Plight of Indian Women

I come from a middle-class open-minded family, my family always imbibed in me the principals of equality between men and women. It was only after i got into a job, i started gaining exposure to the outside world and i realize some or the other way, we females are considered a "commodity". I am writing this blog in lot of anger and dissipation to see how India is failing to transform itself.

India is a powerful country in terms of the brains we give to the world, in terms of our values and principles. But, then i see the facts which just make me bow my head with shame : male - female ratio being skewed especially in states like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan. Everytime, i tune in to a news channel, i come across injustice , crime incidents with girls.

Few years back - Jessica Lal, Arushi's case, Aruna Shanbaug ..

(source : News articles - Indian Express)

2010 - Around 480 Rape Cases in India

2011- 40 rape cases in mere 2 months, NCR being the leader in arena ...

(source: IBN Live)

• Women Day's (8th March) top news - Radhika Tanwar shot dead in public place just because she refused to get in to a relationship with a stalker ?
• 9th March , 77 - yr old lady being raped by rickshaw puller in daytime again in our Capital.
• 15th March, deadbody of 25 yr old girl found in a briefcase at mumbai railway station.
• and these are just the major ones...

I feel ashamed and scared at the same place. Years have passed, but alas no change in Indian Society.. Is this the value of an Indian Woman ?

Then, i sit back and realize; we are the "youth of India" and its our homeland. To Clean up the mess, its "us" who have to take few steps. I wont say we should pick a brick and hit the ministry of defense or something. But i perceive, we all can contribute in small but fruitful ways to change the game.

• I dont want to talk about politics, i am not the right person to comment on it. But yes, if we have some rules and regulations which are so strict that the next time any educated or illiterate person attempts to harass a girl, he should think twice .
• At the same time, i request every woman not to stay quiet, if she is being harassed by any means. Dont bother about society, about peer pressures. If you realize its building on you, raise the voice. We have full right to protest and live a life of deginity. If we can give 500% of love, be a mom, be a daughter, we do have a right to live life with some self - respect !!
• Female infanticide is a crime. I understand this blog cant be read by illiterates (obviously) , but the message can be followed and simultaneously conveyed to uneducated maids, the Washer-women, and so on (which i understand is the segment still following it). Atleast, we can make the world aware about stuff. Movies like "Lajja" have done a fab job to awaken the people, but folks the ratio remains skewed.
• Lastly, i request men, please dont accept things quietly, if things are happening in front of you.I dont say accept everything (i totally love the fact, men think more from head than heart and women vice versa, which is the essence of a companionship for a balanced relation) . But my request to all the guys is, Try to realize a girl leaves every relation to settle down with you, which i suppose is hardest in the world. Only thing, she expects is a little regard, love and acceptance.

I dedicate this blog to all the women esp my ex-maid who left everything and had to go back to her parents after 5 years of traumatic married life (Miss u Seema - Aunty) , my ex-Team Lead , who after 10 years of consistent physical abuse went down with nervous breakdown and today has finally stood up for herself and her 8 year old son . And also to all the women out there, who feel helpless looking at the things happening around them but cant do much but sigh at times !!

Please feel free to add actionable points which you think can be used in to improvise the present circumstances and which "Mango"-people can adopt !!

One of the all time favorite Motivational Poems ..

"When Things Go Wrong"

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit-
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a fellow turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow -
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out -
The silver tint in the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It might be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

-- Old Poem, dnt remember the name of the poet.. but always loved it !!

Few Things i want to do before i die...

Yea yea.. I confess this blog is inspired from movies like Dasvidhania , totally appreciate such thoughtful movies, which make you sit back and think how to make most of this precious birth . More than anyone else, this blog is for myself so when i revisit this after regular intervals, i try to evaluate myself on the goals.

Checklist of things i wana do before i die:

1. World Trip .. Really wish to go on a world tour specially covering Europe (Venice, Zurich,Paris-hot in my checklist) , Singapore (once more), Australia, China- atleast once!! atmost - no count at all....
2. MBA ..Once more if possible.. First MBA was a most memorable stint.. Wana relive it !! Ameen!!
3. Be a founder member of a business (mid-tier venture) with few NGO Alliances. Waiting for the right time to hit the shot !!
4. Get rid of my fears: Swimming, Heights, Speed (Quite done with this one.. have started loving "driving @ 120 kmph" on highways) , Target to cover Swimming factor this summer ! Still evaluating options for Heights.
5. Perform on a punjabi number in a descent dance show, winning would be a bonus : with audience size atleast 1500. So far, achieved audience size of 200+
6. Live those lovely moments with love and passion. Problem is: I appreciate beauty in all forms, waiting for someone to appreciate mine too... Just kidding :P
7. Paint an entire wall in my bedroom, Quite achievable once i have my own place .. bhagwan ji when will this happen!!

Guess this is just what i can think of right now, i know there is lot more than this... Hopefully, when i revisit next, i have had achieved more than my thoughts.

So Guys, go on.. sit back and decide what you are and what all you would like to do before you die.... :)