AN exhibition titled ‘Women Freedom Fighters of the Left’ ​ ​was inaugurated this morning by Subhashini Ali, vice president of AIDWA at the Constitution Club, New Delhi. ​Over two hundred women from different parts of Delhi and NCR participated in the meeting.

On July 23 every year, AIDWA pays its homage to the memory of Captain Lakshmi Sehgal, one of its founding leaders. This year, 2017, AIDWA celebrate​d​ the day with this exhibition which is about Captain Lakshmi and other leaders of the women’s movement who, like her, espoused an idea of the nation that was secular and egalitarian in character. In this sense, this exhibition is our way of reclaiming the nation from right-wing conservative and communal forces and propagating an alternative idea of India. 

​S​peaking on the occasion, Subhashini Ali ​ recalled the contribution of the women freedom fighters and how they fought for their idea of India based on equality of all citizens. She lambasted those who base their idea of the country on religion saying that they have forgotten the lesson from Pakistan formed on the basis of religion but that could not hold it together.

She very proudly recalled the struggles of some of the  women freedom fighters - Kalpana Dutta Joshi of Chittagong Armoury Raid, Mallu Swarajyam of Telangana Peasant Struggle and of course Capt Lakshmi of the Rani Jhansi Regiment of INA.

Those who talk of nationalism have but one person Savarkar  ​whom they boast about but who is better known for having knelt down before the British never to raise his voice against his imperialist masters. ​She said eulogising those who kill and lynch, like the killers of Akhlaq, is an insult to the nation.​

Mariam Dhawale, general secretary, AIDWA decried the RSS-BJP regime saying anyone who criticises them is dubbed anti-national. She said the dream of our freedom fighters was to build an egalitarian society and we have to continue our struggle towards that goal.

Asha Sharma, general secretary, AIDWA Delhi committee, said that we observe Capt Lakshmi's anniversary every year. She also said that the women freedom fighters of the Left have been a source of inspiration for us.

Maimoona Mollah, president, AIDWA Delhi committee​ ​called upon the gathering to carry forward the legacy of the movement to build a better society free from all exploitation.

Later in the day Brinda Karat visited the exhibition, appreciated it and met the participants.

The programme ended with a street theatre show 'Chor Machaye Shor' by Jana Natya Manch.

​The exhibition ​is being  held across the country in different languages on this day. In Delhi, there are plans to take it to ​different areas and this will become part of our larger joint campaign for a better nation.​