world body finally. As mentioned earlier since 1977 UN is observing this day as International Women’s Day and dedicated the day towards recognising the achievements of half of the mankind. The decision was taken in UN General Assembly in 1975.
This year's theme of the day is Invest in Women: Accelerate progress. Let's all acclaim our ladies for their contribution in shaping the world. Long live Clara Zeitkin, the proponent of the day.
Pradip Kumar Dutta: Columnist, Essayist and Traveller