Significances of Literacy Day

Significances of Literacy Day

Recently we celebrated International Literacy Day on 8^th September, 2019. We all know why it is celebrated. The 8^th September was declared as International Literacy Day in 1966. From 1967 onwards we have been religiously celebrating it every year. So, this is the 54^th 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.