Being Born as a Woman

Being born a woman
Born of a woman
Having borne a woman
Can she be a woe!

Educate her
Treat her well
Respect her
She will respect others

Cherish the woman
Nourish her body
Nurture her mind
And you create wealth

This simple equation
Lost in translation
The only consideration
The dowry calculation

A child bearing machine
To carry only men
An unpaid worker
Her role only in the kitchen

Locked up in the house
How will she then show
What she is capable of
If you don't let her grow!

Open your minds
See the world around
Woman is in space
But she has no place!

In your heart
In your hearth
At your feet
You trample ruthlessly!

You are not cursed
Because you have a girl
She is the one
Cursed to be born to you!

Fallen Leaves

Aged, dried,
Unable to cling on
Discarded leaves
Their life gone

They had been green too
Once upon a time
Providing others shade
And the tree some food

Yellowing and useless
They fall in the light breeze
To be crushed under
Hurriedly walking feet

Raked up and bundled
Shoved to a corner
To be burnt brutally
And then forgotten forever

But the ones that escape
Have a purpose to fulfill
Making the dry ground
Like soft bedding.

In Two

Strange is the heart
Split into two halves

Elated on one hand
Hurt for another part

Celebrating, one moment
Then turning sour!

I wonder when
The thought crept in

Is it worth it, I ask
It replies, not at all

And yet it clings
To that which singes

Breathe in deep
Meditate on good

Let the joy wash over
Dip in deep and swim

Distractions galore
And yet that thorn

Tears the little heart
Into two equal halves.

Sane Advice

I went for an unexpected meeting with a government department on some prospective work. Two senior doctors walked in as this was a health department. I was introduced as a journalist.

I like to make myself scarce at such times. My instinct was the same this time too, and though the person I went to meet tried to clarify this, the doctor didn't choose to hear.

He told me, "Please don't highlight only the negatives. There are many good things happening in the country, but they get hidden away in small paras. By writing only about the negative things, we give the impression as if there is nothing good about this country."

I smiled. "What is good about this country?" was the first question that came to my mind. But then I thought - wait. That's what the papers tell me. And yet, the man I came to meet was telling me passionately about one of the schemes that had taken sweat and toil to implement. He sounded passionate and proud of the achievement. Maybe, writing about it will not be breaking news. But yes, no one will get to know that there are people who are working too! There is no sensation in that! Only scams give us something to talk about.

The doctor went on to explain, "I can make money by doing anything as a doctor. But I must take care. A journalist's job is just as important. Don't write only to make money."

Well, doctor...that's a thought.

Imitating the Waves

The moon was golden as it rose from the Bay of Bengal. The waves, green and blue and white, foaming as they touched the brown sand. The breeze blew pleasantly, neither cold not warm... Just perfect to soothe.

A small stage, two dancers, ready to show their mettle to a select guest of a leading IT company.

The guests were delayed, but the moon climbed, not waiting for anyone. The reflection in the waters danced and the sea rippled gently, not in a hurry either, but not resting either.

The lights came on, and a sitar player took the stage, mellifluously building the mood for a half hour of cultural showcasing.

Then came the two dancers, their costume pleats ballooning in the breeze like a sail.

There is nothing to match the joy of dancing in the open, on the seashore, under the sky, the moon and the stars... With the cosmos as the witness, a million stars for audience, do a handful of mortals matter?

Aspiration

Rathna walked back to her seat with a glow on her face that was difficult to miss. She had won the best scriptwriter award this year - the best debut.

She accepted the congratulations gracefully, even looked at the other nominees and smiled. Didn't she know what it felt like to be rejected? Her own hurt was still fresh, though it had happened many years back.

She had been so hopeful of getting through the premium engineering institution that she had let her board marks slip just a bit... Not that she had a say in the matter, but that's how it had panned out. "Such an intelligent girl! She will get it definitely!" Didn't everyone encourage her with these words? And then she had missed it.

Of course, she should have guessed the result even on completing the entrance exam, but she had held on to hope. Not getting through was bad enough, but when she applied in other colleges, she was not given admission in BSc Math! Physics, Chemistry, Bio... no luck... Sorry... No vacancy!

She couldn't show her face anywhere. She kept trying, hoping for last minute admission. She kept track of when there was a vacancy in any of the BSc streams, but there always seemed to be one more candidate to fit the bill.

The first six months of her first year BA History was spent in pursuing a BSc seat, with all her neighbours and friends assuring her - "Just wait. I have told my friend, who knows someone who knows the principal. Something is bound to happen." Suddenly, it was not about her capability, but that of the acquaintance's in being able to pull off a favour.

How miserable she had been. And then, after six months, she had to swallow the bitter pill of disappointment. "Too late ma, we should have gone to them earlier..." the rest told her regretfully...

She had settled with difficulty and just scraped through in first year. Years 2 and 3 weren't so bad as she made friends and even started enjoying history.

So much so that she wrote a historical play on Chanakya - creating a character like him for modern times. And that had gone on to win critical recognition among the playwrights and theatre personalities. Then was made into a movie. Five years after the debacle of being rejected for BSc, she felt vindicated.

She was capable. So what if it was not in getting admission into science? Her star was meant to shine elsewhere.

Now, she knew, there was no looking back as new ideas squirmed in her head, bursting to emerge into full-fledged plays.

The Watery Vacation

It was a weekend of water and birds. Though the birds seem to have gone back and could be seen only in small numbers, just being next to the calm waters, wooded banks and amidst the birds was very relaxing.

Children did get a bit fed up. "Not the same birds again!" they exclaimed... But as the sun started setting, there was much excitement and laughter. The good roads made driving a pleasure in itself.

And then we found the lake with green grass that seemed like a haven away from the bustling city life. Except for the three men who seemed intent on having a drink party in the middle of the afternoon. Though they were quiet, we probably spoiled their mood by going there out of the blue at a time when no one was expected.

Surprisingly, one of the children also felt scared of all the water and wanted to be carried uncharacteristically! But at another spot on the way back home, he managed to perk up and enjoy watching the birds through the binoculars.

What is it about the water that calms one so! The gentle breeze made me wish I could picnic there, thus enjoying the setting a bit more.

More importantly, I am so glad to have journeyed to these places. Calm is never very far if we take the trouble to get away from our routines. It was also heartening to note that there are places where nature still has a sway.