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 A moment with a loved one 

A Missouri Air National Guardsman shares a moment with a loved one upon returning home to Kansas City, Mo., Nov. 18, 2020, after an overseas deployment. 

Women Courage: Sharp Shooter with carbine

 During weapons qualification course in Kuwait 

USA: 20th October 2020: (The Eagle Eye News)::

Women are growing with fast speed even on war front. They are getting themselves trained in weapon training too. Women are surprising the world with their capacity to learn and perform. You are watching the picture of a brave American soldier. Missouri Army National Guard Spc. Lauren Cabrera fires from an M4 carbine during a specialized law enforcement weapons qualification course at the Udairi Range Complex, Kuwait, Oct. 19, 2020.

Jasmine Strait Practicing on An Machine Gun

During training at Camp Geiger

Marine Corps Pfc. Jasmine Strait practices clearing procedures on an M240B machine gun during training at Camp Geiger, N.C., Dec. 17, 2019.
Photo By: Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Brian Bolin Jr.

SOUTH KOREA: Sexual harassment

February 06, 2014                                                                                                                              Thu, Feb 6, 2014 at 10:53 AM

A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission

Sexual harassment in workplace is organised violence 

In a meeting held on February 4, organised by the Korean Women’s Development Institute where around 500 so-called women ‘leaders’ participated, President Park Geun-hye delivered a speech that her administration will strive for the keeping of good maintenance of systems so that women of capacity will not be barred from achieving their dreams. President Park further promised to create various programmes that explore women’s capability which will contribute to the society. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family sponsored the meeting.

The top official’s strong affirmation of a national policy on women was welcome and her promise was appreciated by those ‘leaders’ at the meeting. Obviously, such speech means hardly anything to women who are not leaders but who have been discriminated against in ordinary workplaces. For them, it is only an assembly of words. Ironically, one day after the delivery of the speech, a group of civil society organisations in support of the victim of sexual harassment in workplaces held a press conference and released how they have been discriminated against for seeking justice in their workplace.

According to their testimony a woman employee, a decade long work experience at Renault Samsung Motors Co. who was assigned to a research team in January 2012 had been sexually harassed for about a year by her superior who joined as a team leader in March 2012. The team leader has the power of evaluation of merits on the staff in the team. Due to unbearable suffering, she decided to resign and informed the situation to the company in March 2013 but was encouraged by an executive not to resign. Soon after, however, the executive advised her to resign. Two months of international investigation concluded that the team leader received two weeks of suspension of work and was discharged from his position on ground of sexual harassment on 13 May 2013. Meanwhile, a sudden rumour roamed around in the company that she seduced the team leader.

The victim filed a civil suit against CEO of the company. In June 2013, human resource team of the company warned Ms. Jeong, whose name was found as one of witnesses in the law suit filed by the victim, not to associate with the victim. Since Ms. Jeong refused, the company made punitive disciplinary action for negligence in July. The company also took disciplinary action against the victim on the ground of obtaining testimonies from her colleagues. It is reported that the process of the internal investigation was unfair. The Gyeonggi National Labor Relations Commission ruled on December 4 that the disciplinary actions against the victim and Ms. Jeong were unfair. Nonetheless, the company suspended Ms. Jeong and the victim from work on December 6 and 11 respectively. It also filed a criminal suit against them on charge of theft (removing classified documents) in revenge.

Disconnected from the speech and promises made at the ‘leaders’ meeting, the type of routine and ordinary case of sexual harassment in a workplace appears not a matter of concern for them. Not only by superiors in a company, but also by prosecutors against female journalists is it a routine form of practice of sexual harassment, followed by very lenient disciplinary action. The Korea Women link, a non-governmental organisation released a report in 2013 saying that more than half of the counselling cases (56.35% ) were related to sexual harassment issues within the company (which has increased by 12% compared to the year before). In particular, cases that were reported as a disadvantage action were 79 incidents and this contributes to 35.59% of the counselling cases. It is believed that actual unreported or undocumented number of case is still at large.

National policies always matter either to promote or demote protection of rights of women in particular as to the violence against women. It is indeed welcoming remarks that the administration is planning to develop various programme for women’s economic participation. However, as the case of Renault Samsung Motors Co. indicates, if the victim of sexual harassment is instead discriminated for seeking justice in a workplace and an organisation of profit or non-profit encourages others to discriminate against the victim, it is nothing but a place of organised violence that the victims will suffer. Without this practice being changed, President Park’s words retain just an assembly to ordinary women in the workplaces and it will only gear to corner them to a place of organised violence requiring their obedient submission to sexual harassment in return.

