Na Aana is Des meri laado

              Woman- a vivid creation of God. She symbolises beauty, care, affection and power. She can be described as the beauty of Menka or the aggressive avtaar of Lordess Durga. She can be the creator or the destructor. She can play multiple roles unlike anyone. What to say more? Many poets and writers have tried their best to describe this manifestation of God.
               But for some- it's just a body with no feelings or emotions. Something to suffice their needs! (Harsh to hear? but that is what is happening, isn't it?) Forget about giving her an elevated position in society, she is not even considered a human being. They marry her, to get a maid free of cost to do their household chores entire life. They marry her to get an uterus to keep the family's name persistent. And what about her identity? Her name is also changed according to some stupid rituals. Why? If you are very proud of your family name why she has to leave her's?
               Then dowry, traffiking- these inhuman crimes against women! If a woman lost her husband, she was made bald (purposely made ugly- looking) so that men don't get attracted towards her. But, if a man loses his wife, he can approach other woman in all dignity and set up his family happily. What can injustice be otherwise?
              Dowry- a culture which according to me means-'giving your daughter and money too!' Does it even make some sense? But we have to follow..just because the society (which is inherently made by people itself) says so. Sometimes, I wonder with what logic these rituals have been made and we as human beings (with brains and claiming to be the most intelligent animals on the planet) are not wise enough to decide what's right and what's insensible?
              Well, it doesn't end there. Traffiking- trade of girls. So wasn't I right in saying women are not considered as human beings, beacuse trade is made of things!
               You may say, sati and some practices are banished now. Yes they are, thanks to the reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Mahadev Ranade and the British Raj. I wish they were completely banished. A woman committed suicide after being harrassed by her in laws- is the news in 'today's' paper! Not even 13 and a girl was sold and re sold 4 times- was a news 3 days back. Why? because she was a source of income for her parents or current fiance.
               Female foeticide! still very much prevealent in many parts of India. How surprising is it? The one who gives birth to the society and to the world as a whole is dishonoured by the same society! The baby girl who is unwanted for the sake of a boy, is the source of birth. When will people understand this?
               I thought atleast after stringent laws and the worrying sex ratio in India, awareness will spread. But no, if girls are less, they will 'share' a woman. A culture openly practiced in some parts of the country! Alas! even after decades and while we live in the 21st century and talk about globalisation, women liberation and gender equality, the condition of women hasn't changed. From eve teasing to dowry deaths to molestation we hear and read it every day. What's more mocking about India is, the same place where Maa Durga is worshipped, women are disrespected.
               Women have been persecuted and exploited from ages immemorable and the same follows still.. Society has made womanhood a curse. Girls are taught to stay in bondages since childhood. And in this sick society, where predators are wild, they have to be intimidated and confined. No matter why people don't want girls. They are an added responsibility. A tiny tot may ask- why so many restictions on me? And a mother is left with saying- What to tell you my poor girl? You will not understand until an adult and when grown up, parents say- 'pata nahi itni badi kab ho gayi'. But in today's pathetic situation, a bud is also smashed before blossoming. It's heart wrenching to know these incidents occur and that too even before they gain their 'senses' or understanding. They cannot be human beings, neither can they be animals! When things go beyong limit, there is a revolution- we need one to curb this injustice, these malpractices and this violence. What needs to change to eliminate the root cause is the 'mindset' of people.
            Let girls live, 'live' in a true sense. I wait  for the day when discrimination won't exist, when a couple will pray for a baby girl as they do for a baby boy. When she will be able to live fearlessly. I wait for the day when no mother will say 'Na Aana is Des meri Laado'. (Laado- daughter in Rajasthani)


Note:
Na Aana is Des meri Laado- a TV serial that portrayed injustice against women.




                          

