"If words come from the heart, they will enter the heart." - Rumi

Last year, I spent a hundred and forty-five days walking across the land I call home. I started at the edge of the sea and walked through heat, dust and rain. Through forests, towns and hills, until I reached the soft snow of my beloved Kashmir.
Many people along the way asked me: why are you doing this? Even today, they ask, Why? What were you looking for? What did you find?

I wanted to understand the thing I loved. The thing for which I was ready to give up everything, including my life. The thing that could make me take so much pain and abuse for so many years.

I wanted to know precisely what it was that I loved. Was it this land? The mountains? The sea? Was it a person? Was it a people, or a set of ideas? But there was something else. I also wanted to understand what sort of heart was mine that had allowed itself to be captured in this way.

For years, I used to run eight to ten kilometers every evening. So I thought, "Twenty-five?" I can easily walk twenty-five kilometers. I was certain the walk was going to be easy.

Within a few days, the pain arrived. My old knee injury, one that hours of physiotherapy had banished, was back. The next morning, I found myself in tears, sitting alone in a metal container. How was I ever going to walk the 3800 kilometers that lay ahead? The crutch of arrogance was gone.

We would start walking in the darkness before dawn. Almost immediately, the pain would begin. Like a hungry wolf, it would follow me everywhere I went, waiting for me to stop. A few days into the walk, my physio joined us; he came and gave me sage advice. The pain remained.

And then I started to notice something. Every time I would think about stopping, every time I considered giving up, someone would come and gift me the energy to continue. Once it was a lovely little girl with a beautiful letter, another time an old lady with some banana chips, then a man who suddenly ran up and hugged me. It was as if a silent energy kept helping me, and like fireflies in a dark forest, it was everywhere. When I really needed it, it was there to help and guide.
The Yatra progressed. At first, I wanted to tell everyone what I thought. I wanted to show them what I understood. I spoke about solutions to their problems. But soon the numbers of people became so large and the pain so persistent that I started to observe and listen.

There was always a din in the space where we walked, with loud slogans, clicking cameras, and people pushing and shoving. Again and again and again. Every day, for eight to ten hours, I would just listen, try and ignore my knee.

Then one day, I felt a silence I had never felt before. I could hear nothing but the voice of the person holding my hand and talking to me. The inner voice that had spoken to me ever since I was a little child was gone. It felt as if something had died.
He was a farmer, and he spoke about his crop. He was crying as he showed me the strands of rotten cotton. I saw the years of suffering in his hands. In those puffs of cotton, I could see the fear he felt for his children. On his sunken face, I could see the nights he had spent hungry. He spoke about how he had helplessly watched his father die. He told me about the humiliation he felt when he had no money left to give to his wife. There was nothing I could say, so I stopped walking and hugged him.

This happened again and again. It happened with children, with mothers and with students. It happened with shopkeepers, carpenters and labourers. It happened with soldiers. Now I would almost never hear myself or the crowd. My attention would not move from the person who spoke into my ear. The constant chatter and judgement inside me were gone. When a student would say they were scared of failing, I would listen. When a group of little children who were forced onto the street to beg for a living shivered in front of me one morning, I decided I would walk in my t-shirt till I no longer could.
The object of my love had suddenly revealed herself. My beloved Bharat Mata was not a land. It wasn't a set of ideas. It wasn't a particular culture, history or religion. Neither was it the caste that people had been assigned. India was the voice of every single Indian, no matter how weak or strong. India was the happiness, the fear and the pain hidden deep inside all the voices.

To hear India, my own voice, my desires, and my ambitions had to fall silent. India would speak to one of her own, but only if one was humble and completely silent.

How simple it had turned out to be. I had been looking in the river for that which could only be found in the sea.


Bharat Mata: The Voice of Every Indian

It is an honour for me to be here today to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of Thiru K Karunanidhi and share the stage on this special meeting for women with all of you.

Almost thirty-two years ago, on the darkest night of my life, I first set foot on this land of Tamil Nadu to collect my father’s shattered body.

I was nineteen years old, and my mother was just a few years younger than I am today.

As the door of the plane opened, the night grabbed us and drew us in, but I was not afraid of it because the worst thing I could have imagined had already happened.

A few hours earlier, my father had been killed.

