Back in 2016, the day Labour MPs got together to try and force Corbyn out of his leadership role, the campaign group Momentum rallied thousands to gather at Parliament Square to demand that the Party ‘Keep Corbyn’. The sheer weight of numbers successfully cowed those MPs. As far as I know, it was the last time Momentum did such a thing for Corbyn. Perhaps the leaders didn’t like the taste of people-power – or maybe, by the time another such call-out would have been useful, they’d lost the trust of their membership.
It takes time, skill and dedication to build a group like that, and a well-timed, well-tuned message, to achieve a call-out of thousands. That’s why the story of the ‘women’s wall’ in India in 2019 caught the eye of so many activists in the UK. It’s been estimated that between 3 and 5 million women linked arms that day, in a 385-mile long demonstration for women’s rights.
That’s why, when I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to listen to Mariam Dhawale at the Marx Memorial Library a couple of weeks ago, I pinned my ears back. Dhawale is the national secretary of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) which, with a membership of millions, surely has to be the largest women’s organisation ever – and it’s an organised organisation, that gets things done.
It came as no surprise to hear Mariam say that the Indian government had hardly ever done anything for women of its own accord, so it is largely down to the efforts of AIDWA that women in India have got as far as they have in the equality stakes.
I always aim for three memorable takeaways when I’m listening to someone special. Here’s what I chose from Mariam’s bright and fascinating speech:
Feet on the street
Dhawale said most of the rights women have in India come from resolutions at state level, which then need to be pushed, hard, before the national government feels obliged to implement them and that, in short, is AIDWA’s job. It’s vital to get out on the street in big numbers, she says, and you need a membership with sufficient trust in you that they will actually step up and join in.
AIDWA does do social media campaigning, but they are under no illusions – that alone would not change the world. What it takes is people out on the street, getting noticed, and talking to each other. Of course people who don’t want change will tell you street gatherings are a waste of time – they say that because they don’t want people doing it. As we found out in 2016, enough people gathering at the right time, in the right place, really does force the hands of all those reluctant politicians.
Nevertheless, she persisted
There are only so many people with the courage and quick-thinking necessary to keep talking sense when up against it. How are you at dealing with a wall of screaming opponents, a roomful of disdainful silence, or even with being thrown into police vans? Could you keep calm and keep talking sense, come what may? Mariam told us that AIDWA look out for, and nurture, activists like that. They are not ten a penny, and you need to know who they are, to have enough of them in the right place when they’re needed.
Political education
We’ve all seen it happen – we all do plenty of complaining about it, but what do you do when those people who answered your call, backed you up and shouted for all the right policies go away and vote for the very politicians who are going to thwart them? It’s a very common phenomenon. When you think about it, what can people who lack political experience or ‘inside knowledge’ do but vote for the candidates who say they’re going to do what you’re campaigning for?
That’s why, says Mariam, when women in India answer the call, and come out to demonstrate for the issues AIDWA fight for, they are then invited to political events where they will learn some history and some context, and find out what kinds of politicians and parties really have the effects they’re hoping for.
Global women
It’s a sexist, oppressive world and women everywhere face a whole range of challenges but in India, the women are still working on the right to be born – too many people want sons and, as a result, far more males than females are born in India. They are lucky to have brave, bright women like Mariam, helping to organise the struggle, and to make the very best of the efforts of their millions of members. An impressive, national force, AIDWA is nevertheless made up of its small, local groups. From now on, whenever I join, start, or visit small, local women’s groups, I will be thinking that we could just be the start of something as impressive as AIDWA.
First published in the Morning Star, 18th July 2023
See also Ros Sitwell’s write up of the women’s day at the Marx Memorial Library.
********************
Dear Reader,
Times are hard, and so the articles on this site are freely available but if you are able to support my work by making a donation, I am very grateful.
Cheers,
Kay
********************
Kay Green 