There are a lot of good wishes doing the rounds today...and everyone's really upbeat about the role of women in their lives and how much we mean to them. Yet im thinking on another tangent. What does it really mean to be a woman?
Is it your first period? or the absolute need to keep your house in order?? or your bonding over "Guys are really wired wrong all the way...."? Is it the moment you hold your child in your arms?? or is it watching over your younger siblings when even the word 'motherhood' doesn't exist in your vocabulary? What is it that sets us apart? That makes us endure pain, sometimes even emotional trauma and still hold ourselves and our families together? What are we made of?? Resilience? Determination? Forgiveness? Love?
I live in a country of paradoxes, where mother goddesses are worshiped and also where women like 'Nirbhaya' exist. I hear a lot about 'male domination' and 'patriarchal mindset'. What are these guys trying to dominate? The absolute sense of 'never giving up', the sheer selflessness, or the striving for the welfare of their loved ones? What? They are only deluding themselves. None of these so-called patriarchs would last a day or even exist if it wasn't for the women standing in the shadow of their glorified male ego and their chauvinism.
I use this day to send out a blessing if you will, to all the women who are exploited, raped and who live in extremely inhuman circumstances. I pray that you don't let that light die within you. You exist because this world could not do without you. Yes, that's true. There is definitely somebody/something that depends on you. On your very existence. And i pray that you find it.
Women have their role in society as much as men do. The fact that women may still need to fight for this basic right is the defeat of democracy, of society and our value systems. Change begins at home. Give your daughters the same opportunities as your sons. Give her the same upbringing and imbibe her, with the same attitude of independent living as in your sons. And then see her blossom into a beautiful individual. That's the least we can all do.
As for the rest of us. Celebrate your womanhood. Rejoice that you are a woman. Celebrate your indomitable spirit.
Lastly, a quote -
'So kyun manda akhiye, jit jamme rajaan?' (So why call her bad? From her, kings are born.)
- Guru Nanak
Is it your first period? or the absolute need to keep your house in order?? or your bonding over "Guys are really wired wrong all the way...."? Is it the moment you hold your child in your arms?? or is it watching over your younger siblings when even the word 'motherhood' doesn't exist in your vocabulary? What is it that sets us apart? That makes us endure pain, sometimes even emotional trauma and still hold ourselves and our families together? What are we made of?? Resilience? Determination? Forgiveness? Love?
I live in a country of paradoxes, where mother goddesses are worshiped and also where women like 'Nirbhaya' exist. I hear a lot about 'male domination' and 'patriarchal mindset'. What are these guys trying to dominate? The absolute sense of 'never giving up', the sheer selflessness, or the striving for the welfare of their loved ones? What? They are only deluding themselves. None of these so-called patriarchs would last a day or even exist if it wasn't for the women standing in the shadow of their glorified male ego and their chauvinism.
I use this day to send out a blessing if you will, to all the women who are exploited, raped and who live in extremely inhuman circumstances. I pray that you don't let that light die within you. You exist because this world could not do without you. Yes, that's true. There is definitely somebody/something that depends on you. On your very existence. And i pray that you find it.
Women have their role in society as much as men do. The fact that women may still need to fight for this basic right is the defeat of democracy, of society and our value systems. Change begins at home. Give your daughters the same opportunities as your sons. Give her the same upbringing and imbibe her, with the same attitude of independent living as in your sons. And then see her blossom into a beautiful individual. That's the least we can all do.
As for the rest of us. Celebrate your womanhood. Rejoice that you are a woman. Celebrate your indomitable spirit.
Lastly, a quote -
'So kyun manda akhiye, jit jamme rajaan?' (So why call her bad? From her, kings are born.)
- Guru Nanak
