Beyond Gender: The Battle of Thoughts

On Women’s Day, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and achievements of women. We also acknowledge the struggles—those inflicted by society, by men, by institutions. But in our quest for equality, do we pause to reflect on the battles fought within?

We often speak of patriarchy as an external enemy, a force imposed upon women. But what about the silent wars waged by women against women? The jealousy that pits one against another, the cruel judgments, the shaming, the subtle exclusion—these are not acts of men but of women themselves. A mother who tells her daughter to “adjust” rather than fight, a woman who mocks another for choosing career over family, a colleague who pulls another down instead of lifting her up—these are not just individual actions but deeply ingrained patterns that hold us back.

This is not about gender but about mindset. A flawed system thrives not just because of men but because some women unknowingly uphold it, conditioned by fear, insecurity, and generations of internalized beliefs. The true fight is not against men but against the thoughts that divide us.

In Hindu mythology, Goddess Durga is not just a warrior; she is the embodiment of strength that rises when darkness prevails. But she does not fight alone—she is empowered by the collective energy of other divine forces. Her battle reminds us that real power comes from unity, not division. Similarly, the Bhagavad Gita teaches us that our greatest battle is not with the world but with the weaknesses within—doubt, jealousy, hatred.

“Uddhared ātmanātmānaṁ nātmānam avasādayet,
ātmaiva hy ātmano bandhur ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ.”
(“One must elevate oneself by one’s own mind, not degrade oneself. The mind is both a friend and an enemy.” – Bhagavad Gita 6.5)

On this Women’s Day, let us not be each other’s enemies. Let us rise, not just as individuals but as a force together. Because when women support women, no prejudice, no centuries-old structure, no internalized belief can hold them back.

It’s time to fight the real enemy: bad thought.