Short story series. Human Touch.

The Human Touch.

I was sitting in the balcony admiring the sunset with its beautiful hues of the orange sky,  that enchants the creative human eyes. I was in complete awe of nature’s beauty and its sincere service to the world which is done in silent contemplation, with its full potential and selfless existence. I have always been very close to nature because I felt that it was only the nature or the superpower that could understand me and give me solace. Rest of the world was as if against me. Opposing my existence, forbidding me my rights. At times I felt lost in the complex world.

It had been a hectic day. I had gone for the Marathon run in the morning, after that my work schedule at the NGO, I worked for, and the entire afternoon I was busy with my PRO job at the Mckensy’s. It was a busy day indeed, but quite satisfying and joyful, as I spent my time for some special purpose. I am a person who loves doing things for others, to help people, to do meaningful social work. And that is why I joined the NGO. I believed in giving some meaning to life.

I am in my 25^th year, enjoying life at its best, and in love with a handsome colleague, Rohan. He loves me and cares for me. He is my complete support system.  He is by me in every thick and thin I faced in the five years of our relationship. My mind went back to the memory of a dilemma and turmoil I was in.

That day I was feeling a bit low and depressed over the agitations that were going on outside my house since about a week.  The dilemma was that I was born with two hearts beating in my chest. A rare thing to happen, but true to the core. Initially, the doctors were not sure whether I would survive with two hearts pumping inside a tiny body. But I grew up to be a beautiful and healthy girl and completely fit. My case had always been a centre of attention and controversy. Different people reacted differently to it. As years passed by a strange situation arose and people started demanding one heart from me to be donated. It sounded absurd to me. Donate my heart?!! How weird. I could not digest the thought of it. Simply unacceptable. I would get nervous, upset and agitated at the thought of cutting off a precious organ from my body. I shuddered at the thought. Then one day my mother tried to discuss about it with me.

‘Are you sure, Rhea?  asks my mother.

‘Of course I’m. Survival of the fittest, mother. I am not going against Darwin. Also I don’t want unnecessary scars on my body.’

It’s a known fact that we all are born to die. And frankly, I don’t understand why it has to be made into such a big deal. If it were not for my mother I would have said that to the bunch of people outside my house, some of them with young kids, shouting slogans, waving placards, literally wanting me to cut one of my beating hearts out.

“Save A Life. Donate!” they shout.

For someone who is in billions, 7.125 billion to be exact, I expect to be treated better. Scientists are still befuddled regarding my condition that gave me two hearts in my mother’s womb. But years of research and sticking needles into me have led them nowhere, and they have labeled me as a freak mutation. It’s so rare- literally one in all humankind- that they didn’t even name the anomaly (as they call it, I will call awesomeness). I wanted to name the condition myself, something in the lines of Rhea’s Hearts awesome, but the doctors aren’t thrilled with the suggestion. Instead they want to cut one of them out and save a life. Huh?

An IQ of 180, increased concentration, exceptional athleticism and phenomenal metabolism rate- are just the few boring benefits of an increased blood circulation. Why would I ever give that up?

Mother was neutral in her views. She did not force me for anything. She told me it was my choice. But for her a humanistic approach also mattered. I was adamant. I knew it was a great job to donate a heart and save a life. But then, I was not even responsible for any other life. I had not taken it from anyone. God had given me two hearts. Then why should I part from it?

Just then Rohan came home. He could make out my clumsy mood and suggested that we go out for dinner for a change. It was a good idea, but I feared being surrounded by media if I went out. My life had become very depressing in the last week. Everywhere I went I was followed by some media persons, and strange or rather irritating questions were asked. I told Rohan to drop the idea. He understood the reason and told me that we were going to a place where no one would follow. My mother also agreed and off we went to his house, where I could be peaceful and fearless.

‘Rohan, what stupidity is this? Why am I being made a target of controversy? Don’t I have the right to live my life as I wish?’ I questioned aimlessly, lost in my thoughts.

‘It’s Ok, dear. Forget it. We are here to change your mood. Don’t keep on thinking about it.’ He tried to console me.

