International Women’s Day 2024
Fifth Lecture in the ‘Mandvi to Muscat’ Series

March 8, 2024

Remarks by Mrs. Divya Narang, Spouse of the Ambassador

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen!

I ’m proud to come from a country where the Head of State - President Draupadi Murmu - is a lady. And I ’m prouder because she ’s not our first one.

As a nation we not only accept women in power, we endeavor to empower all women and then go further by celebrating their successes.

The ladies who work here at the Embassy of India, Muscat are truly remarkable. Both Omani and Indian. They are consummate professionals and work just as hard if not harder than their male counterparts. On the occasion of the Intl. Women ’s Day, let us give them a thunderous applause.

Thank you.

Ladies and Gentlemen, A very Happy International Women ’s Day to all of you.

I cannot chronicle all the success stories of Indian women, because they are numerous and ever growing.

Be it sports, science, academics, politics, business, home making or arts. Indian women are striving, shining, thriving and conquering every aspect of the work place.

So what about the home? Is domestic life suffering? No. We are grateful to the men in our lives, and the mothers that raised them - that men have become just as adept on the home front as women have become in the work place. We are grateful for men being our allies. Our dads, brothers, husbands, sons who educate and support us in our endeavors both inside and outside the home.

When I didn’t know to cook, it was my dear husband who patiently ate everything that I put on his plate. And it is because of him that my cooking went from being bad to being average. Since we ’re on the subject, let me thank HE Mr. Amit Narang for envisioning and providing a space for these lectures.

I ’ll also take this opportunity to thank Dr. Sandhya Rao Mehta for helping us thread together the ‘Mandvi to Muscat’ series. In Particular, I ’m grateful to her for highlighting the stories of the Mandvi women today. These untold tales needed to be told.

Thank you, Sandhya ji!

I was talking about allies, people who support us and Oman is just such a culture.

The Omani people, both men and women, embraced the Indian community and let them flourish. The Indian men were allowed to seek contracts, and open shops and the women were free to wear their own garments, follow their rituals and preserve their own cultures.

I salute His Majesty the Late Sultan Qaboos, who brought Oman into a modern era and made it a conducive place where both Indian and Omani ladies could pursue their professions and passions.

Currently, Oman is a peaceful haven for women thanks to His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik, who has ensured that women and girls have equal access to quality education, healthcare, work opportunities as well as political representation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, along with Women ’s Day the Indian community is also celebrating Maha Shiv Ratri.

For millennia we have worshipped Lord Shiva and for just as long we have revered Lord Shiva in his form of “Ardhnarishvara”.

Simply translated it means the lord that is half woman.

But, what it signifies is that the totality lies beyond duality. That male and female energies are inseparable. Each is dependent on the other. So, we can talk in terms of men wear blue and women wear pink but a society ’s or a nation ’s success depends on both men and women.

On that note, I ’d like to thank everyone who worked hard to make this day a success.

Ladies, happy women ’s day once again!

Thank you.

*****