Women,
the better half of the society. And where do they stand right now? Do
they really get their equal rights and the credits for what they ever
do? For all they do, they never get what they deserve.
In
the ancient period in India, women were treated equal to men. They
were given equal opportunities on the education and income front.
They were given proper education and were taught techniques of
warfare for protecting themselves. There was not even any purdah
system and women didn’t need to hide themselves from anyone. But,
since the arrival of the Muslims, mainly Afghans and Mughals, the
purdah system came into existence. Women began to be treated
as the lesser halves of the society. Their rights were snatched and
she was subjected to the will of men.
Women
today, have again risen from their position. They have uplifted
themselves and the society through their role in it. From Sita and
Draupadi to Kalpana Chawla and Malala Yousufzai, the contribution of
women to the society is undefinable. Breaking all norms against the
suppression of women, defeating evils like sati pratha, devdasi
pratha, widow marriage and purdah system, yes, women have
come far. But there is still a long way to go. Women are yet to
achieve equality in every aspect.
But
somewhere in between all these things, there came a time when from
complete ignorance to a little knowledge, women began to realise
their worth. In their own upliftment, they came to be influenced by
western cultures. They realised that the women in West had more
rights than them. But the fact is that even the women from the west
didn’t have much freedom and rights in their early days. To attract
more attention towards themselves, they came to use make-up,
ornaments and clothes as tools. These tools for seeking attention
began materialising women. This was the time when the requirement of
the concept of women empowerment came into light. And today, when
women walk on streets, they feel trapped and wounded. Wounded by the
eyes of people who continuously scan them throughout. Rapes and
murders are day-to-day happenings. Every day, every hour, every
minute there is a new headline for such incidents.
Why
talking about strangers, our own friends, family members, relatives
and we ourselves face threats and teasing in the society. Trust me on
this, being a girl, a woman in today’s society is just not easy.
When you have to take care of your clothes, your hairs, your waists,
your breasts and your bellies, it’s so not easy. You have to take
care of even an inch of fat coming out of size zero. You have to wear
your sindoor and managalsutra or you are not a loyal
wife. You cannot talk to other men if you you have a partner already.
One
of these things that I have felt is the striking mentality of people,
both men and women when they see a girl travelling alone. This one is
my personal experience. I have noticed the eyes full of greed and
disgust when they a single girl sitting in a bus or a train. For
them, that is the character certificate of that girl. They stare at
you like you are an alien with beautiful features, prettier than
those of humans. For them, real humans are those..or I should say
real women are those who learn to be in their limits. And what are
these limits? Is being killed in the womb a limit? Or not receiving
education a limit? How would the society define these limits? Are
there really any such defined limits?
Talking
about women empowerment is so very easy. But when it comes to lending
a hand, only a handful of people raise their voices. Others just
become silent spectators, deaf to the cry of the victim. This is how
people treat women today. But the other side of the story is that
women are not victims, they are warriors that always emerge as
winners. She is the reason for the existence of men. So SHE is the
one who is superior, even if it is not acceptable to men. She is not
a threatened and scared abala naari. She
is Durga, she is kaali. She is the bravest form of life on earth. She
can bear the whole world on her shoulders. If you call her a bitch or
a slut, that defines you because a life carrying the whole universe
in
herself cannot be defined by certain nouns. She cannot be constricted
into words. So eh next next time you try to tease or underestimate
women, remember, you are alive because she gave you life. So thank
her for you existence. Thank every women in your life because she
deserves it. Treat her well and that makes you a real man, a real
human. Respect every woman on this earth. She might not protest your
behavior but once she is outraged, she becomes rage and glory. She is
transparent, caring and brave. She is beautiful, she is an ocean of
thoughts and wonders. She is...a WOMAN.
