On December 14th, 2024 an event reviewing the organization’s half-century-long journey was a programme to commemorate this occasion was held at the Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe Auditorium in Byculla, Mumbai.
Discussing this 50 year journey of Stree Mukti Sanghatana’s formation, Secretary Amol Kerker said:
“Women across the world, becoming aware of their secondary status in society, rose up with a longing for freedom. On the strength of organized power and sisterhood, they claimed their right to ‘half the sky’. They forced the world to acknowledge their contributions across all fields of society. Driven by this thought, 20 to 25 friends joined the Stree Mukti Sangharsh Parishad in Pune in 1975 following which a Shahiri (folk-theatre) cultural troupe sounded the clarion call for women’s liberation. Passionate about gender equality, these women wanted to pursue politics for women’s welfare against exploitation. They established an autonomous organization, separate from party politics. It is a unique feature of this organization that left-leaning parties allowed it to flourish independently and actively supported us in taking our feminist ideas to society.”
Key Highlights of the Program:
Gail Omvedt, Chhaya Datar, and Sharda Sathe took the initiative in bringing these early feminists together.
While reviewing the journey, Amol Kerker felicitated founding members Chhaya Datar, Organization President Jyoti Mhapsekar, and Sharda Sathe.
Chhaya Datar expressed joy and satisfaction over organizing this event by bringing all friends together for the organization’s 50th year.
Sharda Sathe raised the slogan “Jag badal ghaluni ghav” (Strike a blow to change the world) and expressed a firm resolve for Stree Mukti Sanghatana to move forward on its future path with renewed hope.
The Anniversary Presentation:
President Jyoti Mhapsekar, with the help of her cultural troupe, presented a review of the organization’s 50 years of work.
The presentation featured songs in the traditional Shahiri style, old photographs, and video clips of the acclaimed plays “Mulgeli Zali Ho” (A Girl is Born) and “Hunda Nako Ga Baicha” (No Dowry).
Stree Mukti Sanghatana entered into the 50th year in 2025. We celebrated this occasion with two programmes.
On 14th of December 2024 we presented an audio-visual track of the organisations’ 50 years progress. We felicitated our founders Dr. Chhya Datar and Sharada Sathe in a spectacular show arranged in Lokashahir Annabhau Sathe Theater, South Mumbai, on 14th December 2024. Theater pacted to capacity with old and new volunteers, wellwishers, feminist friends.
 On the second day, 15th December 2024 a seminar âSemi centenary of womenâs movement – a reflectionâ was held at Ramnarain Ruia College, Matunga. Symposium on âAssessing impact of womenâs movement and the influence of social, political, cultural and financial spheres on womenâ were discussed in a daylong proceedings.
Dr Manisha Gupte (Social sector),
Com. Lata Bhise Sonawane (Political sector),
Dr. Kunda Pr. Ni. (Cultural sector)
and Dr. Vibhuti Patel (Financial Sector)