A one-of-a-kind initiative by Saroni Roy Foundation brought together government and community leaders, to commemorate the 155th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in NSW Parliament.
The event included a welcome address by NSW MP Julia Finn, representing NSW Premier Chris Minns and Australia-India Cultural Synergies keynote address by Warren Kirby Co-chair NSW Parliamentary Friends of India. NSW Minister for Women, Jodie Harrison, NSW MLC Jacqui Munro and NSW MPs Nathan Hagarty, Charishma Kaliyanda, Tim James, Matt Cross and Stephen Bali also spoke at the event to perpetuate and celebrate Gandhian principles and values.
(Images: Shantana Deka Dutta)
SRf is committed to promoting sustainable peace, resilient communities, and socio-economic development in honour of Mahatma Gandhi’s Birth Anniversary or ‘Gandhi Jayanti’ (2nd October International Day of Non-Violence), which it has been commemorating every year since 2021.
2024 onwards, SRf’s focus is on the ‘Women, Peace & Security’ (WPS) Global Agenda, highlighting Mahatma Gandhi’s advocacy for the participation of women in Satyagraha movements, which marked a significant contribution to both women’s empowerment and the promotion of peace and non-violence.
(Images: Shantana Deka Dutta)
A call-to-action, the Global Peacebuilders Forum 2024 panel discussion, featured Patricia Garcia AO, Dr Astrid Perry OAM, Dr Anna Cody, Saroni Roy, and launched ‘Super Naari – A Period Equity Initiative’, to address the global peace economics crisis of period poverty. The initiative ‘Mission: 1 Million Super Naaris’ is to create opportunities and equitable access to basic human rights for girls and women, leading to reduced school drop-out rates, accelerated participation at work, sports, aviation, business and more, destigmatizing menstrual health, offering a life of dignity in vulnerable and less-privileged communities.
“Protecting and respecting women’s rights to reproductive health care is essential for gender equity and for building peaceful and resilient communities. Super Naari aims to inform, educate, and communicate the WPS crisis of ‘Period Poverty’, democratising and destigmatising menstruation,” said Saroni Roy, Founder & CEO, SRf.
The event featured Super Naari Awards 2024 for Outstanding Contribution towards ‘Women Peace & Security’ Global Agenda, and the ‘SRf Creatists For Peace’ segment included live performance of Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite songs by Saroni Roy along with Tanima Banerjee’s dance performance, leading duo Abhinav Bose & Rai Ali from Sarhad Project, ‘Mahatma My Hero’ speech by Prahar, Theatre Performance of ‘Gandhiji The World Needs You’ by Bandana Cultural School, ‘Spirit of Super Naari’ showcased through Raja Ravi Verma’s portrait of Damyanti, woven in Maheshwari Silk in collaboration with Saree Selections.