Madhu Garg
THE 13th State Conference of the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) was held with great enthusiasm and determination in Lucknow on October 4-5, 2025.
FLAG HOISTING AND INAUGURAL SESSION
The inaugural session of the conference, held at Udyan Bhawan near Hazratganj, the heart of Lucknow, concluded with highly inspiring moments. At the flag hoisting ceremony, 13 young girls, dressed in white and red, representing the 13th Conference, stood in a circle around the Martyrs' Column, holding white AIDWA flags. Senior AIDWA leader Razia Naqvi hoisted the flag and paid tribute to the martyrs. Amid thunderous slogans like "Long Live AIDWA," "Long Live Our Struggle," and "May the 13th State Conference Succeed," AIDWA General Secretary Mariam Dhawale, National Vice President Subhashini Ali, National Joint Secretary Madhu Garg, State Secretary Seema Katiyar, and President Suman Singh paid tributes to the martyrs. The flag-hoisting ceremony was conducted by Vandana Roy.
In a packed hall decorated with posters and poems by renowned democratic and progressive poets, the inaugural session began with revolutionary songs by Yusra Naqvi, after State President Suman Singh had read out the condolence resolution. In her welcome address, Vandana Mishra, Chairperson of the Reception Committee and senior journalist and author, welcomed the delegates and guests, highlighting Lucknow's Ganga-Jamuni culture and calling it a city of love. Speaking on Lucknow's glorious history, Vandana said that the city has been a hub of the freedom movement. Begum Hazrat Mahal, the heroine of the historic 1857 War of Independence, ruled Awadh and her valiant army, had defeated the British. The Progressive Writers' Association held its first conference in this city. Gandhiji called for the collection of a pinch of flour in Lucknow and established the Chutki Bhandar School there. Recalling the glorious struggles of AIDWA, she wished the conference success.
Four women were honored in the inaugural session as symbols of resistance. Seema Yadav and Sushma Rahimabad, residents of Lucknow. Rahimabad is a village adjacent to Amausi (now Adani) Airport, where Adani has set its sights on land for airport expansion. These two women represented hundreds of women who, on October 23rd and 24th, fiercely resisted Adani's 500 bouncers, police from eight police stations, and lawyers who came to seize their land. They lay down in front of the JCB machines that had come to destroy their fields. The hirelings fled in the face of their determination. It's been almost a year now that these brave women have been protesting with their male companions.
Two other women honored were Bushra and Suman Pandey, who fought valiantly to save their village, Akbarnagar, located on the banks of the Lucknow Kukrail drain, from Yogi's bulldozers. They were also symbols of communal harmony, their religion not hindering their fight. Bushra is committed to the education of girls. Both continue to fight for the problems of families displaced from Akbarnagar and forcibly relocated to Vasant Kunj. The felicitation session was moderated by Madhu Garg.
While delivering the inaugural address, AIDWA National Vice President Subhashini Ali called upon women to fight for their real issues. She said that the Modi government claims to eradicate poverty and hunger by giving 5 kg ration which is sometimes only 3 kg or 4 kg. Subhashini Ali warned women against communal gangs which are active in every locality and settlement today and whose easiest preys are women. While concluding, she said that today every woman will have to rise above religion and caste and fight for all women.
The chief guest of the conference was renowned journalist and author Neha Dixit, whose recently published book, "The Many Lives of Syeda," has been widely discussed. Neha explained in a captivating way the definition of "girls from a good family" in the eyes of feudal society. Citing examples from her book, Neha explained that Syeda was a weaver from Banaras who, after the collapse of the handloom industry, lives in the slums of Delhi, working for very little money. Her daughter works in a mall where humans are treated like machines and are severely exploited. Neha also illustrated the nexus between the courtly media and the corporate media with numerous examples.
In her closing address, AIDWA National General Secretary Mariam Dhawale highlighted AIDWA's organizational structure and its importance. Mariam appealed to the women present, saying that only when all women take to the streets to raise their issues will they be able to win their rights. In her fiery speech, she said that 'Manuvad' is a poisonous snake that affects our personal lives in the name of tradition. Working towards changing the world and challenging the rotten stereotypes of society is our politics. Challenging Yogi's bulldozer, she said that while the government's bulldozer destroys the homes of the poor, AIDWA's bulldozer, with white flags, will work to make their lives prosperous.
