Significances of Literacy
Day
Recently we celebrated
International Literacy Day on 8th September, 2019. We all know why
it is celebrated. The 8th September was declared as International Literacy
Day in 1966. From 1967 onwards we have been religiously celebrating it every
year. So, this is the 54th year of its celebration. It’s focus was
to create awareness of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights. It is
only through literacy that we know our social and individual rights and also
for development. The dictionary meaning of literacy is the ability to read and
write. If this is the aim of UNESCO then the figure of achievement is perfect.
But on the higher level can we all agree to this kind of literacy. From the
feminist point of view this kind of literacy is not the literacy which is
successful in imbibing good value system respecting others and women in
particular. The UNESCO and if not UNESCO then some other organization should
seriously think of literacy which will really change the scenario regarding
women, especially in India. It should be the real kind of education which will
ingest sense of justice and equality in all of us. The so called privileged position
of a very limited percentage of women in society does not necessarily mirror
the plight of the whole and so it cannot be generalized. Today also, there is
discrimination between a male and a female child in many families. The birth of
a boy child gives more pleasure to the family than the birth of a girl child.
Another important aspect
is that the cases of rape have not lessened over the years. Women are still
victims of the dowry tradition. Though the law has granted a daughter’s right
to ancestral property, but still a father can deprive his daughter of his
self-acquired property. We are all awaiting especially women for the age of
enlightenment when justice and equality will prevail and stand over everything
else.