I had walked towards my mother that night, knowing that the words I was to speak would break her heart, yet I spoke them, and I watched as the light of happiness was extinguished from her eyes forever. We walked down the stairs of the plane onto the tarmac of the Meenambaakam airport terminal, shocked and alone. Then suddenly, as if sent by the embarrassed gods who had failed us, a crowd of women dressed in blue saris surrounded us.

They were ladies who worked at the airport; they held my mother in their arms and cried inconsolably with her as if they were all my mothers, as if they too had lost their beloved.

In those shared tears, a bond formed between my heart and the women of Tamil Nadu that I can neither explain nor ever erase.

You are my mothers, you are my sisters, and I am honored to be here today to have the opportunity to speak to you about us, the women of India.

I am here to remind you that we are the strength of this proud and beautiful nation, which is our motherland.
My sisters,
No matter how rich we are or how poor we are,
No matter whether we live in big cities, small towns, or villages,
No matter how well educated we are, or how much lack of opportunity we have faced...
We are the bedrock upon which our families and societies are built, brick by brick.
We are the ones who carry the weight of our society on our shoulders.
We do this with grace and courage,
We do it with tenacity and strength of will, and our capacity to absorb pain and suffering is immense.
We are proud of these qualities, which have been passed on in our bones through generations and generations of oppression.

But my sisters, I am here to remind you that we are more than this.
We are greater than our ability to bear suffering.
We are the ones that nurture and hold, that give to our children and to all those around us unfailingly.
We are the ones who teach courage, the ones who teach love.
It is us who understand forgiveness and who know how to fight fearlessly in the face of adversity.
We are the workforce powering our nation forward, and we are the millions of young women aspiring towards a better future.

We know how to rise from the darkest night to claim a new dawn.
We have a light within each one of us that is capable of shining brighter than the sun, but that light has never been allowed the freedom and joy to shine in its fullness.
It was almost a hundred years ago that Thandai Periyar asked:
Why were women enslaved?

Then he answered this question in a series of revolutionary essays in which he wrote about the economic and social enslavement of women.

It was he who laid the foundation for the empowerment of women in Tamil Nadu, which Thiru Annaaduraai and Thiru Karunaanidhi carried forward. My sisters, this empowered you, the women of Tamil Nadu, to show the way of emancipation and progress to the rest of India.

Yet across our nation, beneath the surface of progress, we are still struggling with the harsh reality of an entrenched patriarchy that ensures the systemic oppression of women. In fact, almost a century after Thandai Periyar’s essays were published, the same question looms large before us.

‘Why are women enslaved?'

And although I do not have the stature, nor the experience and wisdom of Thandai Periyar, my answer is this:
I am a woman.
We have been taught, generation after generation, to cede our power to others.
We have been taught to talk softly, to step aside, to be ashamed of honouring our essence, and to take care of everyone else before we show compassion to ourselves. And unfortunately, we have learned these lessons only too well—so well that we have passed them down.

We have learned to define ourselves through the eyes of the hierarchy that was instilled in us, and by doing so, we have allowed and enabled our own oppression. We ourselves have forgotten that the root of discrimination of any kind, whether it is based on colour, creed, caste or gender, is an inability to honour the truth that equality and personal dignity are neither a privilege nor a gift but a natural endowment of life. Today, there is much talk about “empowerment” as every political party begins to realise that women can become a formidable collective force that shapes our nation’s future.
But they still look at us with greed.

Greed for votes and the greed to capture our power and use it to keep us down.
On your behalf today, my sisters, I demand more.
I demand that we own our power.
I demand the immediate implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill.
We, the women of India, have no more time to waste. It is our right to be counted in the political process.
I demand that our worth be valued and respected as a political instrument for our own empowerment.
I demand that we put an end to the glorification of our tolerance for injustices committed against us day after day.
I demand the rejection of any system—societal, religious or political—that thrives on our oppression and forces us to collude with it.

Every woman holds the right to express and embody her own power, and she should be free to exercise it. You are the essence of humanity. Each one of you standing exactly where you are today has the power to change your lives, but only if you deeply understand the unbridled potential of your sisterhood. Only if you see in each other the great value of coming together, of helping and holding each other, and of rising in solidarity with one another.
My sisters, nothing can hold back the power of women when we stand as one.
We are half the population of this country – HALF - no less.

