A train screeched into the station filling the platform with a sudden burst of activity as a throng of people staggered out of the train. I spotted a good friend in the crowd that just alighted the train and stood up hurriedly stuffing the long, fragrant strand of jasmine into my bag. I walked towards her as the train slowly made its way out of the station, chugging and groaning under the weight of the enormous crowd that thronged its coaches, a jumble of figures hanging off even from the sideboards.
I didn’t notice the hand that reached out from inside a compartment, as the train moved, to hit hard at my friend who was walking towards me, yet near enough to the train to receive the blow on her back, too stunned and shocked to respond. The people around her reacted, hurling abuses at the assaulter, as I saw a glimpse of his face, grinning with the apparent pleasure as he looked back from the train, which had left the platform by now. The face of a young boy, not more than 18, with a wicked smile, not a tinge of regret on that smiling face.
I walked out of the station, a million questions on my mind. Even as we cruise ahead in the 21st century , and women rub shoulders with men every day , rise to hold every position in administration , politics and education , why does this base instinct surface in our society?
Don’t women have the right to hold her own dignity and expect respectful treatment in public places?
Doesn’t she have the freedom to choose her principles and define her philosophies without being chastised by the world around her?
Why is it that stifling ideologies are imposed on a woman in every aspect of her life, right to her appearance?
Why are the limits of freedom different for men and women?
I can only wistfully wish for a society free of such loathsome attitude towards women, for the grotesque reality before makes my heart beat harder for the little children that I see , the little girls with twinkling eyes who are to grow up to face and experience the frustration of being sidelined and disrespected in the insane system of today.
In the wake of Women’s day, let us strive for this insane discrimination to be removed, and stand up for our rights and our freedom. If only for a better world for the future...
And so dear society ,
" Now you understand Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing It ought to make you proud
Cause I'm a woman Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman, That’s me. "
PS : The passage from Maya Angelou's poem Phenomenal Woman.
8 comments:
now this is all for arguments sake and not my view on things- ok why did women in the first place let themselves to be projected as the weaker sex? everytime women cry foul that men stifle them,but why did they let them selves to be?.. coz it was easier? and now when women want to break equal..why do they expect men to just give away and help women? and doesnt that undermine your victory in the end if women did break even. wont be best that women fight alone and break free? why do they always expect help? and havent you heard the line am a girl cant do this.. or looking around for help just coz she knows she can get men to help.. easier way out.. and if the guy had hit another guy , that would be accident. this instance you give is fine,but many instances are just given gender twist without having any gender motives. and for quite some time men have been projected as the stronger sex even if its not always true. why would they just let go of the tag? they will fight and try to hold on. crying foul doesnt help. fighting back does. and when you fight back see who says that your not a woman.. it wont be a guy for sure. most of the places i have seen one woman supplanting another. so fight united and then lets see where that goes..free
one tight slap!! is all that guy deserved and atleast people in compartment should have done that
What you saw is not just man against woman; it is the strong against the weak. Aren't similar or worse instances of injustice happening all around us? The perpetrators of dowry deaths are women ( ma in-law) rather than men. The particular instance you described is the brutal nature; that is the real nature of humanity. Look at all the violence and crime and deception around us - women just happen to be physically weaker and are therefore victims in many cases. Would you say that womanhood as a whole are saintly? Deception and wanton cruelty is the nature of the true ape. Those like us who rage against injustice too have the same nature, maybe in a lesser degree.
What I said does not reduce the insult and humiliation that your friend suffered. Act against such injustice, but without anger and bitterness.
@ Soin
It is beyond debate that women are physically weaker. And so in some cases , we are justified in saying that "am a girl , cant do this " .
And yes, you are right...fighting back helps..
And we are fighting , for our right to be treated with dignity.
Pink Chaddy campaign is but one example of this fight in recent times.
@ Ani
He does..but then again , such a yound boy. Why is his moralities so skewed at such an teenage ? Who is to blame?
@ Mr B
But of course , we all have a baser nature. But isn't the very meaning of the word civilization mastery over our lesser selves..
Like you said , discrimination and fight of weak against the strong is everywhere..
All i ask for is awakening of that spirit in us that helps us be civilized. Awakening of that consciousness that realizes all living beings to be fundamentally the same and acknowledges the right of every man and woman for a dignified existence.
It is hopeless. But always try to give it back, this time the train had left... better luck next time.The action should come as reflex. Recently at the beach, at sunset i was enjoying with kids and many were playing in the waters. You know a different touch anytime- and this time I picked him out of water and save him one sock as he squirmed out of my hands. And he was at least 10 years younger to me. People just look on like dumbos usually. This time couple of girls were happy i hit him, said he had been acting funny for some time.
Downright disgusting. That's what 'such' people are. And these loathsome people are the nothing-no-bar category. It just has to be a scare crow image of a girl. Let's never give up this fight.
How did I miss commenting on this post?
OK first off, that guy on the train was an idiot. He should seriously get his weenie chopped off because it has no meaning.
Women never accepted their place as the weaker sex. I do not believe that women are physically weaker either. Not inherently. We have evolved into being weaker physically because of years and years of that belief being drilled into our minds. In order for us to not be weak, we need to believe that we can be stronger first. Try raising a young girl by teaching her how to fight using the same difficulty levels as a guy or even nearly the same levels and the results will surprise you.
@18 people get married and they're entitled to have sex legally and vote legally. This boy should know better than to do such a disgusting thing. I don't think his attitude should be spared considering his age.
I hate such people. And I am glad there are women who will never chastise me for what I believe in. Thank god for that sense of feminism.
Not anything new, happens all the time... just that women have to kick ass if it happens... I can't say soin is wrong, or swati is wrong... everybody is entitled to their opinion and I agree with both of theirs... personally, weenie chopping seems too filmi :))
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