WOMEN SHOULD STAY AS WOMEN ?

WOMEN SHOULD STAY AS WOMEN

It was not very, very long ago that women stayed as women. They had no need or even intention to become men. It would seem crazy to suggest such a thing to women in present day scenario but sometimes I do feel women would be happier remaining women. They had a very important role assigned to them by nature and were made to suit that role just as men were made to suit the role assigned to them.

Women are made delicate, emotional charming, beautiful and elegant. On these count they have no competition from men. Their overwhelming capacity to endure in most trying circumstances put them in a most enviable position. They excelled themselves in every role they played be it a daughter, sister, wife, mother or grandmother.

Then it happened. They realized that they are being exploited not by men alone but by their own species. It was somewhat understandable as far as men were concerned because men are tuned to the false sense of supremacy because they thought they were made physically stronger only for protecting what they owned, their women included. Women were owned by them and it was their duty to protect them as they would protect anything else they possessed. In the process they did not hesitate to keep women locked indoors, away from the hungry staring of evil doers. Exploitation from own species was more hurting and unacceptable. Some of them somehow persuaded men around them fathers, brothers or even husbands to open the locks and let them see the world outside, to which men agreed though hesitatingly on one condition that she will not ignore her duties indoors. That was the beginning of women’s struggle to move out of womanhood.

The light outside was too bright for unaccustomed eyes. With some cautious steps this hurdle was crossed. There was so much to see and understand which was not possible without education. It was very long journey but with nature- gifted capacity to endure, she first took some tiny steps, then strides and finally big leap in the field of education. With education came job opportunities followed by financial independence.

But this was not enough. Time defies traditions and she now wants to have total freedom from age old shackles even at the cost of losing her hold on her natural role. As a daughter she now wants to choose her life partner or stay single. As a sister she wants equal share in property. As a partner in relationships she wants when to tie the knot. After tying the knot she wants if to have a child or not and how many. As mother she is no more tied up with breast feeding or dipper changing or even let the child sleep with her during the night as that may disturb her well earned sleep. She has no time to see when her toddler took those first steps or spoke those incoherent words. All this has been outsourced.

She had started the journey in the hope of freedom and happiness simply called empowerment. She seems to have achieved what she wanted.

Has she? She has taken jobs not suitable to her. Jobs with long hours, night shifts and jobs demanding outstation or out of the country travel. The requirement of job and its dead lines are too demanding. The colleagues do not cooperate and the boss does not listen. She leaves early in the morning and returns late in night totally exhausted. The maid servant is asking for salary increase, more facilities and leave. She pacifies her, eats whatever has been cooked and goes to bed. Weekends too are no less hectic. Shopping, visiting friends and relatives and other tit bits leave little time for anything else.

Condition of married women is worse. She leaves house (No more home) when the child is still sleeping and returns only to see it crying. Husband understands but cannot help.

Did she bargain for this? Was not she already happy as a woman? Whatever went wrong?

She knows the answers but does not want to accept. The mad race for materialistic comforts overrides all other considerations. In order to justify, it is argued that it is for the future of the children forgetting at the same time that their future lies not in the money you earn but in the time you can spare for them. The mother does not understand the child and the child does not understand her. The drift starts and is named as generation gap.

Was it not good if she had stayed as woman only and playing her natural role of caring and sharing at home? Education is not responsible for this. Education on the other hand could have supplemented and complimented her role. Instead it was used for materialistic comforts.

COLORS OF LIFE-3. A MEMORABLE TRAIN JOURNEY

Colors of Life-3. A Memorable train Journey.

It was the summer of 1963. I had appeared for my M.Com. Final and my friend Sudhanshu for his MSc. Final. We belonged to the same town and were doing our PG from Saharanpur from different colleges. We always travelled together to and from our town. Both of us had packed our meager belongings and books in our trunks and were returning to our town Kotdwara, by train.

