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In 1917, women in Russia chose to protest and strike under the slogan "Bread and Peace" on the last Sunday in February (which fell on 8 March on the Gregorian calendar). Their movement ultimately led to the enactment of women's suffrage in Russia.8 Mar 2025
International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on 8 March, commemorating women's fight for equality and liberation along with the women's rights movement. International Women's Day gives focus to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women.[3][4] Spurred by the universal female suffrage movement, International Women's Day originated from labor movements in Europe and North America during the early 20th century.[5][6][7]
Who Was Sarojini Naidu?
Sarojini Naidu (1879-1949) was a prominent poet, activist, and politician who played a crucial role in India’s struggle for independence. Her contributions extend beyond poetry, as she became the first woman to become the President of the Indian National Congress and later the first female governor in independent India.
Key Contributions of Sarojini Naidu:
- Freedom Struggle
- Advocacy for Women’s Rights
- First Woman Governor
- Literary Legacy
- Social Reforms
How is National Women's Day different from International Women's Day?
National Women's Day is observed in India on February 13, focusing on Indian women’s achievements, while International Women's Day is celebrated globally on March 8.
The earliest. reported Women's Day event, called "Woman's Day",[11] was held on 28 February 1909, in New York City. It was organized by the Socialist Party of America[12] at the suggestion of activist Theresa Malkiel.[13] There have been claims that the day was commemorating a protest by women garment workers in New York on 8 March 1857, but researchers have described this as a mythIn August 1910, an International Socialist Women's Conference was organized ahead of the general meeting of the Socialist Second International in Copenhagen, Denmark.[17] Inspired in part by the American socialists, German delegates Clara Zetkin, Käte Duncker, Paula Thiede, and others proposed the establishment of an annual "Women's Day", although no date was specified.[8][14][18] The 100 delegates, representing 17 countries, agreed with the idea as a strategy to promote equal rights, including women's suffrage.[19]
The Russian Revolution and Communist countries
On 8 March 1917, in Petrograd (23 February in the Julian calendar), women textile workers began a demonstration that eventually engulfed the whole city, demanding "Bread and Peace"—an end to World War I, to food shortages, and to Tsarism.[20] This marked the beginning of the February Revolution, which alongside the October Revolution, made up the Russian Revolution.[4][23] Revolutionary leader Leon Trotsky wrote, "23 February (8 March) was International Woman's Day and meetings and actions were foreseen. But we did not imagine that this 'Women's Day' would inaugurate the revolution. Revolutionary actions were foreseen but without a date. But in the morning, despite the orders to the contrary, textile workers left their work in several factories and sent delegates to ask for the support of the strike… which led to mass strike... all went out into the streets."[20] Seven days later, Tsar Nicholas II abdicated, and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote.[12]
