TRICHNOPOLY: The part played by the women of India in furthering the war effort was outlined by Begum Mir Amiruddin presiding over Ladies’ Day of the Trichnopoly war service exhibition today [July 22].

“While men have to bear the actual brunt of warfare,” she said, “women fight on a different front, namely the home front. Here they have as their weapons their courage and sense of duty; the foes against whom they contend are defeatism and despair; and their victory lies in providing relief and succour to the suffering; in sustaining with sympathy those whose bread-winners are away or who have lost near and dear ones.”

She continued: “A total war calls for a total effort, and when we survey the women’s world today we find that women everywhere — whether it be in Britain, China or Russia — are playing their part in the struggle for the larger human rights. The women of India also have to play their part. The greatest challenge of service, and a visit to the war services exhibition, will demonstrate to you the various ways in which this service can be discharged to hasten the day of victory so that when the shadow of war has been lifted, India’s women may join with the men in the work of reconstruction and the building up of a happier and better world.”

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2018