He brought me a soft drink and we sat on the moonlit porch. Cool breeze, quiet cozy environment. It was a lovely garden house he lived in. I just loved its peaceful ambience. He handed me the glass and bent forward to kiss my forehead.

‘Relax, Dear!’  he said.  I felt better and relieved. He sat down beside me.

‘OK, what will you have for dinner? Let me tell you I have brought fresh fish, some chicken mince, fresh mushrooms and broccoli. All your favourite things. What would you like to have tonight?’ he asked.

‘Anything will do,’ I said absentmindedly.

On seeing my condition he came closer, gave me a tight hug.

‘Rhea, are you going to be here, in this moment? Are you going to accompany me on this beautiful night or should I drop you home?’ he sounded a bit offended.

 I immediately came to my senses. Acknowledging how he was trying to help me to come out of the situation. And I immediately apologized and tried t change my mood.  We had a wonderful dinner of grilled fish and mushrooms, mince cutlets and sautéed broccoli deliciously cooked by his maid. It was fantastic. I felt so good and happy being with him. After dinner he gave me a small gift, expressing his love for me, when we were sitting under the starlit sky. I was touched by his loving gesture.  At the same time I felt guilty. He was doing so much for me. And what was I doing?  I was only making excuses and delaying our marriage, because I was lost in this strange situation, where I was made a social target.  People were making my life difficult and I was not able to analyze the situation or make a decision, nor was I coming out of it. My work, my life, my relationship were at stake, just because people wanted my heart. How absurd!!

I stood there with the gift in my hand, with tears in my eyes that were constantly rolling down my cheeks, staring constantly at Rohan’s delightful countenance. And there he was to whom nothing else mattered as long as I was with him. I stood there silently, then I moved towards him, closer, looking into his eyes, I broke down. He held me close to him, without uttering a word. I said, ‘Rohan, please help me, I don’t know how to handle this situation. I don’t want to cut off my heart. I want to be one whole, complete self. I don’t know what to do. On one side is my body and on the other side is humanity. What should I do?’ and I was sobbing in between my words. He held me tight for some time. Then slowly, softly he said, ‘Do you trust me? Will you let me handle the situation without any excuses or arguments? Will you do and accept whatever I say?’

I nodded between my sobs. He kissed me and made me sit down, and softly said, ‘Wait for tomorrow morning.’                  I was anxious, what was going to happen the next morning. Seeing my quizzical look, he smiled and said, ‘Didn’t you say you trust me? Then be patient.’

I felt really good. My mood had changed completely after that because I trusted him. He always had easy solutions for the most difficult problems. He was my lucky mascot. He dropped me home and promised to come over early next morning. I slept peacefully that night.

Around 9 am. When the crowd outside my house had started shouting slogans, Rohan stepped out and gestured them to be quiet. He was going to say something. He stood there before them, a crowd of more than hundred people and the media persons, he stood fearlessly and most confident. He said,

‘I am Rohan Kapoor, Rhea’s fiancé. I am here to make an announcement that might be of interest to you all. Rhea and I are getting married next week as I have to go abroad next month. And I wish to take her along with me as my legitimate wife because my mother is awaiting both of us there. It is really sad that she will now not be able to donate any of her body parts as I am eager to start my family soon. I would not approve her of any major physical operation. I hope that has made everything clear. And from now onwards I expect co operation from you all. Please do not disturb Rhea anymore, as she too has a right to live her life on her own terms. We do understand the humanistic view and we promise to help people in whatever possible way we can do. So please excuse us and do not hold any such campaigns outside the house. I am really thankful to you all for listening to me peacefully. Thank you.’

There was complete silence. The people quietly dispersed. I was just blank. There were no more slogans or shouting. I could not imagine. Such a simple solution, which I never thought of. In all this confusion I had pushed my marriage to the backseat. Unnecessarily worrying about what would happen to me if my heart was cut out. How would I survive, and all the stupid thoughts connected to it. But I could not think that my marriage could bring such a simple solution as I also had a right to live my life on my will.

I was so happy. I was finally relieved of all the mental torture or self proclaimed stress that I was going through. I had never faced such helplessness in my life. But this situation shook me.