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About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation that monitors human rights in Asia, documents violations and advocates for justice and institutional reform to ensure the protection and promotion of these rights. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.

We all should join her....without further delay

"I Am Rising...": Anoushka Shankar

A letter from Namita Bhandare

Sun, Dec 30, 2012 at 12:43 PM
A time for grief but also a time for action
We have a long fight ahead. But we will win

Photo courtesy Facebook

Dear Rector,
Yesterday was a sad day as we woke up to the heartbreaking news of the death of the 23-year-old medical student who was subject to a brutal gang rape, beaten and then dumped on the road on the night of December 16. 
Today, we share the same feelings of sorrow, hopelessness, anger and frustration. Yet, I believe that while this is a time for grief, this is also a time for action. This is a time to say: enough. 
Our petition has gathered over 88,000 signatures. It is important to make every voice count and to send a strong message that we will not continue to tolerate sexual violence against women. 
Tomorrow, at 10 am, I am going to the office of Justice J.S. Verma who is the head of a three-person committee that will submit its findings and recommendations on issues of safety of women. I will be submitting our petition with all the signatures (yes, all 2,700+ pages!). 

It is important to keep this campaign going. I am writing to you once again to request you to sign this petition and forward this email to your friends and family.

The Justice Verma Commission is accepting submissions until January 5. We don't have a lot of time. If you would like to make additional suggestions, please leave a comment as 'reasons for signing this petition'. I will be collecting all the comments and submitting them to the committee.

We have a long fight ahead. But we will win. 

With warm regards,

Namita Bhandare via Change.org
A letter from Namita Bhandare 
PS:  Help us reach out to more people by forwarding this email to your friends or share it on Twitter and Facebook.

An open debate on violence against women at Ldh

Sat, Dec 22, 2012 at 11:26 AM
A bill must be passed in parliament at earliest
such crimes are generally committed by the well connected people

LUDHIANA, 21 December 2012:A comprehensive strategy has to be evolved through administrative, socio political and judicial measures to combat the inhuman menace of violence against women. This was the consensus arrived at after open debate on violence against women organized by the All India Working Women Forum (AITUC), Punjab Istri Sabha and Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha Ludhiana today at Shaheed Karnail Singh Isru Bhawan Ludhiana. Dr Narjit Kaur –Convener of the forum said that it was heartbreaking and sobering to read the morning papers and realise how low we have fallen as a society and as human beings. A group of drunk middle aged men raped a young physiotherapist and brutally assaulted her and her boyfriend. Even if the girl survives her physical injuries, the mental scars she bears may not be erased for a lifetime. What sort of wicked and depraved men they must be to so casually and easily rob the joy and health of a harmless young girl at the threshold of womanhood and life and reduce her and her family to utter despair?

Mrs.Gurcharan Kochar – President Punjab Istri Sabha Ludhiana cautioned that it brings us to the urgent question of what needs to be done to prevent more of our daughters being deprived of their happiness, esteem, health and often, their lives. To act strongly and firmly. The female foeticide, honour killings and discrimination against the girl child are a reflection of  gender bias prevailing in the society. This needs to be condemned  and corrected.

Dr Arun Mitra – General Secretary Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha said that such crimes are generally committed by the well connected people who feel that they will go scot free after committing the crime. The economic gaps which have increased in the last about two decades have further marginalized the already deprived section of the society who have become more vulnerable to violence.

The meeting proposed following measures to meet the situation.

1.      All concerned men and women holding any position of authority and whose voice can be heard  by many, should publicly express their outrage and concern.

2.      A bill must be passed in parliament at the earliest wherein the outcome of rape cases must be decided within 45 days by a fast track court. Strong punishment must be meted out to the rapist and he must be publicly humiliated.

3.      Police reforms must be undertaken immediately. Political intervention in the police must stop.  If any police station refuses to register a complaint of rape, there must be a strong and well -defined punishment for the concerned officer.

4.      Laws in relation to sexual harassment at workplace should be enacted in consultation with women orgnaisations.


There should be one page devoted in the daily newspapers to women’s safety. This page should exclusively list crimes against women. Detailed identities and addresses of culprits involved, photographs and daily progress on brutal cases (ie who has been apprehended as yet, what punishment has been given etc)

5.      All employers should make their own  workplaces  as safe as possible for women.

6.      There should be several options for safe travel for women including exclusive buses and taxis, train compartments and plenty of well-lit public toilets. These should have female staff manning them as well.

