Deafening Silence...

यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवता: |

यत्र एता: न पूज्यन्ते सर्वास्तत्राफला: क्रिया: || 

 ~~~ 

I am a Woman. 

I have been a silent spectator to the passage of time and the occurrence of events. 

Being the bearer of the virtues and the vices, I stand here to recount my fate. 

Would you like to embark with me on an overwhelming sojourn commencing at the outset of the fourth dimension? 

 ~~~ 

Just as a seed is sown into and sprouts from the soil, so too does one's perspective of societal norms shape up from the root school of  thought. 

Just as it is futile to expect the infertile soil to yield to fertility, so too is it in vain to anticipate the inception of radical sentiment to pave the path to a liberal viewpoint. 

Etched in their minds was that deep-rooted societal norm, which strangled their daughters, who yielded to demise. 

Time and tide wait for none. For them, the time had whizzed past and the tide had turned disastrously. 

~~~

The equivalence of status during the Vedic times had been negated and the balance had been tipped off. Her longing for her right to life, to make it worthwhile, albeit suppressed, made its presence known. 

They were stone-hearted to have posed deaf ears and blind eyes to her innocent wish to embark on a journey of knowledge. For they considered her aspirations to be as inconsequential as her existence. 

She had been ripped off her dignity and reduced to that which they addressed as an object. Oppression and obsession clouded the feminine and masculine divide. 

They had their way by means of force - nipping her in the bud and equating her to an agency of wealth and fortune. 

What they did not realize was that she learned to walk a shackled crawl. The thorns that were strewn in her path were transformed to roses upon her gentle touch. 

They set her to limited means but failed to acknowledge the fact that her goals were infinitive and so was her perseverance to achieve them. 

The strength in her will and the power in her ability were realized when her contributions elevated their social standing. 

 ~~~ 

For, when is it that you see the oppressed aid the oppressor through their innumerable efforts which often go unacknowledged, unseen, unheard? 

They do not realize their folly of having created an unscalable mound of sand, which would take away with itself, their existence as well. For it is in peaceful co-existence that any collaboration is able to strive and thrive for the time to come. 

 ~~~ 

Desirous of an equal footing in terms of societal norms, she does not realize that her true victory would be when the disparity of a discriminative patriarchy and matriarchy are done away with. 

By being special and by feeling so, for her own self, she would be able to equate her existence with freedom, which would reign supreme. 

For, it is in unison that the ultimate is reached and in disparity that the thought is left wandering. 

Thus, it is not a question of want. It is a question of erasing the boundaries which limit our horizons. 

It is in discovering the identity of the being, that you would carve your niche, Dear... 

Weaving one's own silhouette in hues of havoc, 

Observing blueprints to rid oneself of all panic. 

Maintaining rigorous stances in times of crisis, 

Adapting to ever-varying spatial circumstances 

Nestling carefully in oneself, inception of roots 

 ~~~ 

That is how graceful she is. 

Carving Her Nation, INDIA,

The Woman Of Today. :)

 ~~~ 

I’m blogging for the India Today Woman Summit 2015 #WomenPower activity at BlogAdda.

Focusing Our Attention Around Menstrual Hygiene...

 ~~~ 

What?
A Panel Discussion On Menstrual Hygiene, on the occasion of World Menstrual Hygiene Day.

When?
Wednesday, May 27.

Where?
Mumbai.

This is the first event which I had attended with the aid of LIVE tweets from @sftimetochange. Since this was a topic which interested me, and which should ideally interest every woman in this world, it saddened me to learn that I could not be present at the venue in person, as the event was not being held in my city.

If you have not guessed already, @sftimetochange is the Twitter handle belonging to India's leading women’s health and hygiene brand, Stayfree. They focused on this event, with the hashtag #LetsStayfree.

Stayfree hosted a panel discussion on India’s least discussed topic ‘Menstruation’, with an aim to spread awareness around the need for educating young girls and women about menstrual hygiene. Following the panel discussion, Stayfree also announced the launch of its free educational YouTube channel that will assist women in getting a better understanding about menstruation.

The panelists included experts and well-known personalities in their fields such as:

• Gul Panag, Actress, Activist & Former Beauty Queen; 
• Kritika Kamra, Actress; 
• Dr. Anita Soni, Obstetrics & Gynecology Consultant at Dr. L.H. Hiranandani Hospital; 
• Sinu Joseph, Counselor & Menstrual Hygiene Educator; 
• Lina Ashar, Founder & Chairperson of Kangaroo Kids Education 

I still remember my first association with Stayfree when I had blogged for the 'Stay Free And Healthy Day' Campaign, in my first year as a Blogger. 

The same view persists even now. Periods are not taboo, and menstrual hygiene is a necessity. 

They presented some harrowing statistics at the discussion. 