The ringtone on my mobile, ‘Careless whisper’, brought me back to my present. It was Rohan at the other end. Our tickets for United States had arrived and we were to fly next Monday. I felt the cool evening breeze, sitting in the balcony of my mother’s home. It had been just one week to my marriage and I was so happy and eager to fly.

“Rhea Rohan Kapoor”. It felt so good. So complete.

     

Short story series are the stories submitted for Times of India Write India campaign. ---- Sapphire.

HOW BLUE IS MY SAPPHIRE.

     It was 6 am. I was standing in the balcony of my apartment on the 11^th floor. The cool morning breeze was so soothing and refreshing. The Sun still below the horizon. The sky in its beautiful hues of blue-grey-golden yellow. A picturesque sight that touches the heart. Just then a memory of my hometown came up in a flash. The cool catchy weather reminded me of that day when my friend Rita and I were getting ready for a morning walk. That day we were to go to our new college. It was our first day. We were so excited. We returned from the half an hour walk and were all set to go to college, impressively dressed and so happy.

     Just then the doorbell rang. It was the dudhwala on his regular time. I was stunned as I opened the door.

‘Who are you? And what do you want?’  I questioned directly at the sight of an unknown person standing in my doorway.

‘I am your new dudhwala, Madam.’ He said.  But something about him disturbed me immensely. I took the milk and shut the door. I got busy with my work as I had to rush to office at 8 am. But his face, his body language, something about him kept coming up in my mind again and again. Who was he I thought. Had I seen him before? I could not recall.

     My pet dog Shiney came to me wagging his tail, as he heard someone at the door. I ignored him as I was lost in my thoughts, but he insisted and pulled at my clothes. He wished to go out for a stroll. I realized it was his time to go out. I took him out after sometime.  As I was passing by the gate, I saw the new dudhwala talking to another strange person outside the compound wall.  That person I noticed was also someone I felt I had seen before.

     My work at the office was hectic that day, but I felt even more exhausted as something was disturbing me at the back of my mind. I could not fathom it.  As I was entering the elevator suddenly I recalled the face of the dudhwala. It came up in a flash. A face I had seen 20 years ago. Yes, I was sure it was the same face, though a bit more matured. The face of a criminal, of a person who had taken two lives. It was the face of Sanjay, the vagabond, the biggest rogue in college where Rita and I had joined. The entire picture came up in my mind. And the other person I saw talking to him in the morning was Junaid, his partner in all his deeds.

     How come they were here? What were they planning now? Did he recognize me? Suddenly a series of questions, and fear started erupting in my mind.

     I remembered it was our first day at college. Rita and I went with the excitement of meeting new friends, teachers and a new environment. We looked forward to that day since a long time. After about an hour of the introductory class we started to go around the premises to explore the entire campus. It was so beautiful. We were so happy. As we entered the second building of the college, we saw that it was quite isolated and quiet. There were no students in that wing. We felt it strange but thought that maybe as it was the first day so there may be no classes there. We went on as we just wanted to have a look around the campus. After a while we felt someone was following us, we turned around but there was no one around. We were bit scared and decided to move out of the building. Just then a creaky sound of a door came up. We turned to the direction of the sound and moved little further to peep in. As we did so we were terrified.

     A chill ran down my spine. Rita too was shocked. There were four persons in the room. Two of them were standing over the boys and forcing them to have something. The boys were refusing, but the other two persons had guns in their hands and were threatening them at gunpoint. We were just staring, dumbfounded. As the person shifted a little, I could see that he had some sort of powder packet, Drugs, in his hand, that he was forcing the boys to have. One of the boys was bold and tried to kick them and suddenly the bullet went off through his forehead. He died on the spot and the other fell unconscious with fear. He was also beaten up on his head. The two persons with guns were Sanjay and Junaid. They were running a drug racket in the college premises and forced the juniors to have drugs to build up their business. I pulled at Rita and we quietly tried to move away from there. But they heard our footsteps and ran after us. Luckily a group of students was going towards the library and we joined the group.  Sanjay and Junaid had heard our footsteps but not seen us. They ran up to the library but could not detect us as we pretended to be searching for some books with other students. Though we were trembling beneath. We kept mum and were saved that day. Though we had witnessed the crime no one knew about us.

