Don't Discard Values in Pursuit of Modernity — Pramilatai Medhe

Source : Organiser, 2007 Issues > February 04, 2007

Today we have about 4,900 shakhas across the country and abroad like the US, South Africa and England. During the birth centenary year of Lakshmibai Kelkar various leaders of the Samiti visited these countries.

We have seen that the people among the weaker sections, who have made some progress with the help of reservation, are exploiting the people of their own society. Instead of talking about reservation we can also take the initiatives to enhance the capability of women.

Pramilatai Medhe, Pramukh Sanchalika of Rashtra Sevika Samiti, took over the reigns of the Samiti on July 22, 2006 in Nagpur. Born in Nandurbar district of Maharashtra, she joined the Samiti during her childhood and learnt the basics of the organisation from Smt Lakhshmibai Kelkar, the founder of the Samiti. After holding various responsibilities in the organisation she became Pramukh Karyavahika in 1978 and took over as Sah-Pramukh Sanchalika on August 2, 2003. Organiser correspondent Pramod Kumar spoke to her to know her priorities as the Pramukh Sanchalika. Excerpts:

What are your priorities as the Pramukh Sanchalika of the Samiti?
Expansion of shakhas are the first priority as they are the pran (life) of our organisation. We also have plans to infuse a sense of awakening into the women about the ground realities of our society so that they can take up more projects as per the needs of the society. We have taken up some projects in Assam. In the recent Nagpur convention we decided to select 100 bastis in different parts of the country to start education, health and samskar projects. Besides our karyakartas, there are women in the society who have a desire to serve the society. We have to bring them also with us in these projects. A large number of women have joined hands with the Samiti in various projects. We have to bring about a change in the attitude of the society towards women and also women’s attitude towards other women.

Have these 100 projects been started or yet to be started?
Survey has been conducted at several places of Vidarbha, Maharashtra and Gujarat Prants. The details of the projects will be available in February. The work has begun in Assam. The birth centenary of Tai Apate, the second Pramukh Sanchalika of the Samiti, would be in 2010. Before that we have to launch these projects. In 2010, we wish to present these projects as a model of all-round development before the society.

What are the challenges before women today?
I think the self-respect of women is at stake today. The present image of women does not develop the feeling of shraddha and respect towards them. This image has to be changed. The picture of a woman, as being portrayed through TV serials and newspapers, magazines, etc. has contributed greatly in losing their respect. At the beginning stage of civilization, we did not have clothes, but today despite having everything we are throwing them away. This has put a danger before the purity of women. We have to protect the respect of a mother. If a mother cannot save her respect, how is she expected to contribute in nation-building? Consumerism is making women self-centered. If a woman is told to think about the whole family, she thinks it as wastage of time. Woman is a nirmati (maker) and she has to realise it.

What do you say about the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act that has been passed by Parliament recently?
The unity of family is already under threat in our country. This Act has been given another weapon in the hands of women. Before bringing any law, we need to educate people about its usage. George Washington was presented an axe by his father on his birthday in his childhood. Since he did not have the knowledge of using it, he destroyed the whole garden. The misuse of this Act will take women away from their family and the society. There are forces in the country who are jealous of our strong family system. Now they have started entrapping women. I am against crime against women, but I doubt whether the Act would be used to protect the family.

What steps are you taking to educate women against female foeticide?
We have taken up this issue in all our programmes. We are also now requesting the saints to talk about it. We have to free our society from several wrong notions and traditions. We are keeping this issue before the intellectuals who are policy-makers of the country. We have to keep in mind one more fact that the so-called educated people indulge in this crime more than the so-called illiterates.

What is the present strength of Samiti work in the country and abroad?
Women under the age of 30-35 years have started realising that what is happening around them is wrong and they should do something. They are associating themselves with various activities of the Samiti. The future is bright, but the path is full of thorns. Today we have about 4,900 shakhas across the country and abroad like the US, South Africa and England. During the birth centenary year of Lakshmibai Kelkar various leaders of the Samiti visited these countries. Indians in these countries want their future generations to imbibe the Indian values.

In Assam we started a project in which a group of 15 girls are brought to Nagpur and after imparting them nursing training they are sent to various parts of the north-east. We call them arogyarakshikas but the local people regard them as their pranrakshikas as they have proved themselves very useful in saving their lives.

What positive change do you see among women today after so many years of the Samiti work?
Women in large number have started following the swadeshi way, talking only in mother tongue with children at home, installing healthy pictures in house, refusing dowry during the marriage, etc. They may be less in number but have developed a hope for the country.

The issue of 33 per cent reservation to women is still hot. What do you think about it?
It has many dimensions. I feel there should be a public debate on it. What is the reservation policy? What do we really want to do and how much progress have the people made after granting reservation? This is a fact that in rural areas where women were granted reservation have done some good works. The politicisation of the issue is wrong. We have seen that the people among the weaker sections, who have made some progress with the help of reservation, are exploiting the people of their own society. Instead of talking about reservation we can also take the initiatives to enhance the capability of women. After all, those women who have come forward, have not come due to reservation. Recently we honoured some women working as auto-rickshaw driver, trolley driver, truck driver, etc. Like dalits, women should not be used as another vote-back.

There is a section of women, which feels that women cannot move with the changing time with the ideals of Sita and Savitri. What do you say?
We should understand the real meaning of being Sita and Savitri. Sita symbolises nishtha (faithfulness). We today see the menace of diseases, like AIDS, etc. In fact they have developed due to unfaithfulness. If we have to protect ourselves from such problems, faithfulness is the only remedy. The purity in relations is necessary. Similarly, Savitri represents a young and intelligent girl. She fights kaal, the God of death. She is not entrapped in the materialistic attractions thrown by the kaal. Are we not today fighting against the kaal? Who will protect the values, which are being targeted everyday? To become Kalpna Chawala and Sunita Williams women need not change their values. We welcomed Sunita Williams when she said India looks the most beautiful country from the space. She carried Bhagwadgita and a picture of Lord Ganesha with her in the space. Can you say her backward if she carries Bhagwadgita? For becoming modern women need not discard their values. We are not against women joining the field of science, space, technology, army or any other field. When a bird flies in the sky it always has its eyes on its nest. Women may fly in the sky of progress but they should not forget their real duties.