Taekwondo can be a gateway of women empowerment in Bangladesh

In a world where women focuses on redefining their roles and capabilities, the pursuit of women empowerment takes on many forms. The need for self-defence for women has come to the fore, and Korean martial art of Taekwondo is one that trains kicks and strikes and teaches women self-defence skills to defend themselves effectively in real life situations. Taekwondo offers women a transformative journey encompassing physical prowess, mental resilience and a profound sense of empowerment.

Santana comes of a poor family of Lalmonirhat, and she grew up in a poor condition. Even her parents couldn’t buy new cloths for her at her early age. She moved away from place to place fighting poverty since her early age. She was also a house tutor to run the education of her younger siblings. For this, many dreams were not fulfilled. But, she dreamed to do something for the country and its people as well. To materialize the dream, she has learnt Taekwondo. She also achieved national and international recognition. Later, Santana started to give lesson to girls about the tactic of self-defense. Many students also achieved gold, silver and bronze medals. She is now a role model before many girls and her famed has been spread across the country.

The successful woman Santana Rani Roy used to live at Haridas village of Lalmonirhat. Her father Subash Chandra Roy is a farmer by profession and mother Jamuna Rani Roy is a housewife who was involved in mass education activities as a volunteer. Jamuna knows yoga and Santana learnt the yoga from her mother at her early age.

Santana has two sisters and a brother. Santana is the elder sister. She achieved 14 medals through participating different competition between 2011 and 2020. Most of the medals are gold. Of the medals, 10 are gold while two are silver and two are bronze.

She has established an institution named Lalmonirhat Taekwondo Association (LTA). Students of the institution also achieved success at different competition. They got 46 medals.

The government has also recognized the success of Santana Rani. She received ‘Joy Bangla Youth Award 2018’ from Prime Minister’s ICT Advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Youth Development at Savar. She got the award to encourage the country’s youths as a director of LTA.

Santana said the award also encourage her to do more for the youths. The LTA is working in this regard and many are assisting her in the works, she added.

She said that she took training at Rangpur Government College in 2005. Later, she got training from Taekwondo Association of Rajshahi in 2010 and Central Taekwondo Association of Dhaka in 2011 and achieved first Dan in 2011 and second Dan in 2018.

She also established another organization named ‘Santona Handicrafts’ where distressed women of her area are getting trainings.

Santana said, “I want to lay the handicrafts institution on a strong foundation. For this, I’ve applied to give lease of khash lands to me to the Prime Minister through deputy commissioner of Lalmonirhat.”

Bangladesh International Taekwondo Association (BITA) secretary general Master Solaiman Sikder said, “I gave taekwondo training to Santana. She would become the best coach of the country if she would get proper environment and assistance.”