• Good menstrual hygiene is a critical indicator of the holistic progress of women, socially and economically because there is a very strong connection between hygienic menstrual practices and overall health. 
• In India, despite the economic progress that has been made in the last several years, over 80% of women still do not have access to adequate sanitary protection during menstruation. 
• In India, feminine hygiene and menstruation, being a sensitive topic, is not discussed openly, and women often continue to harbor myths and misconceptions about it, since no one amongst their family and friends is able to educate them. 
• Additionally, mothers are often not in a position to guide their daughters correctly since their own knowledge is limited. 
• Over time, unhygienic practices due to low awareness and education levels can adversely impact the health and productivity of these women. 
• According to the report, awareness on basic health and feminine hygiene in India is very low, with 75% rural women lacking adequate knowledge on menstrual hygiene and care. 

On being asked about the #LetsStayfree campaign, this is what Ganesh Bangalore, General Manager - Marketing, Consumer Business, at Johnson & Johnson India had to say. 

"We strongly believe that education dispels fear and prepares young girls to recognize menstruation as being a natural process and face it with confidence. That’s why Stayfree is investing behind educating 100 million young girls in India over the next 3 years." 

Stayfree thus commits to the cause by pledging to educate 100 million young girls in India by 2018 on menstrual hygiene and protection. 

Speaking during the panel discussion, Gul Panag shared: 

“Menstruation is a natural process and is not something that a woman or girl should be embarrassed about. During my growing up years and even today, I see women and girls shying away from mentioning the ‘M’ word. 

Women try and come up with innovative ways to state the word in public, but you don’t see a man cringing publicly or feeling sorry about what he wants to say. 

And all this shushing and discouragement is affecting women and girls basic right to get educated on a topic that is a monthly occurrence till they reach menopause. I feel strongly about a woman’s right to educate herself and applaud Stayfree for holding this discussion.” 

Dr. Anita Soni, Obstetrics & Gynecology consultant at Dr. L.H. Hiranandani Hospital, stated:  

“Today, almost every household will have at least one woman or girl who suffers from irregularities in her menstrual cycle but the reported cases will be few due to the stigma associated with talking openly about the red-letter day. 

Most women and girls do not understand or give as much importance to their menstrual issues, hence a lot of women do not follow simple hygienic practices like use of sanitary napkins or the right usage of same.” 

Ms. Sinu Joseph, Counselor & Menstrual Hygiene educator, spoke about the need to start talking about menstruation. 

According to her:  

“When we don’t talk about it, we do not think enough about our body and miss the signs when we need attention. 

While education about menstrual hygiene is important, it is even more important to stop looking at menstruation as a disease needing a cure. 

Menstruation is the most ancient and reliable tool for women to assess their health and well-being, naturally. Beginning to respect your menstrual cycle is the first step towards being healthy. 

Menstrual Hygiene should be addressed at homes, schools, community centers, health centers, women hostels and at the workplace.”

Ms. Lina Ashar, Founder & Chairperson of Kangaroo Kids Education, stated: 

“Menstruation is not something that a girl needs to feel ashamed of. 

It is essential for schools to understand and make requisite arrangements so that a girl student need not skip school due to menstruation or drop out completely as soon as she reaches puberty. 

After all, it is a natural biological process and needs to be seen as such. 

There is nothing “dirty” or “unclean” about it; let’s stop treating it as a life-threatening contagious disease.” 

Kritika Kamra was quick to tweet: 

"Enriching afternoon. Learned so much about menstruation and menstrual hygiene when I thought I knew it all. #LetsStayfree" 

All in all, I found the discussion to be very enlightening, and educative. 

How I wish more such discussions are held openly and that we do away with the unnecessary hush-hush around the subject! :) 

~~~ 

P.S.: All images have been attributed to @sftimetochange. 

I : A Multitude...

~~~

I.

A Woman.

A Multitude Of Personalities.

Yet, One Soul.

~~~

A Human Being.

A Daughter.

A Sister.

A Wife,

A Mother.

~~~

Dignified.

Ridiculed.

Worshiped.

Humiliated.

~~~

Yet, she plays her part, with panache.

Unfailingly.

~~~

The fairer sex from Venus, are a divine lot.

They endure through a multitude of troubles, to portray a multitude of characterizations.

All through life.

~~~

Stereotyped by the society.

Yet, achieving breakthroughs, for their own selves.

~~~

Over the years, women in India and around the world have broken a very elementary stereotype.

'Choose between being a home-maker OR being a working woman.'

And, I'm proud to have joined the bandwagon.

For the woman of the present time, it is not an OR.

It is an AND.

There is no choice.

There is an open acknowledgement and fulfillment of responsibilities.

The woman of the present time does not shy away.

She is not the one with a weak spine.

Rather, she forms a strong pillar of support for the ones who count on her.

