The Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) along with Women’s Collective CDS celebrated International Women’s Day 2017 on 8th March at 3 P.M in the campus. A poetry exhibition was arranged in the amphi-theatre. The exhibition was on phenomenal women saluting all the women of the world who have dared to pursue their passion for writing, in a world that is often harshly hostile to women’s creativity. The exhibition was organised into six sections – Europe, South America, North-America, Oceania, Africa and Asia which comprised of the writings of women poets from all over world. The exhibition was open from 9 AM in the morning to 7 PM in the night.
The women’s day programmes started at 3 PM in the evening with Dr Praveena Kodoth , Chairperson, ICC, delivering the introductory and welcome speech. Followed by that, women’s students at the centre gave their self-reflection. The Director initiated a debate on the factors that contributed most to the emancipation of women in the 20th century. This led to a lively debate in which many of those present contributed. The special invitee was Ms. Sreekutty, trans-woman activist and president of Sexual and Gender Minority Federation, Kerala. She reflected on the challenges trans-women undergo currently in Kerala. Dr J. Devika shared her experiences as a woman faculty at CDS. Later on, women non-teaching staffs and male members of the community took part in discussing their views on women issues. The students of the Centre performed a street play on contemporary gender based issues. The movie SUFFRAGETTE directed by Sarah Gavron was screened in the auditorium. The programme concluded by 7.30 PM Ms. Suravee Nayak, Co-ordinator of women’s collective proposed the vote of thanks.
