International Men's Day - November 19

International Men's Day

How many of us know that any such day exists? Have you seen people wishing or posting on social media about women's day, daughter's day recently? Did you know Sons day also came around same period did any one notice or seen any social media post? Why there is total ignorance for one gender in the society? These questions needs to be answered and address these ignorance towards men.

The Outline

IMD was first celebrated somewhere in western countries specifically in Carrabin island around 1990's later it was widely adopted by many other nations. Although the demand to have a specific day for men's day started way early in 1960's only by 1990's the day came into existence. Did you know March 8 which is International Women's day is recognized by United Nations but November 19 isn't. India adopted celebrating IMD by 2007 and till date many NGO's like SIFF and others working for Men's Rights in India celebrates IMD. 

Each year IMD has got a theme or a moto to discuss and promote, this year for 2021 it's 'Better Relations Between Men and Women'. Do note that IMD is not only a day where only men are discussed, IMD stands for gender equality and is open about it. 

IMD 2021

Many of us didn't knew this day existed, even I didn't had a small clue about the day either till this year. Looks like we are used to feeds that our media & entertainment channels publish only for their TRP. Apparently men have way low TRP in market than pet animals. If you do happen to know and celebrate IMD kudos to you, keep continuing it and spread the word even more around you.

Let's focus on two important topics on this International Men's Day 

• Men's Health
• Violence against Men

Men's Health

Health is the biggest wealth anyone can have and enjoy it to its fullest till he/she is alive. This is the only wealth which doesn't stay back after your death.
Many men happen to ignore their health for many reasons

1. They are more focused on family wellbeing.
2. Consider themselves as stronger to others, macho mindset. 
3. Risk their life to earn more monetary goals, and Savings is main moto.
4. Thinks about future goals and social status in society.

Did you know men are more vulnerable for heart disease, lately you can see many young men have lost their life in cardiac arrest cases, recent being actor Mr. Puneeth Rajkumar who died at the age of 46 before to him actor Mr. Chiranjeevi Sarja at the age of 36 and many more have died well before they are 20 even.

But all we men think about is the above reasons and keep ignoring our health. We fail to understand that without you being alive and healthy in first place you can't address these goals. Without you what would your family do with the savings monetary assets and future plans, all the efforts eventually will be wasted. And no man is strongest or macho, life has got its own uncertain plans for you. Stop ignoring your health, this is the only wealth that would help you fulfil your other goals in life.

Invest in yourself, it's the best investment in life which would give you better returns than anything else. The investment can be either in health, hobbies or skills. Remember when you are happy & healthy you can keep people around you happier and healthier.

We can do these simple things as to start with

1. Exercise, it's not always to be in gym one has to go for, we can walk, jog, cycle, dance or do yoga or any other physical activity that would help you to keep physically fit. Don't overdo any of this either.
2. Eat a healthy diet on right time and interval as per your body needs. Right food will keep you healthy. Rest your body and mind adequately, a proper sleep is must, don't skip a sleep or a meal for any reason.
3. Hobbies, pick anyone that suits you & keep you interested in like hiking, biking, travelling, gardening, music, art or anything. Mental health wellbeing is as important as physical health. Many of our illness are more  psychological than physical. Hobbies will keep you relaxed and stress free in life.
4. Up skills, invest on training yourself. In which ever field you are working try to improvise your skills, learn something new in your work life add skills related to your industry to keep yourself updated with the current trends.

If you have a great physical and mental health with skills on top, you can achieve any monetary or life goals. Set your priorities right. It should always be you first, later family and then others.

Violence Against Men

Violence against men is happening from ages but not much will come to light because of men's ego or macho image he has built for himself outside in society. Lately many such cases have become public like that of Zomato food delivery boy, Rohtak Sisters bus incident, Saravjeet case and Lucknow cab driver assault and many more. False rape, dowry, sexual assault case have become new normal these days and have spoiled life of many men's, yet our society treat all men as guilty when allegations are put up. You may ask how can I say they are false/fake cases, below information is sourced via RTI for the year 2012 till 2017 and you can see conviction rate is in between 2-3% for 498a and DV cases, so out of 100 cases 98 are false cases. Yet no one question about it or its not even in news. 

The only request is don't judge men before the crime has been established. A crime has no gender if a person is guilty then he/she has to be punished as per law that's it. Many have started listening to men's voice lately but this has to be listened even more.

Do you know men get raped, sexually physically assaulted and is a victim of domestic violence? Many would laugh at this statement or joke about it. But it's reality that many of us don't know or the society is least bothered about. And in our legal system their is severe punishment for male assaulter but when it's a female assaulter our entire legal system will trying to cover women modesty and women image. That's gender biased legal system currently spoiling equality in every manner.

According to latest NCRB reports for 2020 men suicide rate is more than 70% when compared to less than 30% for women. There are many more shocking stats when you consider matrimonial status of the deceased. Doesn't this show something is going horribly wrong with men, yet we continue to ignore all these valid statistics.

More statistics and details can be read from this article from Mensdayout 

Courtesy: Mensdayout

Let's be considerate about violence against men and work towards a plan for getting these cases down and build a gender neutral society with gender neutral legal system to punish the real assaulter and protect the victims irrespective of gender.

The Wind Up

Let's celebrate international men's day this year and in future, wish each other on this day and recognize the deeds, sacrifice a men does in his lifetime. Spread awareness on men's issues in the society, unless issues are discussed solution to them can't be find. Focus on men wellbeing either it can be health, wealth or skills.

If you happen to be a daughter, wife, mother, sister, friend or any where related to a man in you life, you can simply wish him on November 19th on IMD. If you want to do more you can send him a thank you note, post some positive content on social media thanking him to appreciate his efforts in your life. Feel like treating him his favorite meal or buy him his favorite drink go head any positive gesture from you will always motivate him to be best in his life.