No one can argue about India's developmental status; India is well and truly a developing country well on it's way to becoming a world leader in almost every sector. The world's take and outlook on in India is changing for the better with every passing day. But what of the Indian mentality? How much have we improved from the dark days of sati?
India had almost every single social evil ruining it up until the late 19th and early 20th century. Even the Father of the nation and the current PM of India were victims of child marriage. The earlier 'untouchables' were given a newfound sense of freedom during India's struggle for Independence. Women too have come a long way, culminating in a Female leader of the Nation. (Prathibha Patil from 2007-12) But we should ask ourselves the question, have we come forward enough? The answer to that would be a profound no, at least in my opinion.
Where is the point in curbing child marriage if one's parent is still going to decide who their child will marry?
What's the point in giving education to girls if her father is to decide what she is going to learn? What is the point in abolishing the caste system if one is not going to be willing to marry outside of his /her caste?
What is the point of electing a Govt. if they are not even having the minimum knowledge to represent the country? What is the point in talking up development if you still are going to cast your vote for the party you support?
It is high time we really rethink what we are actually doing. Before one arranges a groom for his/her daughter, ask yourself the question shouldn't she be the one to decide who she lives with for the rest of her life? For all those who argue that the same was done to them, just recollect how you felt when you were denied a say in what should really have been your choice.
I have had friends who have argued about how they could choose the groom, only if he is to be from her own community. Let me tell you, that is bonkers. Where is your freedom if they are restricting your choices into a limited few? Think of the time you may have to reject a boy whom you really like, just because your parents won't approve. Ask yourself whether your parents really love you if they deny you the chance to be with someone, because of his/her social status. Where is the sense of empowerment that you demand if you can't even stand up against your own parents?
One can definitely question an average Indian boy's mentality as well. We have boys questioning a girl's dressing all the while enjoying watching them. What is the point in acting innocent? Be honest, not just with others but yourself as well.
There is no point in criticizing a girl when it is your mind that is to be cleansed. I have met people who say they support intercaste and inter-religion marriages but aren't willing to marry an opposing caste member themselves. I can't think of a better term other than hypocrite to describe you all. One is being a hypocrite when he is ashamed of a girl who uses expletives, he's bound to have friends who cuss a million times more.
Every time one visits a temple we find people neglecting the needy who beg outside the temples and depositing tens and thousands for the temple. People spend liters of milk for puja and render them useless, while million die through malnutrition every year. There may be mafias acting behind those beggars but do realize that there are genuinely needy among them too.
What is the point of faith if you are going to forget the humanity in the process? If one is still going to neglect the needy and waste your money on his own faith, I don't think his own god would want to save his soul.
What is the point of faith if you are going to forget the humanity in the process? If one is still going to neglect the needy and waste your money on his own faith, I don't think his own god would want to save his soul.
For all those who raise their voice for gender equality and feminism. Let me ask you something are you discriminated by the Constitution in any way? No.
Then why behold? Raise your voice against those who oppress you, against those who deny you your Constitutional rights, shame those who try to harass you. In this age of social media, one can come with a million ways to act against them. If someone teases you, put up his photo on social media as a shameless coward. If you can't consider yourself equal to any male and act accordingly, no amount of empowerment programs are going to help you. There is no point in shouting about feminism on facebook if you are going to cry when you face an angry teacher. The sense of empowerment should arise from within. If one is denied her chance, she should create their own. Do remember that there wasn't any program to support Amelia Earhart or Helen Keller when they grew up.
Then why behold? Raise your voice against those who oppress you, against those who deny you your Constitutional rights, shame those who try to harass you. In this age of social media, one can come with a million ways to act against them. If someone teases you, put up his photo on social media as a shameless coward. If you can't consider yourself equal to any male and act accordingly, no amount of empowerment programs are going to help you. There is no point in shouting about feminism on facebook if you are going to cry when you face an angry teacher. The sense of empowerment should arise from within. If one is denied her chance, she should create their own. Do remember that there wasn't any program to support Amelia Earhart or Helen Keller when they grew up.
Indian's action on social media too should be questioned as well. Everyone was ready to tear into Maria Sharapova when she remarked, "who is Sachin?".Perhaps one could ask Kohli or Dhoni who 'Andre Arshavin' is and then react.
Had Keralite's taken up the recent rape case of Jisha in the same vein as #pomonemodi , she would probably have had justice by now. One should ask himself how educated they really are when they share pictures of humanity and environmentalism but refuse to act upon it. One could question their own morality when they refuse to take part in a beneficial program just because it was proposed by an opposing faction.
Had Keralite's taken up the recent rape case of Jisha in the same vein as #pomonemodi , she would probably have had justice by now. One should ask himself how educated they really are when they share pictures of humanity and environmentalism but refuse to act upon it. One could question their own morality when they refuse to take part in a beneficial program just because it was proposed by an opposing faction.
Finally, If you don't agree with what I am pointing out here, let me tell you this, I don't give a damn, this is just a young Indian exercising his right of freedom of thought and expression.
-GT
No comments:
Post a Comment