7.      All parents, when rearing  their children, should place a very strong emphasis on not letting them use violence. Gentleness must be inculcated from the start in boys especially.

8.      All schools should make self- defence, especially for girls , a mandatory part of the curriculum.

Others who spoke at the meeting include Maj. Sher Singh Aulukh – President BJVJ, M.S.Bhatia – Organising Secretary BJVJ, Jit Kumar – General Secretary Punjab Istri Sabha Ludhiana, D.P.Maur – General Secretary Joint Council of Trade Unions Ludhiana.  
 An open debate on violence against women at Ldh

Smt. Krishna Tirath addressing a press conference

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Women and Child Development, Smt. Krishna Tirath addressing a press conference, in New Delhi on January 11, 2012.

Florida Woman Loses 84 Pounds to Join Army

By Cynthia Rivers-Womack
U.S. Army Recruiting Command

GAINESVILLE, Fla.,Jan.3, 2012:Allison Scarbrough officially changes jobs today, from retail cashier to health care specialist in the U.S. Army. But the change has not been easy.

Allison Scarbrough of Gainesville, Fla., lost 84 pounds to qualify for service in the Army. U.S. Army photo

Scarbrough, then 20, walked into the recruiting station here in May 2010 ready to become a soldier. But because she carried 240 pounds on her 5-foot, 5-inch frame, she had to lose 84 pounds and keep the weight off before she would be eligible to enlist.In 2010, Scarbrough belonged to the country's growing demographic of 18-to-24-year-olds considered overweight and obese. In 1998 -- when the National Institutes of Health released the first federal guidelines to identify, evaluate and treat overweight and obese adults -- 97 million Americans, or 55 percent, were identified as overweight or obese.
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study revealed that in 1998, only one state had 40 to 49 percent of its 18-to-24-year-old population classified as overweight or obese. By 2008, that number had grown to 39 states. The CDC uses a height-weight calculation known as body-mass index, or BMI, to determine whether someone is overweight or obese. The Army also uses BMI measurements to determine weight, with different calculations for men and women.
Keenly aware of weight-management issues among its active-duty and reserve soldiers, Army officials began offering the service's "Weigh to Stay" program online in 2006. The initial program was designed for in-person sessions, but the online platform made the program more accessible and self-directed, according to a 2006 interview with Army Lt. Col. Danny Jaghab, site creator and past nutrition staff officer at the U.S. Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. In addition, the Army now provides a platform at http://www.hooah4health to help soldiers in their goals to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
When Scarborough realized she could not join the Army until she lost 84 pounds and kept it off, she said, she changed her behavior toward food and modified her lifestyle and eating habits. She began eating more vegetables and doing away with high-caloric drinks, fast-foods and unnecessary snacks.
Encouraged by her recruiter, Army Staff Sgt. Terrance Retsch, Scarborough started physical training in September 2011 with the future soldiers of the Gainesville recruiting station.
"I knew when Scarbrough came into our office she would take the challenge to lose weight and would be successful," Retsch said. "She's determined and strong-willed, plus the Army gave her a bigger purpose that had immediate and long-term benefits: improving her health and becoming a soldier."
Scarbrough said the transition has been good for her body and her mind.
"Weight shouldn't be something that stops you from doing what you really want," she said. "Losing weight is a lot of work, but even when you hit a plateau you have to keep at it. My mother didn't think I would follow through with losing the weight or joining the Army, but I did it, and now I'm ready to go."

Four state level rallies by Mehila Congress

Formation of state body within next fortnight
Chandigarh// November 10, 2011//Rector Kathuria

Mahila congress Punjab will organize four state level rallies at Ropar, Kapurthala, Dharamkot and Amritsar in the month of December which will be adrresed by Smt Anita Verma, President, All India Mahila Congress. This was stated by Dr Malti Thapar after chairing the first meeting of the mahila congress. Dr Thapar also announced the formation of state body within next fortnight with 2 senior vice presidents, 7 vice presidents, 7 general secretaries, 7 secretaries, 1 organizing secretary, 1 treasurer, 1 media advisor, 1 office secretary, 11 executive committee members and joint secretaries.  Three Zonal rallies to be addressed by Incharge Punjab affairs Dr. Anita Babbar at Hoshiarpur, Patiala and Gurdaspur.

Dr Thapar directed the mahila congress workers to ensure maximum participation of the mahila workers in the ongoing Punjab bachao rallies being organized by Pradesh congress. She also asked the mahila workers to work for the coming vidhan sabha elections and work with the senior party to ensure the victory.

