“Men say women cannot have as much rights as men, because Christ wasn’t a woman. Where did Christ come from? From God and a woman. Men had nothing to do with him.” - Sojourner Truth (at a speech in Acorn, Ohio, USA in 1851).

Call her Nirbhaya, call her Damini…..or call her by any other name. She is a symbol of woman hood. Outraging her modesty has not shamed her or thousand others like her who have shed tears in darkness or have fought lonely battles in a system which provides ample loopholes to the perpetrators of these heinous acts to get away scot free. It has shamed the society which allows such acts to take place. 16 December 2012 has laid bare some facts of life which we tend to brush under the carpet.

Firstly, we are a nation with double standards. We put those on pedestals whom we fear the most, and tread upon those who are physically weak and do not retaliate or nee dour love.

Secondly, all the girls who break their shackles to achieve their dreams are sneered at and discouraged and the self styled moral police (there are many in all communities.) will go to any ridiculous length to stop them.

Thirdly the ‘mother’ is a very misused term. Every woman was, is or will be a mother – may be not biologically but in many different ways. The world depends upon and is indebted to her form life, nurturing, education, and protection. Raping a woman (every 6.2 minutes in our country to be precise) is systematically ringing the death knell of the nation- the very fiber of the society. A nation which cannot respect its women the life givers the “mothers”, can never survive or flourish.

Being in the field of education, wonder where have faltered? Why do we have the Nirbhayas or other faceless souls burning in the agony and trauma of physical or mental abuse?

Education has to perhaps look beyond percentages, Ivy League, entrance exams and first pay packets. Education is, sensitizing the society to the human aspects of life which we are rapidly forgetting. Respect, chivalry, compassion are now words read in books, preached but never practiced.

‘Women’s empowerment’ and Women’s rights’ are terms bandied about by political parties to garner votes and not as a solution to gender discrimination.

Let us all pledge to make our girls physically strong, mentally robust morally upright and self reliant individuals. Let them be aware of all their duties as well as rights and fearlessly win back what has been denied to them – some very things- respect and safety.

“Men say women cannot have as much rights as men, because Christ wasn’t a woman. Where did Christ come from? From God and a woman. Men had nothing to do with him.” - Sojourner Truth (at a speech in Acorn, Ohio, USA in 1851).

Call her Nirbhaya, call her Damini…..or call her by any other name. She is a symbol of woman hood. Outraging her modesty has not shamed her or thousand others like her who have shed tears in darkness or have fought lonely battles in a system which provides ample loopholes to the perpetrators of these heinous acts to get away scot free. It has shamed the society which allows such acts to take place. 16 December 2012 has laid bare some facts of life which we tend to brush under the carpet.

Firstly, we are a nation with double standards. We put those on pedestals whom we fear the most, and tread upon those who are physically weak and do not retaliate or nee dour love.

Secondly, all the girls who break their shackles to achieve their dreams are sneered at and discouraged and the self styled moral police (there are many in all communities.) will go to any ridiculous length to stop them.

Thirdly the ‘mother’ is a very misused term. Every woman was, is or will be a mother – may be not biologically but in many different ways. The world depends upon and is indebted to her form life, nurturing, education, and protection. Raping a woman (every 6.2 minutes in our country to be precise) is systematically ringing the death knell of the nation- the very fiber of the society. A nation which cannot respect its women the life givers the “mothers”, can never survive or flourish.

Being in the field of education, wonder where have faltered? Why do we have the Nirbhayas or other ffaceless souls burning in the agony and trauma of physical or mental abuse?

Education has to perhaps look beyond percentages, Ivy League, entrance exams and first pay packets. Education is, sensitizing the society to the human aspects of life which we are rapidly forgetting. Respect, chivalry, compassion are now words read in books, preached but never practiced.

‘Women’s empowerment’ and Women’s rights’ are terms bandied about by political parties to garner votes and not as a solution to gender discrimination.

Let us all pledge to make our girls phisically strong, mentally robust morally upright and self reliant individuals. Let them be aware of all their duties as well as rights and fearlessly win back what has been denied to them – some very things- respect and safety.

The windows of my office bring to me not only light and fresh air, but also food for thought and nourishment for my soul.

As a gaze at the children - running, laughing and playing - secure, carefree and blissfully unaware of the complexities of the life, I realize the role we play in shaping these young minds and responsibility we have in equipping them with the right blend of social skills, knowledge and values. \Ve have to make sure they evolve into happy and confident young ladies, who can contribute positively to their homes and to society.

William Ralph Inge had rightly said, "The aim of education is the knowledge not of facts but of values."Education is one of the best Gift one can offer to all but it should be such, that helps their integral development and makes them to be fully alive human beings: Leaven enlivens the dough. An educated person enlivens the society promoting justice, love, harmony and peace. The world that we see around and the society we live in, has everything except these values. In CJM campus we provide a ground to each and every child to grow and bloom with conviction and love in all spheres of life, that makes a difference in CJMites. I raise my heart in thanking God for my committed and dedicated staff for imparting and moulding the young minds into confident, talented and courageous young ladies to face the challenges in the world.

In order to achieve the aim of value based education in the 21 st century, technology can provide us with immense possibilities. Keeping this in mind CJM Management has decided to provide a cutting edge to our classroom Teaching-Learning process by introducing Smart Classes from the month of July 2012. To make our interaction with parents closer and to inform them about their wards' progress and eo-curricular activities, we have an e-service provider to send regular SMSs and e-mails to the parents.

My staff and I share a common dream of actualizing our foundress St. Claudine's Vision of Educating and Empowering Girls. I am grateful to all my Well-Wishers, Parents and Students for making CJM Dehra Dun what it is today. The school can proudly say that its alumni has made a difference, in small ways and big, in every possible arena.

Let us continue to Hold High the Torch with your support and cooperation in the years to come. Kudos to all our achievers.