It is for us to set aside barriers of caste, religion, state, language and society. It is for us to recognise ourselves first and foremost as sisters who can unify into an unstoppable momentum for change.
Today, as we stand here to commemorate Thiru Karunanidhi, a leader who understood the power of women, let us awaken to a new dawn.

Let us create our own destiny.


Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's address at the Women's Rights Conference in Chennai

Thiru MK Stalin Ji, Thirumati Kanimozhi Karunanidhi Ji, all women leaders on the dias. Sahodara Sahodaregale Vanakkam!
Thank you, Chief Minister Thiru MK Stalin, for inviting me to this Women’s Right Conference.

We are assembled here to commemorate the work and memory of the great son of India, Thiru Dr K Karunanidhi, lovingly called Kalaignar—a leader of many talents, a writer, a poet, a journalist, a chief minister of many terms, but, above all, a leader who believed deeply in the upliftment of the deprived. He believed in equality for all, regardless of faith, caste, language or region. And ahead of his time, he was a champion of gender equality, which has now become something of a national movement.

Our women have made India proud in multiple fields and sectors, in spite of the shackles of tradition, patriarchy, and culture that stood in their way. This struggle for equality has had many ups and downs. But today, Indian women shine in many spheres, to mention just a few: science, knowledge, skills, culture, sports, politics, and above all, as the center of our families and as leaders of people. Yet, we all know this struggle continues, and there are many more frontiers to cross, especially for our disadvantaged sisters.

The remarkable non-violent freedom struggle led by Mahatma Gandhi placed a strong emphasis on gender equality. In 1928, the Draft Constitution was being crafted under the chairmanship of Motilal Nehru, and the Karachi Resolution of 1931 framed by Jawaharlal Nehru. Both of these documents championed women's rights, advocating for equal voting rights, political and economic rights, and fair wages. They laid the foundation for women to play an equal role in our nation’s building. They embodied the promise of universal suffrage, gender equality, and a socialist, equitable society, and this spirit continued when the Constitution of India, under the leadership and chairmanship of Dr. BR Ambedkar, was ultimately framed.

Who can forget what our first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, once said: “If you educate a man, you educate one individual, however, if you educate a woman, you educate a whole family. Women empowered means India empowered."
And we cannot ever forget the inspiring role of Indiramma in showing how a woman can lead with strength, ability and leadership, combined with a deep sensitivity to the abolition of poverty.

Rajiv Ji, as we all know, brought in the historic 33% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj and local self-governments. This spurred an entirely new phenomenon of women entering roles of leadership at the grass-root level. It was a vital stepping stone towards the reservation on a similar one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha, which the Indian National Congress has pioneered in parliament and outside.

The Women’s Reservation Bill introduced by the UPA-2 was passed by the Rajya Sabha. But a lack of consensus prevented it from being passed in the Lok Sabha. Now, the Women’s Reservation Bill has finally been passed due to our relentless persistence, all of us, not just Congress (said pointing towards the leaders sitting on the dias) and efforts, but, as we all know, it is still a long way to come, and as Mehbooba Ji said and many of us, members of Parliament said in our intervention in Parliament, when is the bill now going to be implemented—in one year, in two years, in three years? We have no idea. Yes, I can see that some of you men are happy, but we are not; we women are not, and we are going to fight for it till we eventually get it, whether you men like or not.

I am glad to be able to say here today that the government of Tamil Nadu under Thiru Annadurai and then Thiru Karunanidhi laid the foundations for incredible changes in status and opportunities for women. Today, Tamil Nadu stands as a beacon of women’s equality and women’s development. In his historic five terms as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru Karunanidhi brought the provision of reservation for women in the Police way back in 1973. Today, a fourth of its police force, or Tamil Nadu police force, are women. Another very important initiative brought in by Karunanidhi Ji was the reservation for women in government positions. Today, women’s participation in government services exceeds 30 percent. And I am told, just recently, Chief Minister M K Stalin has raised it to 40 percent, and I commend your Chief Minister for this.

And it comes as no surprise that through initiatives like mid-day meal programs, the promotion of women's empowerment, and the encouragement of female education, Tamil Nadu boasts today of some of the most impressive maternal and infant mortality rates in India.

It is unfortunate that many of these efforts and programmes to help and empower women have not been reflected at the national level. In fact, instead of mitigating the problems faced by women, the last nine years have seen a sustained effort on the part of the Modi government to turn our women purely into symbols, to be counted and appreciated only in their restricted traditional roles in a patriarchal framework.

