Student Christian Movement of India, West Bengal Region conducted a three-day program on the topic of 
“ Women Doing Theology in the Context of Women’s Struggles: Challenges and Future Responses” from 23rd to 25th of August 2002 at Udayani in Kolkata.

Miss Sunita Suna of Student Christian Movement, Bangalore Head Office was specially invited for this program. As she is the Head of the Women’s Desk, it was of special interest to her. Rev. John Nelson Ali, the Senior Secretary of West Bengal Region along with Mr. Praveen Kerketta, the Students Secretary of West Bengal Region was also present. Participants from St. Paul’s C. M. College Unit, City Unit, Sundarban Unit, Bankura Unit, Sarenga Unit, Bishop’s College Unit, Seerampore Theological College Unit and Assansol Unit had come.

The Registration Started on 23rd of August At 3.00 pm followed by an Inaugural Worship conducted by Rev. John Nelson Ali. It was followed by an Introduction session where each of the participants introduced them selves. Mrs. Shanti Jost gave the Keynote Address. As a very experienced NGO person she gave the students different examples, which she had in her life while she was in Cambodia. She from her own understanding gave the students what the program is really about and what they will come across in these three days. She gave the examples of women in the different societies of the world and their position in their society. She also touched the topics of caste system, racism and colour. With the help of the Bible she gave the examples of position of women in the Biblical era. This was the only session of the day. After this session the participants went for dinner followed by Video Documentation. 

The movie Damini was shown to the students. This was done as this film involved the role of women in the society. How few women would fight with the rigid society against a rape victim. The students were asked to see the movie carefully and ask questions the next day.

On 24th August the participants of different units conducted the Morning Worship at 7 am. Bible Study by Dr. Caleb followed this. He is a theologian and has a keen interest in understanding the Bible from different perspectives. Through his study he had put forward few questions to the participants that were to be discussed in the Group discussions.

Mrs. Ranjana Bhattacharya conducted the First session of the program. She is from an NGO called C.C.C.A. She delt with the topic of  “Present Scenario of Women in India”. She conducted this session in a very different way. Each participant had to introduce his/her neighbor. She made the participants understand the current position of women in India. How they are placed in the Indian society. And special what are the challenges that are placed in front of them. As she is from an NGO, she could carefully guide the whole session to make the students understand the womens of India, their position in centuries of patriarchal society.

The Second session was conducted by Mr. V.J. john. His topic was “Understanding the Bible in the Women’s Perspective”. In his session he gave the participant few questions that were to be discussed during the group discussion period. He brought a different picture of Bible, from the women’s perspective. How it could be interpreted in a different way.

The two sessions were followed by two hours of group discussion where the participants discussed about what they had understood from the first two sessions. The participants were divided into four groups. Each group had participants from different units. This made each group very unique as every student from regular as well as from theological background brought in its own flavor in to their respective groups.

The third session was “Status of Women in the Patriarchal Structure of the Church” this session was conducted by Miss. Jhilik Soren of D.B.S.S. She drew the picture of women in today’s church structure. The challenges that are faced by them in the basically patriarchal church structure. How the women are over coming these to meet the new challenges that are coming in front of them. She also showed us how this system is changing slowly and how the students can help to pace up this process.
 

This session was followed by a group discussion where the program Secretary of West Bengal Region, Mr. Sandeep Pramanik summed up the whole days program as well as the four groups were made to present there comments on the different issues that were discussed in the day. After this discussion each SCM Unit were given some free time in the evening where they prepared their programs for the cultural night. 

The cultural program was done on the second day after dinner. Rev. John Nelson Ali was present during this time to encourage the students. Before the program he made a special encouragement speech for the students who had just succeeded in their academic exams. These students were presented by a special prize for their achievement. After this different units presented their own items. Dramas, Recitations, Action Play, Songs, Dance are few of them. At the end all the participants danced together to the tunes of Tribal songs of West Bengal.

On 25th August the usual morning worship was conducted by the students. As this was the last day, there were many undiscussed topics that were needed to be discussed so all the participants quickly moved on to the next session. The next session was that of Bible Study. It was conducted by Mr. Philip Peacock. With his unique way of presentation, he made the participants understand the way this Indian society has been made into a single-minded society. A society where the position of Women is not equal to that of men. A society where Women are still subjugated. How we have fallen in to this vicious circle. And how our minds have adapted to this strange environment without us knowing it.

This was followed with the Fourth session conducted by Miss. Sunita Suna. She dealt with the topic of “Struggle & Challenges of Women’s issue and Movement Building”. As she heads the Women’s desk in the Bangalore SCM Head Office, she had quite an experience regards this. She put forward the different difficult challenges that are faced by the women of the Indian society. She also told the participant about the way in which these are needed to be changed for a better tomorrow. 

This session was followed by group discussion after which there was the last session of the program that is the Fifth session. This session was taken by Miss. Saswati Roy from Swadhina, a NGO. She took the topic of “Feminist Theology – Challenges & Hopes”. She looked at the Biblical views from the feminist way. A way, which was not thought by the people of the societies.  A total new way by which the whole theological structure could be looked at.

After this in last session there was a group discussion and Action Planning. All the different SCM units discussed about the whole program within their unit members. This was then presented at the end. One representative from each unit came forward to share their views and the Action Plan that the students felt important to be taken at the Unit Level, Regional Level and at the National Level to improve the involvement of women in today’s Church and in other areas. Specially those, which the Unit members could do themselves to encourage other women to come forward. 

The closing session was done by the West Bengal Program Secretary, Mr. Sandeep Pramanik. All the participants shared their individual experiences about this program. Miss. Sunita Suna also shared her individual response to this program conducted by the West Bengal Region. After the closing service all the participants held each other hand and sang the SCM Solidarity Song. This was a very emotional moment for everyone as all the hard work put forward by all the hosting committee members and the Program Secretary has finally come to an end with a grand success. All the participants exchanged their contact details so that they can all together coordinate the success of this program long after its over.