The train reached laksar. So engrossed were we in our talks and future plans that we did not realize the train was moving in the opposite direction. Upon enquiry we were told that the train was going to Dehradun, meaning thereby we were supposed to change our connecting train at laksar which we had forgotten. We deboarded the train at first stop with our heavy trunks and bags. We were told there was no train till evening. There was a goods train standing at the platform and we explained our predicament to the guard who very kindly agreed to give us a lift back to Laksar from where we could take another train to our town.

At laksar we took a train at about 4 in the afternoon and were sure of catching the last train from Najibabad to our town at 6 p. m. We were greatly relieved when we found the train placed at the platform when we reached Najibabad. We put our trunks and bags in the last compartment of the train and got down to have a cup of tea, tired as we were. At the tea stall we ordered our tea and again went to our dream talks. We were sipping tea totally unaware of when the guard whistled and when the train left. It was I who first noticed it and cried “Sudhanshu, our train!!!” We could see the tail lamp of the going train at the last signal post.

We went to the station master and explained our situation. He promised to wire to the next station and ask the station master to request the guard to take charge of our belongings and handover to the post master at the destination. He advised us to take am bus and claim our baggage from the station master at destination.

Thankfully we reached the destination well in time and claimed our baggage fro the station master.

Such are the adventure of youth hood or may be follies.   

COLORS OF LIFE-1.WHOSE SHAWL IS THIS?

Colors of Life-1. Whose shawl is this?

My friend Professor Verma is a book lover. He was travelling from Satana to Jabalpur by a passenger train that stops at every station en route. It had only general class. The train was not crowded.  It was December and winter had set in and Prof Verma was suitably dressed for winter but still carried a shawl. He had a little suit case which he pushed under the seat and made himself comfortable at the window seat, opened his book and got engrossed in it, the shawl placed  in his lap.

Sitting opposite to Prof Verma was an elderly lady accompanied by a kid of some 6/7 years old. Being a passenger train, there were passengers boarding and getting down at every station. The kid probably was feeling a bit of cold and the lady asked Prof Verma if she could use his shawl for a while, to which he readily agreed and went back to his book.

A few stations later, Prof. Verma heard people talking about some shawl.  He paid some attention. Someone was holding his shawl . It was obvious that the lady had got down at the previous station and had put the shawl on the vacant seat next to him neatly folded. She must have spoken a few words of thanks while returning the shawl but Prof Verma being Prof Verma had not enough room for such mundane affairs of life so as to distract himself from his book. People were making their own comments. Someone was saying the some passenger might have left it behind. Realizing the situation Prof Verma tried to explain the situation and claim the shawl as a rightful owner but people started making a fun of him. “Mr. for half an hour now we have been asking whose shawl was this and nobody claimed it. Now that since no one is claiming you have come forward to take advantage of the situation and own it?” There were as many comments as many people in the cubicle but there was no one to believe Prof. Verma’s story.

Fortunately there was a ‘Sherlock Holmes’ present there. “Mr. if you say it is yours can you tell us what make is it. If you say it correctly, it is yours.”

“Oswal, Ludhiana” said Prof. Verma and it tallied with the label on the shawl. Prof Verma had a great sigh of relief when the shawl was returned to him. Things calmed down and people now were eager to listen and laugh at his expanse.

Such is the love of books!!!

 

Prof[hpl1] .   

[hpl2] 

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 [hpl1]

 [hpl2]

COLORS OF LIFE-2. WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING HERE

COLORS OF LIFE-2.WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING HERE?

·         It was an evening of thrills and turned out to be the thrill of life. It was Friday night and we friends were enjoying our drinks in a hotel room at Gwalior, owned by one of the friends. It had been raining all the day and the evening was very pleasant. Veg and non-veg snacks were doing rounds with drinks. We were all enjoying every bit of it and on the hilarious jokes of Tiwary, the forest officer. We had our fill and decided to go for a drive and return for late dinner. We all loaded ourselves on Satnam’s Jeep, the hotel owner and off we went to Bombay –Agra High Way towards Agra. We might have gone some 25 Kms and decided to return. Tiwary took on wheels. Just about 5 Kms. to the Hotel, the Jeep, in order to save an accident the Jeep skidded and was deep in the rice fields. We made all efforts to pull it back on the road but failed.

