In collaboration with the Delhi AMU Old Boys Association, Indialogue Foundation organised an interfaith Iftar Dinner at the India Islamic Cultural Centre, New Delhi on 24th May 2018.
A similar event was also held at the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, New Delhi in collaboration with the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee on 30th May 2018.
The events did not just bring people from various religious, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds together in the spirit of brotherhood and unity in the holy month of Ramadan but also witnessed a healthy debate on a very important issue of our time – girls’ education.
In the 21st century, the need to educate a girl child for a transformed, civilised world is universally recognised. It is acknowledged as an effective mechanism to break the inter-generational cycle of poverty, ignorance, and other problems plaguing our societies. As is widely believed educating a girl means educating a family. Any nation cannot empower its women without educating its girl child, and cannot progress without empowering its women.
Gone are the times when people used to think that it was unnecessary to send girls to school. Today, women are competing with men in all spheres of life. People now understand the importance of quality education and send their daughters to school. It’s an undeniable truth that girls’ education can bring about a phenomenal change in society.
However, things remain unchanged in several rural parts of India, where people still don’t send their daughters to school due to cultural and financial reasons. While some people think that girls should know nothing apart from household chores, others simply can’t afford to give their daughters proper education.
There are several advantages of educating girls. Educated girls grow up to become educated women who can play an important role in the development of society. Let’s look into some other advantages of sending girls to school:
a) Education not only empowers a grown-up girl but also makes her economically independent. Economic independence makes a woman feel confident about herself and gives her a sense of accomplishment. The empowerment of girls and women also forms a strong base in the fight against the issue of gender inequality.
c) Educated girls can not only improve their own lives but can also brighten the future of the country by giving their children a good upbringing. Education leads to freedom of thought and broadens a woman’s outlook. This also makes her aware of her responsibilities and duties.
The distinguished participants highlighted these highly pertinent points at the event and pledged to do their bit to promote education for girl children.
