Kolkata, January 19, 2018: A day long workshop was organised by newly founded Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Foundation to discuss the future course of action on the widows’ issues in the city of Kolkata because of its historic connection with the two legendary social reformers of the 19th century who are our inspirational icons for the emancipating work for the widows.
The Minister for Public Health and Engineering,Government Of West Bengal,Mr. Subrata Mukherjee while recalling the contribution of both the reformers urged people to help Social organisations which are engaged in welfare of Widows. He said that his government is all set ready to join hand with Sulabh International.
Speaking on the occasion Minister of State for Women and Child Development,Mrs. Shashi Panja while recalling the contribution of Raja and Vidyasagar appreciated Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak who waged the campaign for welfare of Widows of Vrindavan,Varansasi and Uttarakhand.
While introducing the theme of the workshop,Wellknown Social Reformer and Founder of Sulabh International Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak recalled the contribution of both the iconic reformers said that their revolutionary contributions as our source of inspiration for carrying forward the mission of giving a life of dignity to our long-suffering widows, which is at the heart of this Foundation.
This workshop was organised with this task—how to mobilize the people to change their negative attitude towards the widows, and how the society at large should accept and give respect to them and thus help them get integrated in the social mainstream, so that they can live in the family and society with respect and dignity—we solicit your cooperation and creative suggestions.
Dr. Pathak’s initiative began from Vrindavan, and extended our welfare work for widows to Varanasi and Uttarakhand. Sulabh is looking after about 800 widows in Vrindavan, about 200 widows in Varanasi and 154 families including 32 widows in Deoli-Bhanigram Panchayat of Uttarakhand. Now we are planning to take up the cause of widows at the national level to fulfil the dreams of Raja Rammohan Roy and Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar,added Dr. Pathak.
He says,”We strongly feel that all suffering widows should be given stipend and vocational education, so that they could earn their own livelihood and be self-reliant. Above all, they must get respect and all possible help from their own families and the rest of society, and we are doing whatever we can to accomplish this and emancipate the long-suffering widows of India.
Thus, Sulabh’s missionary campaign for widows is meant to emancipate them from all kinds of deprivations, restrictions and humiliations. We have lent our widowed sisters and mothers a healing and helping hand, but much more needs to be done.
To give our widows a life of dignity and choice, we have decided to make a more concerted effort through the formation of Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Foundation. Dr. Pathak said this workshop is being held to help us meet this challenging task of emancipating and empowering our widows, for which we seek your active cooperation and creative suggestions.
A book “The contributions of Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar for Emancipation and Empowerment of Widows “ was also released on the occasion.
Addressing Widows from Sunderbans,Vrindavan ,Navdeep,Uttrakhand and Varanasi Dr. Pathak advocated remarriage by Young Widows whose husbands were eaten by Royal Bengal Tigers. Dr. Pathak who is known for campaigning against Widowhood by organising Holi ,Dipawali and other rituals for thousands of widows in Vrindavan announced to extend his campaign for thousands of widows of Sunderbans.
It was a significant moment as Dr. Niladri Banerjee, who happens to be a descendant of Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar graced the occasion as Guest of Honour and shared his views on the subject. Senior Scientist Dr. K.J Nath while welcoming all the guests focused on the measures taken by Sulabh for welfare of Widows. Senior journalist Ms. Aarti Dhar , General Secretary Of Dakhneshwar Ramkrisha Sangh Adapath Brahmacharya Mural Bhai and other dignitaries expressed their views in workshop. Large number of alumni of the prestigious Presidency College, who have excelled in various fields also took part in workshop.