Mahila congress will provide moral and legal support

Thousands of Mahila Congress workers gather at Moga
Mahila Congress Pb.to launch 24 hour help line 
A step taken for women of Punjab: Dr Malti Thapar 
Moga:November 2, 2011

Mahila Congress Punjab will shortly start a 24 hour helpline at Congress Bhawan Chandigarh for the women of Punjab who are harassed and tortured at the family or social or administrative or political level. Stating this as a historic step, Dr Malti Thapar, President, Mahila Congress Punjab said that Mahila congress will provide moral and legal support to such females who are deprived of their rights in any way. This 24 hour helpline number will be intimated to the general public through media. Dr Thapar announced this today at Moga, while she was speaking at the rally held on the second day of Punjab Bachao yatra.

Dr Thapar said that number of cases of atrocities on the women have increased manifold during the last four and half years of this Akali Dal Badal and BJP rule. The crime rate in Punjab has gone up leaving behind Bihar also. Women in the state are feeling insecure and unsafe in the goondaraj of Akali Dal Badal. Everyday the silent protesting teachers or the Aangan vaadi workers are picked up by the Punjab police on the directions of S Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is the home minister also, and beaten mercilessly in front of everybody. 

Dr Thapar questioned S Harsimrat kaur Badal, MP that What is the use of just grabbing cheap publicity by holding daughter of poor people and branding it as “Nanhi Chaan”? Can the present regime give any authenticated data on the female foeticide in the state during the last four years?Dr Thapar assured the president PPCC, Capt Amarinder Singh that Mahila Congress will be his right hand in the coming vidhan sabha elections and will fight with the Pradesh Congress to throw this government out of power. Dr Thapar requested Capt Singh that while drafting the manifesto special attention should be given to the issues relating to the women of Punjab.

Dr Thapar pointed to S Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister of Punjab that by making cancer specialization hospitals in Malwa belt won’t serve the purpose of common man, come to Dharamkot and see where Punjab is going? For the last 15 years Akali Dal has ruled in this constituency but S Parkash Singh Badal should see the plight of the people there. There is no school, college, hospital, roads or transport. People are living in pitiable conditions without even safe drinking water and electricity. Old age pensions and shagun schemes are also not being distributed by the government. Even the money to be given in the MNREGA is not being paid to the workers.

Women’s Day Celebreted Behind Bars

Iranian Women Rights Activists Celebrate 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day under Pressure and Behind Bars

Tuesday 8 March 2011

Change for Equalitywww.we-change.org/english: Iranian women’s rights activists commemorate the 100th anniversary of international women’s day while facing increased pressures and while many of their colleagues remain in prison. While the activists in the One Million Signatures Campaign have remained active carrying out trainings and awareness raising activities on women’s rights the pressure on them as well as other women’s rights activists is increasing. The Campaign embarks on the 100th anniversary of International Women’s day while several of its activists remain in prison including:
Ronak Safazadeh, Kurdish women’s rights activist, currently serving a 6 year prison sentence in internal exile. She was arrested on October 9, 2007 and has been in prison since. Ronak Safazadeh is also a member of the Azar Mehr women’s NGO in Kurdistan Province.
Zeinab Bayazidi, Kurdish women’s rights activist currently serving a four year prison sentence in internal exile in the city of Zanjan. She was arrested on July 9, 2008. Her appeals process, as noted by her lawyer, was unusually speeding and suffered from legal irregularities.
Alieh Eghdamdoust, women’s rights activist, sentenced to serve three years in prison in relation to her participation in the peaceful protest in Hafte Tir Square on June 12 2006. She is currently serving her prison term in Evin. She has been in prison since February 1 2009.
Bahareh Hedayat, women and student rights activist currently serving a 9.5 year prison sentence at Evin prison. She has been denied visits and contact with her family. Bahareh was arrested on December 27, 2009 and has remained in prison since.
Nasrin Sotoodeh, human rights lawyer and women’s rights activist sentenced to 11 years of prison and 20 year ban on legal practice and travel. Nasrin was arrested on September 4 2010 and remains in prison while she appeals her sentence. New charges have been brought against her since her arrest.
Fatemeh Masjedi, women’s rights activist currently serving a 6 month prison sentence in Qom for her involvement in the Campaign. She was arrested on Friday January 28, as she was on her way to Tehran from Qom and taken to prison to start serving her sentence, despite the fact that her lawyer had filed a judicial review in her case.
Farnaz Kamali, women’s rights activist, arrested during protests on February 20, 2011. Her situation, the charges against her and her location remain unclear. She has been allowed one telephone call to her family from prison.
Also, many Campaign activists have been sentenced to prison terms in relation to their human rights or journalist activities, which have either not been implemented yet or are in appeals, including:
Mahboubeh Karami, Campaign activist who has been sentenced to serve a 3 year prison term, but the sentence has not yet been implemented.
Shiva Nazarahari, Campaign and human rights activist has been sentenced to serve a four year prison term, but the sentence has not yet been implemented.
Jila Baniyaghoub, Campaign activist and journalist has been sentenced to a 1 year prison term and a 30 year ban from journalistic activities.
Kaveh Kermanshahi, Campaign and human rights activist in Kermanshah has been sentenced to a 5 year term, which he is appealing.
Other women remain in prison during the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day well. They include women’s rights activists, student activists, journalists, political figures and human rights activists.
Some of the women currently in prison in relation to their activism include: Mahdieh Golroo, student activist, Haleh Sahabi, women and peace activist, Fariba Ibtahaj, women’s researcher and political activist, Hengameh Shahidi, journalist, Mahsa Amrabadi, journalist, Nazanin Khosravani, journalist, Atefeh Nabavi, student activist, Shabnam Madadzadeh, student activist, Zeinab Jalalian, Kurdish rights activist, Fatemeh Karoubi, political activist, Zahra Rahnavard, political activist, Fakhrolsadat Mohtashamipour, political activist, Leila Tavasolli, political activist, Mahvash Sabet, religious minority, and the list goes on…
We wish all our readers a happy International Women’s Day celebration. Here’s hoping that our colleagues and friends will be free and out of prison for next year’s celebration of the day for women.
Courtesy : We Change

