Unresolved

When was it that I became no more than a shadow
Was it then when the fire at the pit burned bright and strange
Was it then when under the veil questions trembled
Was it then when unknown people pushed forward and claimed me as theirs

Was it then when I was expected to do ; not think , not say
Was it then when the person i thought was mine turned away
Was it then when questions were not to be thought of
Was it then when I realised I am homeless

For the home I knew for the last many years is not mine anymore
And the home I dreamed of creating has no room for me

Was it then when the doors shut tight against my beating fists
Was it then when I was told it is all your fault
Was it then when the person who claimed me turns and says
You are nothing.

Yes it was then and now and ever more when the girl I knew is gone
Ask her what her dreams were and she gives a stupid look

Yes it was then that she realises she has offered not just the ghee
But burned herself slowly and steadily so nothing remains.....just ashes

Yes it is now I say that phoenix rise from ashes
Take it and smear it on the forehead of your conscious self
Take it and mix it with your yet to be formed soul
Like manure or fertilisers
Let new flowers bloom forth
Let a new garden of dreams emerge.

I am a woman,hear me roar
give me wings, watch me soar
Too long have I sat brooding
Too long has the night been roosting
Let me take up my hammer
Draw the steel from my heart
Shape my destiny as an arrow
Break the boughs, make  a bow
Temper the steel with my resolve
Brace the arrow and evolve
Shoot straight and true
No time to sit and rue
Long has been the winter
Now for the ice to splinter
I might be weak
But my dreams are strong
Make no mistake
Nor chains bind
I will break all
I am a woman , hear me roar

WOMEN'S DAY


A day like any other except for all the news tags in the morning screaming "Happy Women's Day".
What does it mean? How is today different from other days?International women's day was designated to mark the acceptance of women as part of the universal adult suffrage movement but has it just become a hash tag??

The scenario around the world largely remains unchanged for so many women even after 1917. Yes, women's day was celebrated to acknowledge contribution of the women in the world as we see it today, however the narrative has hardly changed. We see women abused physically , emotionally and financially even now. 

In times of peace and economic development, women are expected to take home salaries which are considerably less than that of their men colleagues and woe betide any women who raises this issue.
Maternity leave which is sanctioned by the govt. and the constitution is given in a very blase manner as if to underline the fact that you are someone who needs this leave cause you are weak. Well...try pushing out a human from within you and then tell me how it feels. 

Anyway, the idea is not to be hostile to anyone but present certain unsavoury observations on the occasion of Women's Day. Even after so many years of freedom we still have to free half the population from the shackles of male domination. Take a simple example, like "Your father / husband/ brother is tired after the office. Give him a glass of water/ tea etc". A woman is expected to take care of the male of the species. Why???? The woman has also come in bringing the bacon home. How is her bacon inferior or why shouldn't she be allowed to rest herself?

I don't say that a woman should not care for her loved ones but shouldn't she care for herself first. If a man doesn't take care of the family or the lady of the house, why is  he not strung up. You say that a woman has to be seen and not heard. How is that right?? We are muzzling the voice of half the population and we term it civilised.Makes no sense.

The true essence of a women's day would be when we understand not the macro level of empowerment but go deep down into the micro level of enslavement. Tiny little missiles launched every day , quite innocently, have punctured a women's worth in her own eyes. A truly celebratory women's day would be when we as  women not only understand each other but raise each other up. When we hold each others hands and let it be known that we are unwilling to demean ourselves each day, every day.

A woman does not only look pretty but is a pretty strong personality herself so don't get me wrong , when I say, a women's day is not just a day for vacant lip service but a day when women decide not to be demeaned.