·         It was already midnight by the time we managed to return to hotel by hitch hiking on a passing truck. Hotel staff, thinking we might have had our dinner at some other place, closed the kitchen. We were hungry but there was no choice and decided to go to our places of stay.  

·         Next day evening Tiwary’s wife informed Satnam that he had not returned home. We made some more enquiries but without any clue. We decided to file a FIR with the police and narrated the whole story to them. We were feeling the guilt. Police started enquiry in their own way. This was another problem. We all were asked not to leave the town without their permission.

·         After 3 days Tiwary turns up at the Hotel in the evening. He had shaved his head fully and was in a very relaxing mood. By this time he had come to know everything from his wife. This is what he said what happened after we all dispersed on that fateful night ( in his own words.)

·         “I was feeling so hungry and didn’t want to bother my wife. I knew something must be available at the Railway station, so I went there. My head was still swinging and the effect of drinks was evident. I had a few sandwiches at the station. I enquired from  people where they going and almost everyone was going somewhere, some to Bhopal, some to Delhi and some to Agra. I realized I was the only going nowhere. I asked myself what the hell I am doing here. I boarded the train to Agra standing at the platform and went to sleep on a vacant bench. In the morning I got up at Agra and went to the forest rest house. By this time I was sober. There I decided to play a prank on you guys and did not inform any one. I wanted to enjoy the tamasa.  I got my head shaved had extensive massage for two days and relaxed. I returned this morning and my wife told me everything. I went to the police station and had the FIR withdrawn. Now I am before you. I am prepared to be hanged.”

COLORS OF LIFE-4. TO SIR WITH LOVE

COLORS OF LIFE-4. TO SIR WITH LOVE.
“Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu Gurur Devo Maheshwara,
Gurur Sakshat Para Brhma, Tasmye Shree Gurve Namah”
With these sacred feelings I resume to write a few lines about my respected ‘ Sir’. I enrolled for my Intermediate, in Moortidevi Saraswati Intermediate College(MISC) run by Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain Trust( Times of India Group) primarily because it was the only college offering Commerce and also because the institute was considered to be the best in the district. It had the distinction of 100 % success rate in Board Exams with many making to the merit list. It had well laid out complex with play ground of its own. Financial aid was available to poor students in form of uniform, books and admission fees. Additionally it was administered by Shri Ram Narayan kela, Principal , whom we affectionately called ‘ Sir’, known for his efficiency, administrative skills and impressive educational background.
As a student of course ,pretty soon it became quite obvious to me why it was considered the best. Discipline was the name of the game. The Principal was a disciplinarian to the core not only for the students but for the teachers too. The teachers were supposed to reach school at least half an hour before the scheduled time, sign the attendance register and ensure that the students behaved themselves.
Students were supposed to reach school 15 minutes before the scheduled time but in no case after the Main Gate was closed. He would place himself on a chair at the Main Gate with a Newspaper or a book in his hands. As was the custom, each student would touch his feet and silently walk to his class. Late comers would be detained at the gate, made to do some sit ups and then allowed to go to class with a promise for not to come late again. Habitual late comers were sent back home. It was heartening scene to watch the parents returning with the student, apologizing profusely. The net result was almost all students reached school well in time.
Another was about uniform. We had those Khaki shorts/pants with white shirts as uniform. The uniform had to be neat and clean, all buttoned up and no button missing, shoes properly polished, nails trimmed and hair cut, oiled and parted. Students not conforming to rules were sent back.
The town was not big then. Sir was a known figure. With his tall figure, flowing long beard, white kurta and dhoti, he could be easily spotted easily. Sir’s writ was not limited to the school walls only. He could easily recognize his student and reprimand him if found eating Chat at some stall or doing any such thing not worthy of being the student of his school.
Same thing applied about watching movies in the only movie theatre we had in the town. It was not that we did not or could not watch movies but there always was the fear of being watched by Sir. Movies, smoking, drinking and cards were strict no and considered sinful.
There was a soft side of Principal Sir too. He never used a stick or beat any student. His eyes said everything. He was very helpful too. Poor students were helped with monetary help in forms of books etc. Below average students were given extra tutorials after the school. Bright students were encouraged and rewarded with books and testimonials. A few of us were even allowed to teach the junior classes in the absence of the teacher.
It goes to the credit of Sir that students did shramdan (donation of labor). We used to clean the play ground and move the bricks and other construction materials to the construction site. Though there was no way we could refuge but the way we were asked and motivated to do such jobs was always a pleasure and satisfying experience.
It was said that he did have a family but they did not live with them. His wife probably could not coup up with his dedication for his work at the school that went from Primary School to become an Intermediate College in the district because of his untiring efforts and commendable results.
He was also closed to the trustees of the school. He would, as the students from the family informed us, spend his evenings with the elders of the family. His meals also came from there only. The one secret about him we could never digest was his love for Movies. He would almost watch every movie with the elders of the family in the late night shows, as informed by the students from the family.
It was our final year and exams were round the corner. The day of reckoning came when one fateful night we went to watch the late night show and saw “Sir’ sitting in the balcony during the interval. He too probably saw us. We slipped in the darkness after the interval. We were scared to go to school next day but there was no option. Nothing really happened. Ay the prayer assembly, he was there as usual. Again as usual, we waited for his speech. He told us about the coming exams and how we should use our time to secure maximum marks. He ended with saying that he was pained when he saw some of the bright students watching movies and advising that we should not be over confident.
Such was my Sir. You were as human as anyone else but there was something special about you. We are proud of you. You made our life.