Exceptional Woman of India

Sarojini's novels have gained a reputation for their feminist outlook and sexual frankness and has been translated into English and published from India. Her work explores why sexuality plays a major role in our understanding of Eastern feminism. The author thinks feminism should not act in opposition to men as individuals. To her, feminism is against oppressive and outdated social structures which forces both men and women into positions which are false and antagonistic. 
Sarojini Sahoo born 1956 is an Orissa Sahitya Academy Award winner Indian feminist writer, a columnist in The New Indian Express and associate editor of Chennai based English magazine Indian AGE, who has been enlisted among 25 Exceptional Women of India by ‘Kindle’ English magazine of Kolkata.Born in the small town of Dhenkanal in Orissa (India), Sahoo earned her MA and PhD degrees in Oriya Literature and a Bachelor of Law from Utkal University. She now teaches at a degree college in Belpahar, Jharsuguda, Orissa.

She is the second daughter of Ishwar Chandra Sahoo and the late Nalini Devi and is married to Jagadish Mohanty, a veteran writer of Orissa.She has two children Anubhav and Sambedana. Jagdish Mohanty is also a renowned Oriya writer, considered as a trendsetter in modern Oriya fiction, has received the prestigious Sarala Award 2003, Orissa Sahitya Akademy Award 1990, Jhankar Award, 1985 Dharitri Award, Prajatantra Award. Born in an iron mines of northern periphery of Orissa, he spent more than 30 years of his life working in the coal mines in western periphery of Orissa. Though he kept himself away from the cultural capital of Orissa, but still his writings highlighted him in the mainstream of Oriya literature and culture.Indian feminist writer Sarojini Sahoo. She has published ten anthologies of short stories. Her English anthologies of short stories are:Sarojini Sahoo Stories (2006). Waiting for Manna (2008).Her other Oriya anthologies of short stories are:

• Sukhara Muhanmuhin (1981)
• NijaGahirareNije (1989)
• Amrutara Pratikshare (1992)
• Chowkath (1994)
• Tarali Jauthiba Durga (1995)
• Deshantari (1999)
• Dukha Apramita (2006)
• Srujani Sarojini (2008)

She won the Orissa Sahitya Akademi Award and Bhubaneswar Book Fair Award for her collection of short stories titled, Amrutara Pratikshare. Her novel Gambhiri Ghara proved to be a bestseller in Oriya literature. Her novels have gained a reputation for their feminist outlook and sexual frankness and has been translated into English and published from India under the title The Dark Abode (2008)  and published from Bangladesh in Bengali as Mithya Gerosthali ( 2007 ). 
Prameela K.P has translated this novel into Malayalam and has been published as "Irunda Koodaram" by Chintha Publishers, Thiruvanthapuram. Dr. Vishwanath Bite is working on itsMarathi translation, Martina Fuchs for German and Dinesh Kumar Mali for Hindi. Another novelPakhibas has been translated in to Bengali and published from Bangladesh under the same title in 2009. This novel has been translated into Hindi by Dinesh Kumar Mali and has been published with same title by Yash Prakashan, Delhi in 2010. 
She has published eight novels in Oriya.

