AIDWA pays its homage to one of its founders, Captain Laxmi Sehgal on July 23 to mark her death anniversary. This year, the period from July 23 to August 15 and beyond is being observed throughout the country with the poster exhibition about the life and work of prominent Left women freedom fighters and martyrs who sacrificed their lives for a free, democratic, secular and socialist India. The central executive committee of AIDWA has so far painstakingly compiled the contribution of more than 50 such women leaders from different states all over India.

AIDWA Maharashtra state committee translated the content in Marathi and decided to exhibit it all over the state. In Mumbai, it was inaugurated on July 29 by eminent Marathi journalist Pratima Joshi in the presence of senior leader Madan Naik, AIDWA state secretary Sonya Gill and all office bearers. The exhibition which was put up on the open space outside AIDWA state office at Azad Maidan, one of the prime locations of the city, was well attended by women from various parts of Mumbai.

On August 6 it was taken to Solapur where AIDWA has its base in beedi workers and minorities. AIDWA state president Naseema Shaikh, along with other leaders, took the lead in organising the exhibition here. Women gathered in large numbers and appreciated the exhibition. SFI activists helped them in understanding it as many of the women were illiterate.

In Thane-Palghar district, the exhibition was inaugurated at Talasari on August 14, the birth anniversary of the legendary AIKS leader Godavari Parulekar, whose inspirational life story is obviously a part of this exhibition. Hundreds of women gathered to pay homage and see the exhibition, along with a large number of young collegiate girls and boys of the Comrade Godavari Shamrao Parulekar College. This huge crowd was addressed by ex-MP, ex-MLA and veteran leader of the AIKS Lahanu Kom, AIDWA general secretary Mariam Dhawale and many others. It is planned to put it up in every tehsil of the district.

The poster exhibition was also put up in a state level workshop of CPI(M) whole timers held in Solapur on August 19-20, where it was greatly appreciated by all the main Party activists from all over Maharashtra. Everybody felt the need to take it around every district of Maharashtra to let people know the rich legacy of Communist women during the freedom struggle. It is in stark contrast to the current jingoistic and communal RSS-BJP rulers who do not have even a single freedom fighter to their credit.

The CITU is organising a state level Workers’ Literary Conference in Jalna on September 10-11, which is the first of its kind. The organisers were so impressed with the exhibition, that they requested the AIDWA to put it up in the conference which will be well attended by many progressive writers, poets and literature lovers. The exhibition is now being shown in Kolhapur and Sangli districts and it will be taken to the remaining districts of Maharashtra soon.

This compilation of the life and work of Left women freedom fighters, many of whose contributions have not been acknowledged, has certainly inspired women activists from the state to carry forward the legacy to build a progressive, democratic and classless nation. Everywhere, viewers have asked for a book on the lives of these leaders, which is surely a sign of their increased interest in the struggle, commitment and sacrifice of these freedom fighters, who fought against all odds to set the nation free from oppressive foreign rule, and those amongst them who lived in independent India had to continue with their struggle against the reactionary policies of our own ruling classes.