GUWAHATI, April 29 - The Guwahati Senior Citizens� Association in collaboration with the Assam Senior Citizens� Association and the Kamrup Mahanagar Zila Senior Citizens� Association observed today as the �Protection of Women�s Dignity and Honour Day� in order to register a strong protest against persecution of women in the world in general and India in particular.
A kilometre-long silent procession was taken out on the occasion from the Lakshmidhar Bora Kshetra encircling the four sides of Dighalipukhuri.
Prasanna Barthakur, general secretary, ASCA, while thanking the participating elderly citizens for their cooperation, explained the significance of the day.
DN Chakravartty, president of GSCA, in his speech referred to the teachings of the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata with regard to the honour and social security of women in the Indian society. He also mentioned the honourable place occupied by Assamese women during the rule of the Ahom Swargadeos (kings) and the valour and wisdom of Assamese women through the ages.
Dwelling on the great acts of courage and wisdom of Indian women in the country�s struggle for freedom and thereafter, Chakravartty spoke about the examples set by great Indian women like Sati Joymati, Rani Lakshmibai, Sarojini Naidu, Kasturba Gandhi and Chandraprabha Saikiani.
Dr Devdas Bharali, president of Kamrup Mahanagar Zila Senior Citizens� Association, said women�s status in a particular society is the index of its culture and civilization.
Moloy Baruah, president of Madak Drabya Nibarani Mancha, said that addiction to alcohol and drugs was a major cause of all heinous crimes in society.
Mandira Baruah, president of Satsori, in her speech, suggested that all people, irrespective of age, should be punished for crimes against women. Mridula Hazarika, Pratibha Devi Sarma, Durga Dutta and Pushpendra Saikia, while addressing the meeting, stressed the need for greater cooperation from police to fight the scourge of addiction.
Bimal Kumar Hazarika recited a poem glorifying women. The meeting also decided to observe April 29 as Nari Nirjyatan Birodhi Divas every year.
