Skip to main content

WE ARE THE PEOPLE TO CHANGE OUR SOCIETY




Yesterday one of my friend had visited my home with her friend. My friend belongs to a very typical JAT community of Haryana and her friend belongs to an orthodox community “Vishnoi”. We talked on several topics. As my friend lives in a village nearby my town, she invited me to visit her village.  She asked “ Malabika, have you ever seen our village life?” I replied that though I haven’t visited any village in Haryana yet, I have seen the lives of women in Haryana. They work very hard the whole day – bring drinking water, fire wood, food grains, food for their cattle, cutting the fire wood along with their as usual works like cooking, looking after their kids and other family members, washing cloths and many more. I have seen the differences between the village life in Assam and the village life in Haryana. I have seen the men sit all the day on charpai smoking Hookah and playing cards. Their duty is only to earn money either by selling food grains or some other way.
My friend said –“ You are absolutely right. Our village women are quite weaker than the urban women. In some communities, women don't have freedom – freedom to think, freedom to speak or freedom to express their feelings. Men think women are only to do their daily works and to give birth of their kids.  If any girl has got education in higher level than it has become a painful job to find out right match for her. Most of village boys don’t want to finish even their school education as they get enough property. Also they would get a car, cash and gold from their In- Laws. So why to waste their time and money for studies!”
How pathetic! Yeah I myself have seen in some communities, where ladies are not allowed to come out of the house gate even. Friend of my friend said – “The Vishnoi Community, which I belong is very tough. I am an educated person living in town, but still I have to be in Ghungat whenever I visit my in-laws place in village. We are not allowed to come in front of any male member of our family. We are not allowed to speak much even.” I was listening to their views turn by turn. The lady is a mother of two growing up kids.  While talking the lady became emotional and said – “Though we are talking about women empowerment and education in our state, only GOD knows when people will be educated in real term!” I answered –“Don’t worry, we are the people. Only we can change the scenario generation by generation. These issues you won’t repeat with your next generation. Thus we can change the views of our society.” My friend replied – “Absolutely! Hope for the best always.” We smiled altogether.
After their leaving, I felt relaxed. I thought the Punjabi Community where I am married, is open minded and moving towards. But I am sure that I will not let the issues repeat which I don’t like with my next generation!!! All is well J

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mekurikai - an unsung hero!

Teok , a small town in Jorhat District of Assam. Around 30 years back, it was in process to be a township. It is my parents' home place, where I was born. As my parental villages were in Teok, we usually visited this place on every vacation. Growing up in a concrete city, I found this place peaceful and naturally rich. We travelled by bus to visit my birthplace. The Teok State Transport bus stand was very small that time. State Transport buses stopped here for few minutes only. Here I saw Mekurikai for the first time. I can still visualise his picture in my mind! Mekurikai , the unsung artist! He used to wore a half pant and a shirt, hanging wooden box around his neck. He sang TOKARIGEET  (type of sufi song in Assamese Folk) and collected money from his listeners. Every morning he used to come to Teok State Transport Bus Stand. Whole day he got into the buses while they stopped, sang his TOKARIGEET  in his mild and beautiful voice with feelings, collected ...
1 comment
Read more

The views of the society reflacts in our life!

My friend Ranu was a very sensitive girl. In fact I am too sensitive and that's why we could be good friend. I met her at my working women hostel in Delhi as my roommate. Ranu's father was an air force officer and was posted in Pune. She was in Delhi to practice her occupation as an Architect. They were three sisters and she was the middle one. That time her younger sister was pursuing MBBS in Bangalore. Her elder sister was with her parents. She was mentally retarded! Ranu loved her sisters like anything, specially her elder sister. One day Ranu was so emotional. She was standing alone at the balcony of our room, tears were in her eyes! I came from my office and saw her in that condition.  I couldnt understand why she was upset! I put my right hand on her shoulder  and asked 'what happened Ranu! Why are you so upset? Missing your family?' She replied 'Yes I am missing them.' she continued ' You know what sometime I feel very bad that I am not able to h...
Post a Comment
Read more
নিৰুদ্দেশ সেন্দুৰ! সোনোৱালী দীঘল একোচা চুলি। গাৰ ৰং সেন্দুৰ বৰনীয়া। দুহাতত নৱবিৱাহিতাৰ চিহ্ন ছুড়া(পাঞ্জাৱী সম্প্ৰদায়ৰ ৱিবাহ প্ৰতীক)। কিন্তু ম্লান পৰি যোৱা দুচকুত শূণ্য চাৱনি। ছোৱালীজনীৰ নাম নাজানিচিলো। কিন্তু তাইৰ ৰূপে মোক আৰ্কষিত কৰিছিল। সন্ধীয়া যেতিয়া তাই  অফিচৰ পৰা ওভতিছিল, মই প্ৰায়েই তাইক চাবলৈ নামি গৈছিলো আমাৰ হোষ্টেলৰ বাগিচাখনলৈ। তাইক চকুৰ পলক নেপেলোৱাকৈয়ে লক্ষ্য কৰিছিলো। হোষ্টেলৰ গেটৰ ভিতৰত তাই কালৈকো নাচাইছিল। মোৰ দিল্লীৰ ৱৰ্কিং ৱ'মেন হোষ্টেলৰ আন এক অভিগ্যতা! প্ৰথম প্ৰথম ছোৱালীজনীক দেখি মই এক আৰ্কষন অনুভৱ কৰিছিলো। পাছলৈ মোৰ কৌতুহল হৈছিল তাইৰ বিষয়ে জানিবলৈ। আমাৰ হোষ্টেলটোত আছিল দুই শতাধিক কৰ্মৰতা মহিলা। গতিকে হোষ্টেলৰ সকলোকে চিনি পোৱাটো অসম্ভৱ আছিল। মোৰ তিনি বছৰীয়া হোষ্টেলত থকা সময়চোৱাত মই বহুতকে কেৱল চকুৰেহে চিনি পাইছিলো । নাম ধাম একোকে নাজানিছিলো। মোৰ ৰুম আছিল প্ৰথম মহলাত। খা-খৱৰ লৈ জানিলো সোনবৰনীয়া ছোৱালীজনী নতুনকৈ আহিছে তৃতীয় মহলালৈ। মই এগৰাকী চিনাকিক সুধিলো তৃতীয় মহলাত তাইৰ কোনোবা চিনাকি আছে নেকি? তাই ক'লে "আছে এজনী" মই সুধিলো এজনী ধুনিয়া পাঞ্জা...
Post a Comment
Read more