The power of hope

               Away from all worries, all tensions, the hectic schedule and all we know about the bad world, I was lifted to fairy land-one that resembled in Walt Disney’s animation .There was fog everywhere, all that I could see was white light scattered that reflected purity. It was a pleasant world-just as God had created for Adam and Eve. I wore a white robe very wavy and frilly as if I am a fairy! There was a soothing music that played in the background. As the music grew loud and intense, I could see myself climbing marble steps that illuminated as I put my foot on it. Everything was peaceful, pleasant as if watching with rose-tinted glasses!
               Suddenly I heard a loud cry-a cry that reflected pain, agony, tragedy to its fullest. I peeped down. I saw a blue globe and in one remote corner was a crying girl in tattered clothes. She was miserable! What could have happened that the child was so much in despair, I wondered. I turned around and what caught my eyes was something dreadful, unbelievable, my neck throttled, I couldn’t breathe and became numb. The Taj was on fire, burning to ruins. The massive emporium was burning like a piece of charcoal! “Who are you?” said the little girl in a stunning voice. I got back my conscious and controlled my overwhelming emotions. I turned back to the girl. Her innocent eyes had many questions that shimmered in her tears. “I am Hope” I said, trying to console her. (Hope-the word itself heals your heart, a silver lining in the dark cloud.)
                 I wanted to take the girl away from this misery as soon as possible. I took the girl in Enid Blyton’s magic chair and swooped through the clouds of smoke. As we rose higher and higher, situation turned much better and pleasant. Her tears wore out and she flashed a million dollar smile. Truly, I don’t think happiness could be better defined otherwise. Suddenly I received a jerk. The chair started fluctuating as if we had been struck by an earthquake. The wings of the flying chair grew weak and its feathers started shattering. I held the girl tight. I tried all my magical powers to the ultimate extent but the condition was uncontrollable that worsened with every passing second. We didn’t want to go back to miseries. I was feeling helpless, anxious, didn’t know what to do. On the contrary, the little girl was calm, quite. I couldn’t understand how the tiny tot would be facing this trauma. Understanding my curiosity, she held my hand and said,” I don’t need to get afraid or worried because I have nothing, but ‘Hope’-a hope that everything will be fine!”

Do we live among human beings? [In ref. to Sarabjit's case]

         Sarabjit Singh's life took a mysterious turn on 28th August, 1990 when he crossed the Indo- Pak border in an inebriated state. Little did he know that a casual foul like this would spoil or take away 22 years of his life, or for that matter even his life! Little did he know that life beyond a man- made geographical line would turn out to be an unreal journey.
          Initially convicted for crossing the Indo- Pak border and later 'thought' to be Manjit Singh for involvement in the 1990 terror blasts at Lahore- which apparently wasn't proved ever. A poor farmer was termed a 'terrorist' on just sheer suspicions! His identity has been an issue of great confusion as also when his release was almost going to be done and his family was celebrating his anticipated release in 2012 when the Govt. very easily said, it was mistakenly said so and it was Surjeet Singh instead! What a way to play with someone's feelings! His sister says they had demanded an impossible amount of 25 crores for Sarabjit's release. His repetitive mercy pleas to the Govt. were always thrashed heartlessly. Even as he said he had spent 22 years in prison (more than his convicted statement) for a crime he never committed! What can injustice be otherwise?
             Even as he was dying each day, he was attacked by inmates of the jail (which is rumored to be an avenge to the execution of Afzal Guru in India) with bricks, metal sheets and blades (it's painful to even write!). And eventually declared brain dead on May 1. He succumbed to the injuries, as we all know on May 2. An innocent was brutally killed. Why? So, do we really live among human beings?
              Now questions that arise:  Why did our Government zip up? An innocent Indian dies in a foreign country.. was there nothing we could do in 20 long years? Why wasn't he released even after 100,000 signatures from dignitaries across India, thanks to the activist groups! Just imagine the pain the soul had to suffer for being convicted for a crime he never made!, spending 22 years behind bars for no reason, not meeting his wife, his own blood for so long, not even on his death bed.  He died..he died waiting for justice, waiting to meet his family, waiting to come back to his mother land which he mistakenly had crossed on 'that' fateful day! RIP Sarabjit!!!

            The question isn't over yet..We still have many Sarabjits in foreign lands, whom we call 'Prisoners of War'. A report, when Sarabjit's release was in air pointed out that there are about 300 POW's in prisons of Pakistan who are our patriots, our heroes, the brave hearts of India who fought courageously for their motherland. What are they getting in return? They are the ones who deserve to stay in their home country more than anyone else. Many have over done their sentences but are still waiting for a call. Their families have been fighting in court, some as long as 40 years! They haven't celebrated Diwali or Id for their's someone very close is far away...having punished for loving his mother land! Some don't even know whether they are alive or dead! (Put yourself in their shoes and you will fell the pain!) They want an answer, but alas! their cries are falling on deaf ears, who think signing nuclear deals with foreign countries more important than rescuing their countrymen! Then what are we waiting for? Do we want another Sarabjit?