Who Helps You???

This question looks simple but the answer can be difficult. Each one can draw own meaning out of this.

When someone put forth these words to me, I was taken aback. Later I realized this was something to talk about mainly for the women folk.

Women’s Reservation Bill and the BUZZ Around

To be very frank I am a fence-sitter on the Women’s Reservation Bill. Sincerely I’m against Reservation. Getting or reaching out to something under the Category of Reservation or in simple words under the Quota category is like grabbing something With an external force.

Women have worked hard to reach the place they are in. They need no sympathy to be what they are. They have the mind, will, power and determination to do and achieve what they want.

I am never in favour of Reservation of any kind. In this country the number of the Poor, living below the poverty line, is very much visible. In the name of Politics many nasty games are played and one among the many is in the name of Reservation. If at all the political parties are interested in giving privilege to the people of this country, time to stop increasing the quota percentage in the different categories. Think about the poor and draw the below poverty line edge and give these Economically backward people Reservation so that they can come up.

Surely most people will not agree with me. They will think many times and in the end come up saying 'this is not possible and not for the good of the country'.

If women want to get Reservation, it means they are weak and feeble, not able to stand on their own feet, instead will be tagged as babies who are making an effort to stand up but need support to stand on their own.

This Reservation will be more of a support than showing off before the world, “We are, we can and we will on our own”.

Look across the globe and you can find women adorning the highest place. Education can make a lot of difference in a woman’s life. And that’s the first stepping stone and not Reservation.

When Dal (Lentils) Makes You Think

Why is it that the whole burden of running the home budget falls mostly on the shoulders of women? To be frank, I’ve used the word mostly, in order not to bring about a debate among men vs. women.

The rise in the price of the different kinds of dal has made most families think about preparing and serving dal in the everyday meal. Most Indian households cannot think of a full meal without dal. Be it roti, be it rice, a bowl of dal goes with it. With soaring prices, dal which is thought as a wholesome food even for the poor is just going out of reach of the common man. The strong words about the Aam Adami (by this present ruling government) now lack the luster it created before the general election votes were cast.

Dals have their own nutrition value being rich in protein and a source of inexpensive protein in a vegetarian diet. A cooked meal of dal and rice is known as khichdi, rich in nutritional value and healthy food for the sick also. There has been a cut down on the monthly purchase of dals, as cost of some varieties has touched the near 100 rupee mark, something difficult in a common man’s chart. Said and done - there was a lot of commotion in the parliament on this issue. Here again we have to think, “Are our parliamentarians really concerned about us when they can have their tummy full?”

“Dal roti khao, prabhu ke gunn gao” for now, is no longer the merry and light-hearted tuned words of many in this country.

Women's Day

The eighth day of March brings with it the importance of the existence of Woman on this earth. Every nook and corner in this universe says and reads, “Happy Women's Day”. Why do we have to take out a day to celebrate something special for a woman?

For me each and everyday is special in the life of a woman.

A woman carries the burden of multi tasks on her shoulders…that’s the progress she has made. At the end of the day she stands with all the concerns of being a daughter, a wife, a mother and the vocation of a whole-time or part-time job or even that of a homemaker. Each and every role she plays she tries to specialise in it. The house looked after, food placed on the table at the right time, shopping at the green grocer and the monthly grocery stored, the household economy updated with the daily and monthly expenditures, and above all get some liberation hiring the domestic help who can bring some relief and comfort in her life.

In this whole process of progress of the family well-being and career, she lands up with little time for herself, ignoring her health. By the time her responsibilities get cut down with the children getting more independent she is left with common perennial health problems like: backaches, joint pains, sleep disorder, acidity and above all the stress and strain that she has acquired through all these years.

A career woman tries her best to rise to heights, even a simple housewife has her dreams and wishes that at times are fulfilled for some and become embers for those who could not pursue them.

Woman with careers can break their day into different activities. For those who don’t have a full-time career the best thing is to pursue the hobby. It can be gardening and your flower’s can win the best prize at the Flower Show of your town. You can land up with your novel or short stories getting published and gaining acclaim. Can become a Social Worker working for the poor, the stray animals, for a green environment, or become a part of an NGO working for the cause of a better world. Looking beyond there is so much to do apart from the everday monotony of daily life.

Society and the world needs Woman don’t forget that!