 Upanibesh (1998)

• Pratibandi (1999)
• Swapna Khojali Mane (2000)
• Mahajatra (2001)
• Gambhiri Ghara (2005)
• Bishad Ishwari (2006)
• Pakshibasa (2007)
• Asamajik (2008)  ......Her novel Gambhiri Ghara proved to be a bestseller in Oriya literature. Her novels have gained a reputation for their feminist outlook and sexual frankness and has been translated into English and published from India under the title The Dark Abode (2008) and published from Bangladesh in Bengali as Mithya Gerosthali (2007). Prameela K.P has translated this novel into Malayalam and has been published as "Irunda Koodaram" by Chintha Publishers, Thiruvanthapuram. Dr. Vishwanath Bite is working on its Marathi translation, Martina Fuchs for German and Dinesh Kumar Mali for Hindi. Another novel Pakhibas has been translated in to Bengali and published from Bangladesh under the same title in 2009. This novel has been translated into Hindi by Dinesh Kumar Mali and has been published with same title by Yash Prakashan, Delhi in 2010.She has published a collection of essays Sensible Sensuality (2010), published by Authors Press, E-35/103, Jawahar Park, Laxmi Nagar, Delhi- 110 092, where redefining femininity with Eastern perspective, the book explores why sexuality plays a major role in our understanding of Eastern feminism. The author thinks feminism should not act in opposition to men as individuals. To her, feminism is against oppressive and outdated social structures which forces both men and women into positions which are false and antagonistic. Thus, everyone has an important role to play in the feminist movement. It seems ironic that feminism has been characterized as anti-male, when in fact, it seeks to liberate men from the macho stereotypic roles men often have to endure such as the need to suppress feelings, act aggressively, and be deprived of contact with children. Sahoo thinks people should emphasize their femininity rather to impose the so-called stereotyped feministic attitude of the second wave. As an Indian feminist, many of Dr. Sarojini Sahoo’s writings deal candidly with female sexuality, the emotional lives of women, and the intricate fabric of human relationships, depicting extensively about the interior experiences of women and how their burgeoning sexuality is seen as a threat to traditional patriarchal societies; this book is rare of its kind and has covered the topics that never be discussed so far in any Indian discourse. Her debatable concept on feminism, her denial of Simone De Beauvoir’s ‘the other theory’, make her prominent feminist personality of South Asia and for which KINDLE Magazine of India has placed her among 25 exceptional mindset women of India.
• 
  • Orissa Sahitya Academy Award, 1993
  • Jhankar Award, 1992
  • Bhubaneswar Book Fair Award, 1993
  • Prajatantra Award, 1981,1993
• Sarojini Sahoo is a key figure and trendsetter of feminism in contemporary Indian literature. For her, feminism is not a "gender problem" or confrontational attack on male hegemony and, as such, differs from the feminist views of Virginia Woolf or Judith Butler.Sahoo accepts feminism as an integral part of femaleness separate from the masculine world. Writing with a heightened awareness of women’s bodies, she has developed an appropriate style that exploits openness, fragmentation, and nonlinearity.Sahoo, however contents that whilst the woman identity is certainly constitutionally different from that of man, men and women still share a basic human equality. Thus the harmful asymmetric sex /gender "Othering" arises accidentally and ‘passively’from natural , unavoidable intersubjectivity.
  Treating female sexuality from puberty to menopause, her fiction always projects a feminine sensibility. Feminine feelings such as restrictions during adolescence or pregnancy, fear factors such as rape or being condemned by society, the concept of the "bad girl," and so on, are treated thematically and in-depth throughout her novels and short stories.
  

