I am a Guwahatian since my birth. I adore the unique blend of hills and plains that defines Guwahati’s landscape, its moderate and welcoming climate, and the lively tapestry of its ever-growing, diverse population, representing a variety of cultures and professions. For me, 2024 was a year filled with both challenges and opportunities, each offering valuable lessons. Reflecting on the year, I feel a sense of fulfilment, knowing I navigated those experiences with resilience and determination. As the year draws to a close, I realise these experiences have enriched me deeply, affirming my identity as a woman of Guwahati. This is actually common to all women especially the working women group of the city. One of the primary concerns of women of Guwahati is the safety of women, especially those working late hours. Women often stay at their workplaces until 9 PM, sometimes even later. In such cases, employers should take responsibility for arranging transportation to ensure their safe return home. While Guwahati leads as a modern hub in Northeast India, offering conveniences like bike-taxi services that many women rely on daily, the city has also witnessed in the current year unfortunate incidents of fatal accidents involving these services. To mitigate such risks, authorities must enforce stricter safety regulations and expand CCTV coverage across the city, ensuring monitoring of every street, corner, and public space. Guwahati also hosts a significant population of working women from outside Assam, many of whom face challenges such as language barriers and occasional racial discrimination. Instances of rude behaviour—like cab drivers misbehaving or using derogatory terms—highlight the need for greater sensitivity and awareness towards people from diverse backgrounds. A young colleague of mine who is from outside Assam lamented over the fact that she has often encountered incidents when cab-drivers misbehaved with her labelling her as “Bihari’ in a disrespectful manner. Unfortunately, even local women face verbal abuse or discrimination in different situations. To create a truly inclusive environment, it is crucial to foster mutual respect and understanding, irrespective of one's place of origin.
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Safety concerns extend beyond roads to workplaces as well. Gender bias, though widely condemned, persists in both subtle and overt forms. Women often face discrimination not only from male superiors but also from female colleagues who may feel powerless in such scenarios. Organizations, particularly in the private sector, should adopt HR policies that are more accommodating to women, especially new mothers and those transitioning into married life. Facilities like crèches and breastfeeding rooms have become essential; particularly in workplaces whereas leave is shorter than in government institutions. We do come across job advertisements even today exclusively seeking male candidates which undermine gender equality. Such practices must be addressed to ensure fair opportunities for women. Once I came across a casual remark by a managing director of a chain of educational institutions that he wanted to avoid female hires due to their need for marriage or maternity leave— this reflect a regressive mind-set. Such situations should be replaced with actionable solutions. By supporting women through these natural life transitions, workplaces can create environments that are both equitable and productive.
This year, Guwahati has witnessed several musical concerts to quench its thirst for good popular music. The singers both male and female are established Bollywood artistes. We notice that local singers perform here mostly during the time Bohag Bihu. Guwahati can boast of organising good music concerts of local singers at any time of the coming year. It would be really great if concerts are organised with good female artistes.
There is also a growing trend among women to return to their traditional roles, although, by now, women have broken the barriers of hearth and home. Motherhood, raising children and looking after their needs, being an efficient homemaker, are all part of the aspirations of a select group of women.
All women of Guwahati aspire to live the New Year with most of the issues and problems mentioned above solved.
(The writer is Associate Professor of History, The Assam Royal Global University. All views and opinions expressed are authors own)
