Role models: Kasturba Gandhi and Mother Teresa

March 6: A city-based voluntary organisation will honour 17 women achievers on International Women’s Day on Friday.

The felicitation, christened Sreejani, is part of Sreemanta Sankar Mission of Guwahati’s daylong programme “Vasundhara —Celebrating Womanhood” at the ITA Centre, Mach- kowa.

“The programme is a tribute to women. On Women’s Day, we will be honouring 17 women who have lived ordinary lives but have contributed extraordinarily to society and humanity. Besides, tributes will be paid to three iconic women — Kasturba Gandhi, Mother Teresa and social activist Suchibrata Roy Choudhury — whose ideals serve as an inspiration to women and society in general today,” Asomee Dutta Baruah, general secretary of the organisation, told The Telegraph today.

Among the 17 to be felicitated include writer Lakhyahira Das, singer Sudakshina Sarma, medical practitioner Alaka Goswami, educationist Bonty Bhuyan, scientist Jayanti Chutia, wildlife conservationist Parbati Baruah, nuclear physicist Indumati Laskar, sportspersons Tayabun Nisha and Susan Das Choudhury, actress Moloya Goswami, social scientist Jeuti Baruah, entrepreneur Asha Bora, Jayshree Khersa, artiste Jabeen Rahman Dastidar and columnist Indrani Rai Medhi.

“We will also honour Julie Baruah, who had lost both her arms in a mishap in 2006, but had the resilience to live life anew after the tragedy,” Dutta Baruah said.

The women invited by the organisation will speak about their contributions and share their messages during the felicitation.

“The programme seeks to send a message to the society and its stakeholders about the urgent need for action to end all kinds of violence and atrocities against women, which are showing an alarming trend of late. The invitees are all role models and we believe that they can inspire, encourage and motivate the younger generation to contribute their bit to society,” she said.

“A short film based on Jahnu Baruah’s award winning films with woman as the protagonist will be showed in the evening at the venue,” Dutta Baruah said. “Ashutosh Agnihotri, deputy commissioner, Kamrup (metro), will recite a self-composed poem with woman as the theme.”

The programme also includes a prayer dance by the girls of Jyoti Snehalaya, Beltola, a short skit with song and drama by members of youth activist group The Yellow Cab, a chorus recital of a song by Kolongporia Geetikar Rudra Barua and a dance recital by Marami Medhi and Meghranjani Medhi.

Asked about her message on Women’s Day, Julie, who was fitted with Germany-made electro hands months after her mishap in May 2006, said: “We need to have faith in our abilities and believe in God. Nothing is impossible. I am thankful to the people of Assam whose support has given me the much-needed motivation to live life anew after losing both my arms. I am grateful to the Cotton College Union Society, AASU and Marwari Yuva Mancha for their help.”

Besides, among the various programmes in the city on Women’s Day, Byatikram Masdo, an NGO, will felicitate All India CA exam topper Prema Jayakumar at District Library. Prema, whose father is an auto-rickshaw driver, is from Mumbai.