The Woman's Word: Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit

The Woman's Word

The world events of the past month brought forth a momentous event that echoed through every corner of the globe: the election of Mrs. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit to the presidency of the General Assembly of the United Nations.

This does not mean that among the women of the world there are no “summits” like Mrs. Pandit, delegated by their governments to represent them abroad, who have excelled in the performance of their mission as well as the best of men do. Nor is this phenomenon strange to our ancient history; but there is one difference that sets it apart from the phenomena that came before it: that it issued from a world institution and by way of the secret ballot, and did not come as an appointment or as the result of the imposition of power and influence. This, in my view, carries a far-reaching significance: that a fundamental change has come over man's view of woman. For years past, man would not accept such a phenomenon; now he adopts it of his own free choice, backs a “woman” for the presidency of the General Assembly, and gives her his vote — and this, upon my life, is a great development in our favor, one that invites optimism and good cheer.

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Let us return to Mrs. Pandit herself. Do you suppose she reached this eminent post with ease and without great toil, or is her victory the harvest of a quarter century and more, during which she lived as a cry in the face of injustice and colonialism, a cutting sword for the triumph of right in her homeland and abroad, and a directing hand in the ranks of women, gathering them together for good and for good alone?

Truth to tell: in the last quarter century Mrs. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit wrote the history of her country in blood and tears, through a chain of persecution, struggle, and suffering. Her deeds and her words were inspired by her country's need, and by the need of all humanity... She persevered with endurance and stubbornness, a striving that knew neither weariness nor slackening, with no momentary failure holding her back, and no defeat or setback curbing her resolve and her fight...

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How fitting it would be for us — we, the women of this patch of earth — to know what we want, and to press of our own accord after what we want, with nothing to deter us, be it slight or grave.

How fitting for us to stand fast, by our will and our awareness, behind moral values and clear national principles, living them every day with the morsel of bread and the sip of water... and to record in our course not a single step backward; and once all our steps are forward, we are bound one day to reach an end that will be cause for our pride and our glory.

How fitting for us to make of Mrs. Pandit's life an example to look up to, and a pattern to follow. And is there anything more splendid than a lofty, noble life in a world ruled by confusion, national flabbiness, and corruption??