BOTH RICH AND POOR NEED PEACE BUT FOR DIFFERENT REASONS

BOTH RICH AND POOR NEED PEACE BUT FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
Humans are broadly divided between rich and poor irrespective of cast, creed and color. There is however one thing in common. Both need peace but for different reasons
Poor people need food and shelter for peace. Food and shelter is the basic problem of the poor. They will go to any extent to have these basic requirements even at the cost of disturbing peace. Peace has little meaning for them if their basic requirements are not met. For them peace is food and shelter. Peace for them starts with food and shelter and ends up with food and shelter. They are at peace once these basic requirements are met till their aspirations climb up to ask for more. It will be hard to expect peaceful behavior from them if they are hungry and without a roof on their heads. In order to maintain peace it is therefore the responsibility of the Governments to ensure that these basic requirements of each citizen are met in full and in time at a reasonable cost. The recent disturbances in Britain are the clear indicators of poor people disturbing peace for food and shelter. When poor people are dragged to deprivation, desperation takes over and desperation leads to destruction.
On the contrary, rich people need peace despite having no problem on account of food and shelter. They need peace to protect their food riches. They have everything but crave for peace. For them food and shelter only are not enough. They need more and therefore disturb others’ peace. Probably they are under constant fear of losing everything what they have and thus peace deludes them. Most of their time and energy goes into adding more to their riches and protecting the same. The fear of falling from the top brings the worst in them. The typical examples are wars between nations engineered by the rich and the powerful to fill in their coffers. Many wars have been fought and many more will be fought for the oil fields of the Middle East or for the natural resources of African nations
The rich use all methods of exploitation of the poor and hope that peace will prevail. They live in a fancy notion of having peace for themselves and believing that if they are at peace the whole world is at peace. They forget that outside every big mansion are scattered slums ready to pounce any time for their basic requirements of food and shelter.
And this is only the beginning. Peoples’ aspirations rise once their basic requirements are met. A poor sales person manning the cash register at Wall Mart or any other Shopping Mall will aspire to have those very items he sells. He/she will try to get them with honest ways but if opportunity provides will not hesitate to loot and thus disturb peace. This is what exactly disintegrated Soviet Russia. The power to be there thought of peace was guaranteed because they had ensured food and shelter and clothing for everybody and nothing more is required to be done. They forgot that people aspirations are rising and they want to have all those things what others are having.
It therefore appears that peace is the need for all but for different reasons. Poor people need food and shelter for peace and rich people need peace despite having food and shelter. It is equally necessary to bridge the poor –rich divide so that the person on the lower floor is not apprehensive of the person on the upper floor and vise versa.