  Her feminism is constantly linked to the sexual politics of a woman. She denies patriarchal limits of sexual expression for a woman and she identifies women's sexual liberation as the real motive behind the women's movement.In South Asian Outlook , an e-magazine published from Canada, Menka Walia writes : “Sahoo typically evolves her stories around Indian women and sexuality, which is something not commonly written about, but is rather discouraged in a traditionalist society. As a feminist, she advocates women’s rights and usually gives light to the injustices Eastern women face. In her interviews, she usually talks about the fact that women are second-class citizens in India, backing up these facts with examples of how love marriages are forbidden, the rejection of divorces, the unfairness of dowries, and the rejection of female politicians.”.For her, orgasm is the body's natural call to feminist politics: if being a woman is this good, women must be worth something. Her novels like Upanibesh, Pratibandi and Gambhiri Ghara cover a myriad of areas from sexuality to philosophy; from the politics of the home to politics of the world. According to American journalist Linda Lowen, Sarojini Sahoo has written extensively as an Indian feminist about the interior lives of women and how their burgeoning sexuality is seen as a threat to traditional patriarchal societies.Sarojini’s novels and short stories treat women as sexual beings and probe culturally sensitive topics such as rape, abortion and menopause-from a female perspective.
• Sexuality is something that can be related to many other aspects of culture, tightly-linked with an individual life, or into the evolution of a culture. Anyone’s class or ethnic or geographic identity could be closely associated to his/her sexuality, or anyone’s sense of art or literature. Sexuality is not just an entity in itself.
  Still, either in West or in East, there is a reluctant outlook towards sexuality. Society has always tried to hide it from any open forum. But neither society, nor the legislature, or even the judiciary stand by the side of sexuality to support it.
  In the West, James Joyce’s Ulysses or even Radclyffe Hall's Loneliness in the Well or Virginia Woolf’s Orlando are some examples which have to suffer a lot for describing sexuality in literature. Sexuality in literature grew with feminism.
  Simone De Beauvoir, in her book The Second Sex, first elaborately described the gender role and problem away from biological differences. InOriya literature, Sarojini is considered a key figure to discuss sexuality in her fiction with a sincere effort to express her feminist ideas.
  

  Her novel Upanibesh was the first attempt in Oriya literature to focus on sexuality as a part of social revolt by any woman. Medha, the protagonist of her novel, was a bohemian . In her pre-marital stage, she was thinking that it was boring to live with a man life-long. Perhaps she wanted a chain free life, where there would be only love, only sex and would not be any monotony. But she had to marry Bhaskar. Can Indian society imagine a lady with bohemianism? In her novel Pratibandi, Sarojini has also described the thematic development of sexuality in a woman. Priyanka, the protagonist of the novel has to encounter the loneliness in the exile of Saragpali, a remote village of India. This loneliness develops into a sexual urge and soon, Priyanka finds herself sexually attached with a former Member of Parliament. Though there is an age gap between them, his intelligence impresses her and she discovers a hidden archaeologist in him. In her novel Gambhiri Ghara, she describes an unusual relationship between two people: a Hindu housewife of India and a Muslim artist ofPakistan. It is a net-oriented novel. A woman meets a very sexually experienced man. One day he asks if she had any such experience. The woman, Kuki, scolds him and insults him by calling him a caterpillar. She said without love, lust is like hunger of a caterpillar. Gradually they become involved with love, lust, and spiritually. That man considers her as his daughter, lover, mother, and above all these, as a Goddess. They both madly love each other, through the internet and on the phone. They use obscene language and they kiss each other online. Kuki does not lead a happy conjugal life though she has a love marriage with Aniket. But the novel is not limited to only a love story. 
  

  

  चट्गोंग बांग्लादेश में 

  It has a greater aspect. It deals with the relationship between State and individual. Safique is not a Muslim by temperament, but as a historian, thinks the Pakistan of today has separated itself from its roots and looks towards Arabian legends for his history. He protests that the syllabus of history for the school would start from seventh century A.D., not from the Mahenjodaro and Harappa. Safique was once arrested after the bomb blast of London for allegation of being associated with the terrorist, but is it a fact? Later Kuki came to know that Safiques is trapped by a military junta. The ex-lover of Safique’s wife had revenged on Safique by arresting him with an allegation of terrorism. Here, the author deals with the question of terrorism. There is often discussion about terrorism caused by an individual or by a group. Society rarely discusses terrorism caused by a state. 

  

  What is a state? Is it a group of people that resides within political and geographical boundaries? Are a state’s identity, mood and wishes separate from its ruler? Is the wish of George W. Bush not considered as the wish of America? Has it reflected the mood and wish of the people of America? So, every time, the state’s arranged anarchism or terrorism is merely a reflection of a terrorism caused by an individual. The great truth lies beneath Safique, as a terrorist, develops from the mind of a military man.