I am confident that we, the like-minded parties of the INDIA alliance, can and will take the urgent steps needed to make women’s equality a reality. And it is my fervent hope that INDIA alliance will see to it that the bill is implemented as soon as possible. We will all work together to see to it that it happens. This is our goal. This will be the INDIA alliance goal, and this is what we women must fight for. If we fight all together, we shall be victorious. We shall be victorious. Vetri Namadae, Nanri.

Congress Parliamentary Party  Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi's address at the Women's Rights Conference in Chennai

The Modi Govt can deny that India's rank in the Global Hunger Index slipped from 107th out of 121 countries in 2022 to 111th out of 125 countries in 2023.

But would they deny the following?

1. Is it not true that 35.5% of children under the age of five are stunted? Which means their height has not grown with their age.
2. Is it not a fact that 19.3% of children in India are wasted? Which means they weigh less than the national average for their height.
3. Is it incorrect that 57% of our women, aged between 15 and 49 years, are anaemic?
4. Is it untrue that in Modi Govt's Budget 2023–24, the Food Subsidy saw an astounding decrease of 31.28%—that is, one-third of its funds were slashed?
5. Is it not a fact that 74% of Indians were not able to afford a healthy diet due to backbreaking, food-snatching, and price rise imposed by the BJP?

We are putting out Indian numbers published by the GOI based on our own National Health and Family Survey [NFHS-5], 2019–2021, and Indian experts.

It is another story that even the Global Hunger Index, which is scrutinised by experts, is based on food balance sheets reported by us (India) and is even used for UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but the Modi government now does not accept it.

The Modi government can also claim that food grains are being distributed to 80 Cr Indians, but according to experts, even that number is short of a whopping 14 Cr people because Census 2021 is indefinitely delayed.

It was the Congress-UPA that brought in the Food Security Act, 2013 under PM Dr. Manmohan Singh and Smt. Sonia Gandhi. The BJP was opposed to it.

The nation has not forgotten the then CM Shri Modi's shameful remark on our Gujarat girls and malnutrition!


Modi govt shuns global data, but even Indian data shows hunger

• I extend a warm welcome to this Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting. In our first meeting in Hyderabad last month, we pledged to rid the country of divisive politics, strengthen social justice, and provide a responsible and responsive government.

• During the recent special session of Parliament, we saw that the Women's Reservation Bill passed, however, without any consultation or deliberation with opposition parties. This session became yet another example of the government's distraction and diversionary tactics.

• We wholeheartedly supported the bill, but questions remain about its implementation and the exclusion of OBC women.

• We resolve to implement women's reservation, including extending reservation to OBC women, when we come to power in 2024.

• The Prime Minister's absence in Manipur stands in sharp contrast to his frequent visits to the election-going states. His baseless attacks, filled with lies and falsehoods, on the Congress party will only increase in the coming days. It is essential that we counter these falsehoods and create our own counter narrative.

• We have also demanded a nationwide caste-based Census, crucial for effective government programs and welfare schemes.

• As we approach the upcoming assembly elections and general elections, it is important that the party works with meticulous coordination, complete discipline, and unity.

• We must also expedite efforts to highlight government failures and raise concerns affecting the common people.

• Today, our nation faces inflation, unemployment, and the government's failure to implement the Old Pension Scheme. The ruling party's divisive tactics and misuse of autonomous bodies pose a threat to democratic stability.

• In 2024, we must strive to establish a government that addresses these grave challenges and caters to the marginalized, youth, women, farmers, and labourers. Simultaneously, we must address pressing issues like inflation and unemployment while remaining attuned to the people's voices.

• We must propagate the exemplary work of Congress-led state governments and past Congress governments. By highlighting these accomplishments, we can instill faith in the public and inspire a brighter future.


Jai Hind.


In Focus

Bharat Mata: The Voice of Every Indian

Bharat Mata: The Voice of Every Indian

Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's address at the Women's Rights Conference in Chennai

Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi's address at the Women's Rights Conference in Chennai

Modi govt shuns global data, but even Indian data shows hunger

Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge's opening remarks at the CWC Meeting in Delhi

PM Modi's Laal Ankh - Blind to Chinese aggression

Agnipath - A Deceit

National Herald Case - The Truth

BJP Defames India

Indian National Congress

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