     The legal procedures went on. Both Sanjay and Junaid were caught by the staff and teachers as they rushed to the room at the sound of the gun fire. They did not get a chance to escape because they were searching for two persons who had witnessed the crime and in the mean time other people from the college gathered around. The boy, who was shot, died on the spot and the other was badly injured on the head, he later went into coma.   I would become upset at the thought of the whole incident. Sanjay and Junaid were arrested and legal proceedings followed. Their crime was proved as they were caught red handed with pistols. They were sentenced to several years of imprisonment. There was no need for us to come into the picture.  We went to college for three years with constant fear, pretending as if we were unaware of the things happening around us. It affected me very badly. After completing graduation Rita went abroad and I was married. But I settled in Pune, whereas my husband stayed back in my hometown.

     Sanjay and Junaid’s sudden appearance had disturbed me immensely. Did they know that I was a witness to their crime? Were they here for some reason? Had they recognized me? But they had never known or seen me to be present there?

Questions upon questions, doubt and fear gripped me. My mind was going berserk. I reached the 11^th floor and walked towards my apartment. I put the key to the door and surprisingly the door opened itself. I was shocked. Who had entered my house without a key? As I entered, I found Shiney grunting in a corner. He was bleeding profusely with a deep cut on his stomach. What was happening? Why was the door open?  Who could hurt Shiney so insanely? I tried to save Shiney but within minutes he passed away. I went blank. What was happening I could not understand. I called the security, but he was not present. I went down the elevator to ask for help, but to my amazement, there was no on at the security chamber. Sanjay and Junaid were sitting there and chatting. They said the security had gone out for some work. I was scared. I could sense something fishy. What were Sanjay and Junaid doing here at that hour? I said, ‘My dog is hurt, can you please help me?’ They were more than willing to do so. I suddenly remembered that when I left my apartment I had noticed, my bedroom door was open, which I always closed while going out, and some splinters of wood were lying there. Someone had tried to break open my cupboard but could not succeed.  I could immediately guess that it must be the two of them who had tried to rob my home. And that Shiney must have attacked them and they slit him. They must have been waiting for me to come home. I became alert. I did not want to go up alone with them. I immediately refused to go up and called the police and medical help. I was now sure that they had not recognized me, but were here with another plan of robbery. It gave me some relief. But their presence over there, their hurting Shiney and the act of robbery terrified me.

      After about an hour, things were settled. The police and the medical aid came over. Shiney was taken away and later given a decent burial in my presence. I felt lonely without him. I was scared to stay at home alone that night knowing that Sanjay and Junaid were in the vicinity. As I returned home I saw them being taken away by the police for attempt to robbery and hurting my pet, and trespassing private property. A sense of relief came over me. I entered my apartment and called over my friend Sunita. She was more than obliged to come over and stay with me that night. I wept in her presence and narrated to her the entire incident of the college and how the same persons were here after years. I had recognized them. But something more, some strange feeling at the back of my mind kept on disturbing me.

     ‘What is it Rekha?’ Sunita inquired.

She had known me since years and had never seen me in such a condition before.

     ‘It’s OK, I understand Shiney’s loss is unbearable for you, but I feel there is something more to it. Apart from your college incident, it seems there is something you are hiding or running away from either yourself or from accepting it. What is it? Feel free to share. Release your burden. You will feel better.’ She said.

     I kept quiet for some time. Not knowing what to say and whether to say it at all. Would it make any sense?

     It was around 1 am. There was no trace of sleep for either of us. Shiney’s absence was haunting me. Sunita looked tired. I told her to go to sleep, but she preferred accompanying me in the living room. After a period of silence, I just began to pour my heart out.

     ‘That incident in the college had left us jilted. It had also saved us from a major trouble by not being detected. No one knew about us being witness to the crime. Rita went away abroad and there were no news from her ever since. But I was unable to completely forget what I had seen at my subconscious level. I would feel guilty at times. Not for protecting ourselves by being quiet, but for not being able to help the other boy immediately as he was badly injured. If he would have got immediate medical help, he wouldn’t have slipped into coma. Wasn’t it our selfishness that led us to run away from the place to protect ourselves instead of helping him? This question often disturbed me. I felt guilty. Was it not our human responsibility?’