The inaugural session ended with Madhu Garg reading a resolution in support of Palestine. Hundreds of people present in the hall raised loud slogans in support of the resolution.
Delegate Session
The delegate session of the conference began with the election of a six-member presidium consisting of Madhu Garg, Suman Singh, Saroj Singh, Kaimunnisa, Razia Naqvi, and Manju.
Seema Katiyar, Lalmani, and Neelam Tiwari were elected to the Steering Committee. Kiran Singh and Asha Khalid were on the Minutes Committee, and Vandana Roy and Kiran Pal were on the Credentials Committee.
Following greeting messages from fraternal organizations, State Secretary Seema Katiyar presented the organizational and political report. On October 5, discussion on the report took place with 21 delegates from 11 districts participating. The debate primarily focused on ration, employment, MNREGA, electricity, violence against women, and police indifference. In light of the organisational report, the challenges faced in organising and conducting membership drives were discussed.
Malti from Karaunda village in Mirzapur raised the crucial issue of youth employment, asking why the government doesn't set up factories in areas like Chunar in Mirzapur so that our children don't have to go to Chennai, Surat, and Punjab in search of work. Today, villages are devoid of young men. Manju from Chandauli expressed her views on the rising electricity bills.
Meera expressed her pain over the destruction of families due to liquor contracts. Saba from Chitrakoot expressed her displeasure with the Yogi government over the widespread hatred in society and the resulting oppression of a particular community. She also spoke about the feudal oppression in the Bundelkhand region. Asha Khalid from Kanpur expressed her anger over the Yogi government's open permission for Hindu festivals and events while imposing numerous restrictions on every Muslim festival. Amravati from Sultanpur presented the questions posed by women during the membership drive in a very interesting manner. Amravati also raised the issue of stray animals.
Meenu Yadav from Gorakhpur raised the issue of irregularities in ration distribution.
Ruby Rizvi from Lucknow highlighted the plight of women working from home, engaged in chikankari, kaamdani, and tailoring. Meera, president of the Domestic Workers Union, criticized the government for exploiting domestic workers and for not enacting any central law for them. Shahjahan, from Lucknow's Asti village, mentioned false cases filed against Muslims by influential people in her village and said that the Yogi government is sending notices to demolish 50-60-year-old mosques. Vanshika, a youth representative from Agra, attacked the politics of hatred. Rekha from Sonbhadra presented her views on organizational issues.
Following the State Secretary's response to the debate on the report, the conference unanimously passed the report.
PRESENTATION OF RESOLUTIONS
Seven resolutions were passed in the State Conference. These resolutions were: against imperialist brutality, in support of Palestine, against Manuvadi violence against women, against the politics of hate, in support of the Constitution and democracy, against the merger of schools, and against the government's suspicious role in the Hathras rape case. Group discussions were also held on these resolutions, and a representative from the group presented the main points of the resolutions that emerged during the discussion.
Credential Committee Report
The Credential Committee report was presented by Vandana Rai. Of the 92 delegates at the conference, the youngest was Vanshika from Agra, at 17 years, and the most senior was Razia Naqvi from Kanpur, at 73 years. In the conference, there were 19 women from Dalit communities, 35 from OBC communities, 31 from general communities, seven from tribal community (these are Kol women who have not got tribal status in Uttar Pradesh but they call themselves tribals). Most of the representatives were from the working class. 79 women were Hindus and 13 were Muslim. Regarding education, it was revealed that 23 women were illiterate, 18 had completed fifth grade, 19 had completed the eighth grade, 16 had completed twelfth grade, and 16 were graduates and postgraduates.
Treasurer Neelam Tiwari placed three years' income expenditure account.
NEW STATE COMMITTEE
At the end of conference a new 22-member state committee was elected. This elected its eight-member state secretariat with President Vandana Roy, Secretary Seema Katiyar and Treasurer Suman Singh. Other secretariat members are Vice Presidents Madhu Garg, Saroj Singh, Neelam Tiwari, and joint secretaries Sudha Singh and Lalmani. Remaining state committee members are Razia Naqvi, Sushila, Maya, Kaimunnisa, Chandra, Manju, Rajwati, Nuresa, Kiran Singh, Rajendra, Poonam, and Soni. Two seats were kept vacant.
Fifteen delegates and one observer have been elected for the AIDWA All India Conference which will be held next year in January in Hyderabad.
