Why Kiran Bedi's opinion on women's education resonates with me?

Women leaders across the world suggest that women's education is the answer for all the issues involving gender-inequality. Kiran Bedi, however, begs to differ. She says imparting education to women without imbibing a sense of courage in them is futile. <( Picture Credit: Hindustantimes.com)>

We realized that while education was helping us grow and see the world from a different perspective, people back home were not willing to change a wee bit.

According to her, women are deprived of all resources, finances and education that can make them confident enough to face any challenge with determination. She believes that emancipation in the real sense will take place only when parents, educators and leaders support their efforts.

Studying in a girls' college gave me a chance to interact with young women from different social, economical and regional backgrounds. All of us were intellectually sound and ambitious but lacked the courage to define ourselves devoid of societal colours. We relied on others' validation for boosting our self-esteem. We were toppers in our respective courses but all of us wondered if our education would really play a significant role in transforming the mindsets of our parents, relatives or society at large.

We realized that while education was helping us grow and see the world from a different perspective, people back home were not willing to change a wee bit. They wanted their girls to be highly educated but for the mere purpose of attracting potential grooms. What kind of empowerment is this?

Most of my friends hailed from different cities of India. They stayed in PGs or Hostels. Most of the times, they refrained from stepping out of their PGs after dark because they knew that their education could not deter a potential molester from harassing them.

Educating women is important but it is equally important to alleviate the mindset of people surrounding those educated women. Education is meant to help people dispel fear and march towards progress.

I am waiting for the time when women are able to make use of their education in a way that makes them audacious and courageous enough to voice their opinions and chase their dreams fearlessly.

Views are the blogger's own