Sunita did not interrupt. I went on.  

‘Perhaps that is why I chose to live in this city, rather than living in my home town Rajasthan. After marriage I took my transfer to this city. My husband Sumeet opposed it severely as he could not give up his executive job and shift here. Years passed on, our differences and separation led to divorce. I am here alone now. But that fear, that guilt made me so arrogant that I sacrificed everything, even a good marriage, to run away from that guilt and fear. I thought moving out of the place would help me overcome it. And see it is brought back to me to face it.’

Sunita interrupted then, ‘Rekha, you are wrong here. There is nothing to feel guilty about. Any sane person would first think of protecting himself than helping others. You did the same. Come out of it now. Release that guilt. You are safe. It is Ok. It was for your own good or else they would have attacked you too. See Rita, has she ever looked back and complained about it or allowed the incident to ruin her life? How could you do that? You are at the prime of your career. How could you hang on to the silly thought of guilt?

Today, I will tell you about a fact of my life that nobody knows. I was physically and mentally tortured in an orphanage where I grew up. I never let the supervisors have their way with me and so they continuously harassed me. It led to my mental depression and schizophrenia. But I never lost hope. Since then, my life has been affected due to my schizophrenic condition. I kept on taking medical help and whatever I could do to overcome it. Thankfully, today I am out of it. My husband Anand has been really caring and helpful. All of us live with our past. All of us allow it to shape our future. But some of us know how to shrug the past. I think that is who I am.  I am now the general manager in my company, am earning well and enjoying my life. You too come out of it. I have heard your husband also is still alone. He is waiting for you. Go back to your hometown.  Face your fear. Don’t let such incidents change your life. These are fears we need to overcome. Life is full of negatives and positives. Take the positive route fearlessly, don’t run away from it. It will lead you nowhere.’

     Her words were making sense. I felt better. We fell asleep on the sofa.

     At 3 am, my phone rang. It was Sumeet.

Sunita had informed him about the whole incident. He was concerned.

‘Come back Rekha. It is Ok. We will try to make up for our differences. I am waiting for you. I still love you.’ His words were ringing in my ears for long.

     I took the 6 am train to Rajasthan.

On the Cruise.

On the Cruise.

It was a cloudy day. Hot and humid climate of Goa in the midst of April. The day was exhausting and so our decision to go on a Cruise over the Mandovi River was so exhilarating. A pleasant relief from the scorching heat.

We took the 6.15 pm ride. On boarding the vessel, we had the great experience of sailing over the water. As we normally travel only by road or rail. The change was pleasant and overwhelming. As the machine started, the vessel began to drift away from the shore. Slowly, majestically, heaving heavily, as if it was delighted to go into the lap of the deep sea, its home. As if it was eager to find peace and happiness, calm and relaxed as we do in our homes.

As the cruise set out to sail over the deep waters, the passengers on board began enjoying the music and dance on the deck, which was organized by the crew. Live music, orchestra, blowing sound along with cultural dance made the environment like that of some celebration. Swaying to the tunes, clapping, laughing, and creating a euphoria that no one on the vessel could resist. The old and young all full of joy.

Enjoyment on board and natural scenic beauty in the background set a complete enchanting atmosphere. Oh! What an experience.

Though there was a lot of noise all around, my love for nature and my fascination for the deep sea, kept me out of the entire bustle. Though I was enjoying the music, my subconscious mind was lost, absorbing the strange serenity, the perfect beauty all around. I felt as if I was alone on the cruise.                                                          The deep green, calm waters enchanted me so much. Oceans, rivers, waterfronts, always make me feel that I belong there. I stood at the edge of the deck and stared continuously at the Sea, the lush green forests lining the banks on both the sides. As if in a trance, it made me go blank, the picturesque view imbibed into my soul, creating an eternal impression on my heart. A feeling of emptiness, of deep silence, of peace and perfect beauty. Nothing else around me mattered at all. I was lost. I was the sea.

We clicked beautiful pictures of the lovely memorable spots, of other cruises sailing around, of yachts, landmarks, to capture them in time. It was with my daughter that I enjoyed the great experience with. She too was lost in the magic of it all, moving to the beats of music.

