Kolkata, March 13, 2026 : International Women’s Day is a global day that celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It is also a powerful reminder that while we celebrate progress, the journey toward gender equality continues.
Rotary Club of Calcutta Pointers celebrated IWD on 8th March by staging its flagship program NAARI at Kolkata Creative Centre. The theme of the program was “When Women Thrive; Community Thrives”.
In the keynote address delivered by Dr. Kaushik Ghosh – an Orthopaedic surgeon, debater, photographer, poet and actor – he cited perspectives from quantum micro dynamics, microbiology, and all the way to theology, which point to women being the very force behind the foundation of life and personifying “Shakti.” He stressed that gender-equality is not something to be ‘given’ to women but it is ingrained in their existence. He also highlighted the roles and responsibilities of men, and the importance of raising boys to become allies to the advancement of women
The evening also saw the felicitation of Chief Guest Ratnaboli Ray, renowned mental health activist and founder of Anjali, a rights-based pioneering mental health organisation in West Bengal. For more than two decades, Ratnaboli Ray has been a leading advocate for the rights of people with psychosocial disabilities in India.
The highlight of the evening was an engaging and interactive panel discussion on the topic “When Women Thrive; Community Thrives”. The ensemble panel consisted of Ratnaboli Ray, Swati Bhattacharjee, Senior Assistant Editor, Ananda Bazar Patrika, Dr. Atashi Karpha, Principal at Gokhale Memorial Girl’s College, Dr. Aniruddha Deb, Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr. Saumitra Ray, Consultant Cardiologist and Ms. Nabanita Khan, Senior Partner, IBM (Retd.). The discussion was brilliantly moderated by Dr. Mousumi Rao, Consultant Paediatrician.
The panel discussed critical and often contentious issues like the difficulty of discussing mental health issues, disparity in access to healthcare between men and women, protecting bodily autonomy, challenges women face in different level of their careers and gender pay gap. The panel spoke from their experience and stressed how educating girls and women create long term positive change in families and communities and how men can be allies rather than bystanders in women’s empowerment. The audience was enthralled with the depth of knowledge and the quality of discussion.
NAARI by Calcutta Pointers provided a platform to engage with diverse voices, raise awareness, reflect on progress and challenges, celebrate achievements, foster solidarity, and most importantly, commit to positive action—upholding IWD’s long and powerful history of collective action.
Rotary Club of Calcutta Pointers is committed to building a gender-equal world—a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world where “She can thrive”!
