Society expects women to console and love others, but it does not realize that women also need to be consoled and loved, a woman police officer has told a peace convention.

“Women have the right to be consoled and loved,” asserted Anuradha Shankar, additional director general of police of Madhya Pradesh, at the inauguration of the fifth national peace convention at Shofar Conference Centre Gurgaon, Haryana, on January 30, the 71st death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

The police officer cited the example of Gandhi’s wife Kasturba who played a crucial role in India’s independence struggle. “Gandhiji became Mahatma because of the support of Kasthurba, Shankar said.

“While Gandhiji learned from the books, Kasturba learned from the book of life. Kasturba had the courage to organize protest of women in South Africa. Similarly she was leading the anti-liquor movement in Bardoli while Gandhiji was leading the Dandi March,” she explained.