  The author has successfully painted the difference of sensibility towards sexuality between male and female and has her own credibility for the frankness to deal with sensitive matters, be they matters of politics or matters of sexuality. She has gained a reputation and has her own place in the history of Oriya fiction. According to Eliza Parija in The Tribune she is considered the Judith Butler and Virginia Woolf of contemporary Oriya literature. And yet for her, feminism is not just about battling male hegemony. For Dr Sarojini Sahoo, an award winning Oriya writer, feminism is linked with the sexual politics of women. She refutes the limits that patriarchy places on female sexual expression and identifies women’s sexual liberation as the real motive behind the women’s movement.
  "The world would be a lot of poorer without sexual energy in art, music, literature, drama, architecture, design, poetry and cooking", Dr. Sarojini Sahoo says in one of her posts on Sexuality and Spiritualism in Indian literature.
  Well known for her frankness,Sarojini Sahoo, is a prime figure and trendsetter of feminism in contemporary Oriya literature.

  	Reviews
  	Gambhiri Ghara is one of the much acclaimed novels of Sarojini Sahoo. ... she does not betray her distinction of being the leading feminist writer of Orissa.: http://oriyanari.tripod.com/id21.html She is considered the Judith Butler and Virginia Woolf of contemporary Oriya literature. And yet for her, feminism is not just about battling male hegemony.http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20081026/spectrum/book7.htm The Dark Abode is as powerful as any of Sahoo’s most popular creations. Like in all her other masterpieces, this novel will not betray her characteristic of being a feminist writer and is sure to peak the interests of both new and old readers alike.http://poetrywriting.org/Sketchbook0-0BookFair/Sketchbook_Book_Fair_A_Dark_Abode_Dr_Sarojini_Sashoo.htm Though in her stories Sarojini deals with the social issues but she is basically a writer of Individual values http://www.redroom.com/publishedwork/sarojini-sahoo-stories Sarojini Sahoo is a remarkable writer of Oriya language. She is known as one of the first ranking feminist writers of India. Known mainly as a fiction writer, she usually writes in Odiya. (Reviewed by noted Bangladeshi Writer Selina Hossain)http://www.redroom.com/publishedreviews/the-dark-abode-indian-oriya-novel-sarojini-sahoo It is a story of an extra marital affair between two lovers who belong to two enemy countries, India and Pakistan. The lovers have not seen each other. The bridge of communication between them is e-mail. The hero is a perverted artist who enjoyed fifty-two affair in his life while having two wives in Pakistan. He tries to be a perfect man after falling in love with the protagonist, Kuki. Post-colonial situation of Indian sub-continent enhanced the hostility between Hindus and Muslims. But the people have the same group myths that the political authorities always try to rebuff.http://www.writersinthesky.com/news-nov08.html An online ezine Thanal Online has published a review on 'Gambhiri Ghara' (The Dark Abode) at http://www.thanalonline.com/Issues/08/review_en.htm An Oriya novel by Sarojini Sahu : Synopsis of the novel GAMBHIRIGHAR (The Dark Abode) ... http://indianliterature.rediffblogs.com Upanibesh( 1989 ) , Sarojini Sahoo - the first attempt in the literature of the Oriya language of India to focus on sexuality as a part of social revolt by a woman. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_feminist_literature Authors who have advocated sex-positive feminism include Ellen Willis, Susie Bright, ..... Sarojini Sahoo - Indian author (Oriya language, Orissa state) ... http://wapedia.mobi/en/Sex-positive_feminism Certainly it can be considered a good piece of news for readers of literature in Bangladesh that a worthy translation of a novel by a noted fictionist of Orissa has come out very recently from a local publishing house. The novel Mithya Gerosthali, set in a very familiar context, is able to draw the attention of many for both its loftiness and its lucidity of language……. http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=8039 Gambhiri Ghara is one of the much acclaimed novels of Sarojini Sahoo. ... The novel is a powerful as any of Sarojini Sahoo's most popular short stories.http://www.boloji.com/women/099.htm The Review of "Mithya Gerosthali" by eminent fiction writer Anisul Haque, published in the 2nd November 2007 issue of the Bangladesjhi Daily "Pratham Alo"

  
  

  	Links
  	More can be known about the author from following links :
  	Sarojini Sahoo About Sarojini Sahoo Cashing In On Female Sexual Dysfunction A Day for Challenging Beliefs and Faith Sarojini Sahoo's Blog Indian Age Communication - BlogSpot www.museindia.com/showauthor.asp?id=149 Dr. Sarojini Sahoo - Wikipedia Dr. Sarojini Sahoo - Wikipedia(France) Dr. Sarojini Sahoo - Wikipedia(Português) The Dark Abode Sarojini Sahoo Stories Sensible Sensuality FeminisminIndia_2 Inter Sarojini French Interview Sahoo + Sarojini Author Author 2 Sarojini Sahoo - Writers Oriya Nari Orissa Diary Sarojini Sahoo on FaceBook