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At no time in the history of modern
India has the urban woman, and her
rights, as she goes about participating
in a vibrant economy, been placed
more in the limelight. It took the horrifying
gang rape and death of a student to wake India
and Indians out of their self-induced slumber
when it came to women's rights, especially
their right to safety and access to public spaces.
Suddenly, the state machinery, the police and
education system have been hit with a 50
per cent report card: Th ey've been ignoring
the daily battles and plight of half of their
congregation, the girls and women.
The system is now also staring at the fact
that without ensuring the rights of Indian
women – to study, to work, to have safe access
to public spaces – we cannot progress as a
nation. A survey done three months ago by
Booz & Company found that if employment
rates of women are matched with men, India's
GDP would increase by 27 per cent by the year
2020. India ranks rather low in Booz's index
of women's economic empowerment, as female labour-participation rate is below 30 per cent
due to lack of adequate education and social
and political support, the report said. Forget
heavy production and exports or infrastructure
development – simply ensuring that women
get out to work can boost this country's
economic growth in ways nothing else can.
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It is a humbling coincidence that Atelier
Diva was launched at about the same time as
this national revelation, with indeed much of
the same agenda. In our launch note to the
media fraternity, we described ourselves as
a feminist magazine that aspires to equality
for women – in terms of economic, personal,
political and social freedoms. Our target
audience is the educated, urban, working
woman, we said – admittedly a niche group,
but one that has unimaginable potential for
changing the fate of our nation.
Now in our fourth edition, with immense
feedback from our readers, we are convinced we
are on the right path. Do keep writing in with
your ideas – this is your space. Together, we are
a force to be reckoned with.
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