When power speaks of equality
Renowned businessmen, high ranked officers, political parties and many other people with power are heard talking about equality and humanity, but do they really act upon what they say?
In March 2025, at the UNCSW, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres talked about the furious kick back against equality and the vanishing of women's rights. The secretary pointed out that even after powerful speeches promise equality, nothing much has improved - this situation clearly visualises the difference between what leaders say and what they actually do.
Once Buddha stated: “However many Holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do if you do not act upon them?”
It was mentioned in The Times of India that a recent study of 840 listed Indian companies found that although many of them state that they support gender diversity and equality, 63% still have no women in key managerial roles. This demonstrates how many companies talk about equality, but do not put women into decision-making positions. Talking about the wages provided, even after the Remuneration Act 1976, women in many cases are provided less salary than a man working in the same position.
Inequality does not only impact women, but also the lower caste people in India, labourers, or those living in poverty, who are not respected. Labourers, mostly dalits, die while cleaning the sewers without safety equipment. Even after many policies, rules, this whole ritual takes place and no one cares because it's their job according to their caste. Giving someone an identity on the basis of the money they earn or the community they belong to is a denial to accept a person as a human being and treating them as one. No one deserves to feel like they are owned by someone else with more wealth or power.
Every time I’m reading a newspaper, all I see are people throwing away every type of equality in the trash bin like it does not matter; in Hollywood, in the corporate world, in marriage.
Buddha gave us another memorable quote: “Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to everything else.”
Similarly, equality is also directly proportional to emotion - if a person does not have any emotions, then they can never show a sign of equality ever in life. Equality is not a need, but it is a principal of life. We need to work on it and look at everyone as they are human beings and not just fellow people belonging to a community caste.
Written by Saiyam Thakur
Writer
Saiyam is a 10th grader from India wanting to study commerce further and yearns for a career in journalism. She loves to take part in writing competitions, MUNs and literature related activities.
In her free time she studies, reads, designs on Canva, and watches something romantic or funny to chill out.