What if it was only for an hour?

 As the limited timing for each round brought us back to the shore. Those 60 minutes, gifted us moments of eternal bliss, of infinity, of the presence of that perfection, that spiritual power around that can only mesmerize you.

HUMOUR

Humour in Daily Life

     A sense of humour is the most essential and inevitable factor in one’s life. People without humour can only be in a constant irate condition.

     Finding humour in daily drudgery is an art. No malicious, unpleasant person can do that. Such incongruous people have wit more dominant in their nature rather than humour.  Wit is the ally of a cunning and sharp mind. It has a tinge of acid to it and usually strikes sharp like a dagger. Whereas, humour is the dancing of happy thoughts like a beautiful stream down the mountainside. It is gurgling, bubbling, cool, refreshing and soothing. Humour brings delight and laughter, a beautiful smile on otherwise unpleasant countenance.

“A sense of humour is a house slave’s salvation. In a housewife’s life, with its variety of dull and serious situations, a sense of humour is a necessity if living is to rise above sordid drudgery. A woman’s life will be sorry thing if she lacks a sense of humour and a pleasant disposition.” ------- John Schindler.

     Because a sense of humour is a diversion, a quick release from the most intolerable situation. It is a diversion of thoughts and feelings that may otherwise make you a sour, shadowed personality that can only reflect melancholy and pain.

“If I had no sense of humour, I should long ago have committed suicide.” ------- M.K.Gandhi.

     An attempt to bring humour and sweetness in our life can change the entire perception of life. It is the determination to bring back the warmth and love in our lives from the troublesome obstructions at every curve of life. It will enable us to enjoy every minor joke of life, how life twists and turns and how it brings about the most pleasant moments in its tiny crevices.

It teaches us to laugh on ourselves, to realize the importance of humility and to relieve ourselves from the ego that stands in the way of every sort of enjoyment, of happiness, of fulfillment.

     Humour is to discover life, without which, no other sense can be as affective, no life can be enjoyed. And as John Schindler comments further,

                     “If you can’t enjoy yourself,

                      What on earth can you enjoy?” 

A most essential factor in human nature, but still the most ignored one.  Humour is not easy for all. For those who take life too seriously, for  those who believe they are the sole responsible persons on earth, and for those who believe that laughing and making merry is a loser’s domain. Serious, responsible people do not need to feel happy or laugh in public. It is out of etiquette. But that is what makes them snobbish and not contented happy beings. An excerpt from an article published in the ‘Times of India’ clearly takes the point through.

                     “Humour can sink many ships.

                       Laughter is a serious business.

                       It is a universal language.

                       Humour, say modern thinkers, pits hope against despair.”  

International Women's Day

International Women’s Day.

     Every day is a Women’s Day.  A woman has to make her own day regardless of her circumstances and surroundings. It needs courage and confidence. To celebrate one day of the year for the occasion is to insult the women, who do not attain any special status in society. One day is celebrated as Women’s Day, leaving 364 days to be Men’s Days, which indirectly glorifies the male dominated society. Does it justify the liberated independent women status we are trying to attain?

     The history of International Women’s Day is a history of taking action. The event originated in 1908, when women garment makers in New York demonstrated to demand better working conditions. They worked in appalling conditions, earned half of men’s wages, died prematurely from poor health and did not have the right to vote.

     In 1910, an international conference of women resolved that each year a day should be appointed to raise a voice for women’s demands. Since then, International Women’s day (IWD) has been celebrated around the world each year on 8th March. From its inception IWD has stood for equality between men and women.

     Going back to the history of IWD, the first IWD was held on 19^th March, 1911 in Germany, Austria, Denmark and some other European countries. This date was chosen by German women because on that date in 1848, the Prussian King, faced with an armed uprising had promised many reforms, including an unfulfilled one of votes for women.

     The most memorable IWD was held in Petrograd (now Leningrad) in March 1917, when workers were locked out of the Putilov armaments plant on March 7^th, the women of Petrograd began to storm the streets. The wives, daughters and mothers of soldiers, previously as downtrodden and oppressed as prostitutes, demanded an end to their humiliation and angrily denounced all the hungry suffering of the past years. These women launched their first revolution in 1917. Since that time, IWD has experienced many ebbs and flows as a day that helps to push women’s issues onto the political agenda.

