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While the many different campaigns that comprise the movement describe a its varied history, there are a number of events, days, meetings and workshops that complement it and comprise the moments when thought and action come together, are discussed, reflected upon, celebrated. The late seventies and early eighties saw a number of workshops that concentrated on discussions of major issues that were of concern to women's groups. Alongside, women's movement conferences were held, the first of these in Bombay. From the initial participation of 200 plus women, today's conferences attract women in their thousands – rural, urban, middle class, working class, poor, Dalit. Women's movement conferences take place in a different part of the country each time, and while a range of different issues are discussed, local issues are given particular prominence. Over the last two decades, the Indian Association of Women's Studies, a membership-based organization made up of academics and researchers from all over the country, has been holding meetings every few years. As well, March 8, International Women's Day, is celebrated all over India by different groups. It's a day on which groups and individuals of different persuasions come together to draw attention to a specific issue, to put forward particular demands, or simply to get together to celebrate women's energy and power. While many celebrations are marked by coalitions built across different perspectives, others remain smaller, and more specific. Indeed, so popular has the concept of Women's Day become that in recent years it has been appropriated by the market and turned into an advertising and marketing tool. Women activists however continue to mark it in their own way. Another day that is becoming increasingly important is the 25 th of December, which Dalit groups, and particularly Dalit women, see as their day. [Top] |
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