“Change in Mindset About Women Must Begin With Women Themselves” — Powerful Voices Echo at Pune Panel Discussion

Pune | June 21, 2025 –
At a thought-provoking panel discussion titled “How Safe and Empowered is Today’s Woman – Truly Free or Still Behind Closed Doors?”, strong voices from the worlds of social activism, politics, and entertainment agreed on one key idea — true transformation in the way women are treated must start from within the community of women themselves.

Held on the second day of the 57th Foundation Day celebrations of Pune’s Bal Gandharva Rangmandir, the session featured prominent speakers Anjali Damania, Deepali Sayyed, and Trupti Desai, in conversation with anchor Namrata Wagle. The event was organized by the Bal Gandharva Parivar Trust and saw attendance from key personalities including Trust President Meghraj Raje Bhosale.

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“Parents Must Invest in Daughters’ Education the Same as Sons’”

Kicking off the dialogue, Anjali Damania, social activist and former politician, addressed the deeply ingrained societal mindset that values a boy’s education but saves for a girl’s marriage.

“This mindset must be reversed. The day families begin spending more on their daughters’ education than their weddings, women will become independent and empowered — and cases of abuse will automatically decline,” she said.

She emphasized that the change in attitude must first come from women in households, especially mothers who should stop treating daughters as less capable than sons. “Teach both cooking and studying to boys and girls equally. A girl is not inferior in any way,” she stressed.

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“Women Must Stand United and Show Their Strength” – Trupti Desai

Renowned activist and Bhumata Brigade President Trupti Desai delivered a passionate call for solidarity among women.
“When women begin to oppose other women, it opens the door for men to make decisions for them. That’s when justice is denied,” she said.

She highlighted the barriers faced by women when reporting crimes, such as being forced to wait at police stations late into the night.
“We need more women in decision-making roles, especially in systems meant to support women. When injustice occurs, women must unite and show their ‘Tai-giri’ (sisterly strength) — not stay silent,” Desai added.

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“Society Must Accept Women As They Are” – Deepali Sayyed

Actress and politician Deepali Sayyed spoke about the constant sense of insecurity faced by women across sectors.
“Women are always given secondary treatment, whether in professional fields or within their own homes. But it’s the responsibility of society to ensure a secure environment for them,” she noted.

Sayyed also called for legal literacy among young girls, saying that understanding women’s rights and protection laws at an early age can empower girls to recognize and resist injustice.
“Knowledge is safety. Educated and aware girls are confident and harder to exploit,” she said.

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From Dowry Cases to Political Controversies – No Topic Was Off Limits

The panel did not shy away from referencing recent incidents such as the Vaishnavi Hagwane dowry death case and political controversies like the Dhananjay Munde marriage case. These real-life examples served as a reminder that gender-based injustices continue to persist in modern India, and tackling them requires collective social reform.

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Unified Message: Empowerment Begins at the Root

The session concluded with a unified message from all the panelists — empowering women is not a solitary fight, and the first step lies in changing mindsets at home. Women must support each other, speak up, and step into leadership roles to ensure their rights are upheld in society.