     On the 50^th anniversary of IWD in 1960, as many as 729 delegates from 73 countries met at a conference in Copenhagen. It adopted a general declaration of support for the political, economical and social rights of women.  In 1972, the United Nations proclaimed 1975 as The International Women’s Year, in order to promote gender equality and development for women along with world peace. During this year in 1975, IWD was given official recognition by the UN and was taken up by many governments who had not previously known of its existence. The same year also focused on the role played by women in the public life against social resistance. While examining the history of the social reform movement in the 19^th century and the freedom movement of our country, we realized the glorious contribution of Indian women towards social reforms and the liberation of our country. It makes us realize that Indian women have a great potential and can generate social transformation.

    The world conference held in Mexico City adopted the world plan of action in 1975 with great regard to promotion of employment, health care and education for women. In 1980, the General Assembly of the UN adopted International Development Strategy. At the world conference of the United National Decade for women held in Nairobi, Kenya during July 1985, a document called ‘Forward Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women’ , from 1986 to 2000 was adopted the consensus among the representatives of 150 countries.

     The government of India appointed a committee on the status of women in India to examine different aspects of women’s survival struggles and gave recommendations to enable women to play their full role and contribute for the national development. In 1974, this committee submitted its landmark report “Towards Equality”, which revealed that the process of transformation since Independence did not improve the status of women in India.

This made the planners and the policy makers realize that Indian women still face to be the declining sex, economically marginalized and suffer atrocities and discriminations within the existing family law. To safeguard women’s interest and take an affirmative step the Sixth Five Year Plan, for the first time in the history of the Planning Commission of India, allotted a special chapter on women, but it was dismissed in the Parliament. As a result the print media focused attention on it and a year late it became a major focus of public inquiry due to the International Women’s Year. Indian government then adopted a National plan of Action for women, keeping in mind the recommendations of the report after it got a mandate from the parliament. This report forced our policy makers to shed away their complacency about the high status enjoyed by the Indian women or to assume that the culture of India assures empowerment of women. It brought to the fore the grey realities in the lives of Indian women.

     Of course, much has improved since then, but we still have some way to go to achieve equal opportunities for women, throughout the world. It is about remembering the battle long fought to build a society that is just and fair to all its members. A society in which diversity, tolerance, safety, social justice and equality between men and women is given priority. Does India in the run have a platform for the women at the grass root level?  The rural women, the women of the minority communities are unaware of these rights and celebrations. There is no celebration in the lives of those women who have no access to education, to socialize, to personal liberty, freedom of thought and speech and economic independence. Nothing belongs to women in orthodox, conservative families. Though a home to multiple cultures,  India has always stood the same for women of every culture.  The reason is the male dominated culture that is deep-rooted since time immemorial. Nothing belongs to women, not even their names, which personifies her identity is changed after marriage. Everything is ‘given’ or ‘thrust’ upon them. They face physical and mental torture in their homes. They are unaware of their counterparts celebrating one day in their remorseful whole year as a day for establishing their identity. It is but a day that reminds ground realities of women’s world.

     Many reforms are made, government has taken many positive steps towards the empowerment of women. But it is the duty of one and all to support these reforms by changing their ‘mindset’. Every man and every woman should encourage equality and independence.

     Betty Freidan, an American, who ignited the feminist movement, wrote in her book, The Feminine Mystique, --- “A woman has got to be able to say, and not feel guilty who am I, and what do I want out of life?  She mustn’t feel selfish and neurotic if she wants goals of her own, outside of husband and children.”

The book changed many women’s lives, it opened women’s mind to the idea that there actually might be something more. And for the women who secretly harbored such unpopular thoughts, it told them that there were in fact other women out there like them who thought there might be something more to life.

     International Women’s Day celebrations are made pompous with parties, dancing and enjoying for a certain section of society. In its stead 365 days of the year should be lived with status and dignity by women, glorifying their role not for just one day but for all the days, reflecting and celebrating life.