In this country, where respect for women and children once bordered on reverence…
I wonder - while there are vans scanning cities for stray dogs to grab and sterilize; people have the right to reproduce like it were their life’s only mission and then send the bi-products away with a price tag.
I’m at a signal now, seated in my car trying hard to ignore the lady who’s banging on my window, child in hand; I steal a glance at the creature that lies within, crumpled and quiet; hardly breathing.
I have seen them before - babies hung on shoulders, stung by the scorching sun; young children breaking bricks with hands that can write construct and create. And that’s if you’re lucky enough to be born male.
If she’s not thrown into the lake or strangled or poisoned the minute she is born, if she hasn’t died of sunburns before she can say “ma”, if she hasn’t had a leg torn off for effective begging, she is prone to the worst kind of damage.
Dance bars must be licensed – prostitutes have the right to pursue what they want to. When you were 5 wasn’t your greatest ambition to be a postman? These incorrigible illiterates – these heartless people - this absolutely irresponsible Government. Pah.
I shake my head in absolute disgust. But then there is this meeting to attend – I have an assignment to complete before my clients return from their holiday at the Bahamas. After all I contribute to the country’s GDP; I help the country through technology and progress.
And so I urge the driver to speed up, away from that miniature hand dangling lifelessly out of a bag.
PS:
The Government of India through the Indian Council of Child Welfare, Tamilnadu (ICCW), the Don Bosco Anbu Illam and four significant working partners: World Vision, Nessakkaram, Guild Of Service and Asian Youth Centre, has established Childline 1098.
Call 1098 or 04426260097 to help a child in any form of distress (folks from out of Chennai can do a Google on Childline.) Every call is handled with tremendous enthusiasm; false alarms are attended to - and forgiven. Most importantly – your presence/signature is not required once you’ve reported an issue.
Let’s make liberal use of it – it’s the least we can do.
About Me
- Anjana
- He stepped down, trying not to look long at her, As if she were the sun, Yet he saw her, like the sun, Even without looking. -Leo Tolstoy, Anna Kerenina
9 comments:
Dude ... Do u actually have to be so feminist all the time ... I mean - this is not the 15th century you know, where women were considered to objects of lust and nothing more than that!
I just read a couple of posts of yours, and immaterial of what or where you start off with - you ultimately end up pointing out that women are the oppressed class, and worse - than men enjoy a lot of freedom and facilities and luxuries, all thanks a little thing down south!!!
I say - YOU'RE NOT BEING FAIR !!!
Try living a mans life - it ain't all rosy as u think it is !!!
hey,
That was a thoughtful one. But the point is how far are these anbu illam go... Mere answering the call and probably make one step further in find the kid is what they can do. I feel that the best way to react to this is to speak a little harsh to those how beg with kid by her side and question them why they beg when there are ashrams to look after ids and plenty of daily wages jobs around to earn their living... I believe that only a small group of people are really unfortunate and they have no other choice than begging.
Sharath, Atomic - point taken :)
A few corrections though - Sharath, none of the write-ups are feminist. Read again!
And Atomic, I don't see how much of a difference yelling away at them will make. I speak from experience :(
i do agree with you to an extent. but the fact of the matter is things are changing. and its not goin to change overnight.there were days when women were oppressed to a greater degree than what they are presently.. not long ago wud women ve been riduculed for their thoughts and comments..but its a different country now.we hav a women president.
but is this all in the right direction?? i doubt so.jus havin a women president or quota in the parliament doesn take things in the right direction.. what we reall need is someone who can be a real leader , dynamic and strong.. if just one of them could arise and hold their head then things would change far more faster..
but havin said that most of the ppl that u see in signals are jus ppl who treat it as a day to day routine..babies on their shoulders aren;' theirs moslty..therez a big chain that goes abt doin it... and that can be eradicated only with strict laws...
and thirdly abt the child welfare..i wud agree with 'atomic' s commments... i m not sure how far do these really go in depth..but if you are seriously considering helpin under privilged children i wud suggest help"Pudiyadhor" started by our own crescent students... they r doin such a fabulous job.. wish i cud be part of it... but u or ny of ur friends if ur unaware of this organization (which i think u know abt its proceedings) u can contact nithya of ur comp sc class. gud luck on whatever u do.
i think ur second email has jus prompted me to dig into ur blog...nyway gud job...keep bloggin.
Well ... You wouldn't think of it as feminist - cause ur being feminist !!!
Try to look at it from an impartial 3rd parties perspective - and you will see what I mean!
Hey, Thanks for the info on the child protection. Was just reading about it yesterday in the news! Of course, by the time this catches up (as I am sure it will eventually) with similar services in the "Advanced" countries, it will be a while!
Still, small steps are always the way to go...
-Jay
Always a pleasure reading your blog!
The Universal truth is Women are always the weaker sex...
A small piece of parchment can bring about so many angles - thanks folks!
Harvind Pudiyador has made waves - it's been respected in corporate social initiatives of some real gud companies as well. Thanks for bringing that out here - people who do a great job sure need to be given due appreciation! And as far as depth is concerned, I prefer to trust :)
Sharath - it is true that infanticide and prostitution are problems most often associated with women. We cannot generalize all men as victimizers or worse, all women as victims - I couldn't agree with yu more on dat!
Thanks for the response anna - it's real sad but changes always take time :( Lets hope to God we all get to contribute in our own way as well.
Vivek - thanks for the compliment - in many ways, yes and in some ways no. But in many ways, yes women are the weaker sex.
Post a Comment