We celebrated Rabindranath Tagore’s birth anniversary a couple of days back. Tagore has always been considered a polymath, poet, musician, and artist who contributed immensely to India's literary and cultural landscape. But there is another angle that people often forget to mention in their speeches. Tagore's contributions to women's empowerment were wide-ranging and multi-faceted. He believed in the inherent dignity and worth of women and advocated for their rights and freedoms. His literary works, educational institutions, and social activism continue to inspire and empower women in India and around the world.

Growing up in a typical Brahmo family, Tagore might have been around more women who were exposed to education than was normal in those days. He believed that education was the key to women's liberation enabling them to become independent and self-sufficient. He also believed that this cannot happen through isolated endeavors and infrastructure. He strongly advocated for co-education and believed that true knowledge can be gained if men and women are educated together. He founded the Visva Bharati University in 1921, one of the first institutions in India to offer co-education.

In the matter of women’s economic empowerment, Tagore was a strong advocate of the view that every woman should have the right to work and earn a living wage. In "Chandalika" we find the struggles of Pakriti, a young woman born into a low-caste family who regularly faces discrimination and oppression. The play is a powerful commentary of a female outcast who questions gender stereotypes and tried to find her place in society. The effect of his works can be seen even today in the increasing number of women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in various fields.

Tagore's advocacy for women's rights was not limited to his writings. He actively promoted women's participation in social and political movements. He encouraged women to organize themselves and fight for their rights.

Rabindranath Tagore's contributions to women's empowerment were wide-ranging and multi-faceted. He believed in the inherent dignity and worth of women and advocated for their rights and freedoms. His literary works, educational institutions, and social activism continue to inspire and empower women in India and around the world. It was very aptly explained by a former chairman of the National Commission for Women, Dr Girija Vyas, on the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. In her words, “From Gitanjali to Chokher Bali, Tagore was scathing in his comments against gender suppression. He beautifully celebrated womanhood in many of his works and his words find relevance even today”.