Dr. B.R Ambedkar Centre Panjab University organised special lecture. 

Chandigarh, March 5, 2025: On the eve of International Women’s Day, Dr. B.R Ambedkar Centre Panjab University, today organised a special lecture. 

Professor Rekha Chowdhary, a retired professor of Political Science from the University of Jammu, delivered a special lecture on “Decades After Independence: Where are Women in Indian Politics”. Professor Navjot, coordinator, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Centre, formally introduced the speaker of the day. 

The lecture was chaired by Professor Pampa Mukherjee, Chairperson, Department of Political Science, Panjab University. Professor Navjot, Coordinator of the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Centre, opened the session by providing an overview of the Centre's objectives and highlighting Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s views on women’s rights. She emphasised Ambedkar’s vision of gender justice, linking it to contemporary struggles for equality. 

Professor Rekha Chowdhary delivered a compelling lecture on the representation of women in Indian politics, with a special focus on Jammu and Kashmir. The lecture was divided into two parts. The First part, talked about the nature of women’s participation in Indian politics. She talked about how agency, lack of resources and patriarchy exercise control over women and act as barriers. The second part of the lecture, discussed women’s participation in politics with special reference to Jammu Kashmir. She noted that women's political agency in Kashmir is more pronounced than in Jammu, where female political activism gained visibility during the Amarnath agitation. 

Professor Chaudhary further highlighted that women in politics often come from either politically influential families or are those directly affected by militancy and separatist movements. She observed that women are still not seen as independent citizens but rather as extensions of their families, reinforcing patriarchal structures. This dynamic, she argued, leads to the reproduction and institutionalisation of patriarchy across different spheres. 

The lecture provided a thought-provoking analysis of the complex challenges women face in politics and emphasised the need for greater agency and representation. The session concluded with an engaging discussion among scholars, faculty members, and students, making it a valuable contribution to ongoing gender discourse in India. Towards the end, Bhupinder Sing Brar, Professor (Emeritus), delivered the presidential address.