BITTER HALF

Syed Mubin Zehra

Working for a noble cause Hearts are the strongest when they beat in response to noble ideals. (Ralph Bunche)

   The year 2011 going by does have some laurels to celebrate for women self-starters and social combatants for noble causes. This year the reputed Nobel Peace Prize was shared by three women from countries known for their discrimination against the fair sex : Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Leymah Gbowee from Liberia ;and Tawakkol Karman from Yemen. These three names bring global recognition of the silent struggle that is being waged by silent fighters in many spaces across the globe.

   Every year since 1901 the Nobel Prize has been awarded for achievements in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature and for peace. The Nobel Prize is an international award administered by the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden. The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to 124 laureates - 99 times to individuals and 23 times to organizations. Since the International Committee of the Red Cross was awarded three times and Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was awarded twice there are 101 individuals and 20 organizations that have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

   The peace prize to three women peaceful crusaders this year gives a very positive signal of recognition for women crusaders of common nature . It has been well recognised and mentioned in the prize motivation for this year’s peace prize that the award is "for their nonviolent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work." This entire citation of Nobel Peace Prize for these three amazing strong women brings to light the need for women's intervention in global political and social issues related to women’s rights.

   There is a serious need of flagship of women's leadership in the regions that are disturbed and witnessing several political upheavals today. Women from these regions have been the most active crusaders fighting for a living and also raising their voices against social evils . They must march ahead and accomplish their tasks ahead . The Nobel Peace Prize to women from Liberia and Yemen is a true signal towards democratic solution to all political and social problems of this region.