She embraces what is expected of her, along with the challenges, which accompany those expectations.

~~~

As women, it is not hard for us, to prioritize.

After all, we've mastered the art of multitasking, along with the art of planning, with all our schedules in place.

Home comes before Work, without a doubt.

Agreed.

Often, adjustments have to be made.

That is how the balance of life is maintained.

~~~

But it is surely not a compromise of sorts.

For you have to learn, to settle for nothing less than the best.

That which one can achieve, to the best of her abilities.

~~~

On the other hand...

Relationships weigh heavier than Ego.

That is how it must be.

For ego must not consume the person that one is.

~~~

I am defined by my lilliputian yet gigantic world.

I am defined by the worries that surround me, overpowered by the joys that uplift me.

I am defined by what I portray.

AND...

I portray a multitude.

An ocean of emotions.

A single drop of essence.

~~~

I am a free spirit...

Which cannot be contained by the labels awarded by this materialistic world...

~~~

This post is a part of #UseYourAnd activity at BlogAdda in association with Gillette Venus.
The theme is Things That Define Me.

Short Story: The Journey From OR to AND

~~~

Hello.

I'm Pragya Chauhan.

I'm a Woman.

And an Independent Woman, at that.

Today, I'm going to pen down my journey.

The Journey from OR to AND.

I took charge of my life, to make a choice, and not a comprise, with my dreams and aspirations.

How?

~~~

I feel proud to acknowledge that I have had the privilege of attending an all-girls convent, for twelve years of schooling.

I was a ten year old, attending the fifth grade, when Karate had been introduced as a new sport, to us girls, meant for students in grade five, up till grade eight.

It was however, not a compulsory discipline.

I had always been fascinated by ladies serving in the Police Force.

There was a certain grace and authority, that came along with the pride of being in uniform and wholeheartedly serving the nation,

If I had to pursue my dream of becoming a Police officer, I had to build upon my physical endurance.

Thus, compulsory or not, embracing Karate as a sport was not an option for me.

~~~

However, I come from a conservative background, and my parents were skeptical about allowing me to learn Karate.

There were discussions with one point rising above all.

Physical strength is attributed to the men of the house, and in general, boys.

'Why do you want to interfere with a masculine domain?

You girls are supposed to be graceful, gentle, feminine.'

This statement from my elder brother pricked me like a thorn.

I was resolute.

My parents' perspective was clear.

'Decide if you want to be a good daughter OR a Karate champion.'

OR was their keyword.

I changed it to AND.

Good daughter or not, I was a Brown Belt Karateka, by the end of my seventh grade.

A Karateka is one who practices Karate, by the way.

~~~

I still remember the date, 12 March 1997.

Our eighth grade was to begin in April.

It was during the one month break we get after any end term examination, that a horrid accident was averted owing to my Brown Belt.

~~~

One of our neighbor's daughter, Reena Di, had rejected her to-be-groom on grounds of dowry harassment.

I was with her, when we were returning from the market-place that day.

That man had sent some four other masked men to attack her with acid!

Thankfully, I'd been alertly noticing that they were following us back home.

They were on some mean machines.

But sometimes, physical skill and knowledge beats even some crazy people on machines.

~~~

One of them was carrying a bottle of acid.

I was quick to notice their intention and timing of attack.

That was it.

One strike from my side was enough for that assailant to lose all sense.

I had hit him on his hand, thus breaking the bottle.

And, acid spilled on the road.

I tackled him further by rendering him unconscious!

Reena Di panicked and ran towards her house.

Two of the other assailants tried to follow her, while the  fourth one cowardly fled!

~~~

One of the passers-by was walking his pet, in our neighborhood and was carrying a stick too.

He saw them chasing her, and was quick to knock one of them, by hurling his stick, at him.

He also commanded his dog, Roger, to chase the other one on wheels.

Being a Labrador, that dog was quick to catch up with his speed, and chewed at his tyre, thus unbalancing him.

Thus, all of them retired hurt.

~~~

Reena Di's father visited us that evening, to inform my parents of the entire episode, praising me for my bravery and guts, even when I was a girl.

That was my moment of Victory.

Being a girl, I had put to test, my physical strength.

That was my answer, to my elder brother's comment in the past.

After all, self-reliance, self-confidence, and self-defense aren't solely masculine domains!

~~~

Now, eighteen years down the line, I feel proud to acknowledge the fact that I am now, a Black Belt Karateka.

Above all, I am now posted as a Senior Inspector in Delhi Police.

Now, my parents wholeheartedly agree.

They say, I proved myself to be a good daughter AND a Karate champion.

More than being a Karate champion, I feel proud to have pledged my service, to my nation.

Had it not been for my instinct and my heart, which guided me by saying - #UseYourAnd.

Senior Inspector Pragya Chauhan refused to choose one thing OR the other, and instead followed her heart! :)

~~~

This post is a part of #UseYourAnd activity at BlogAdda in association with Gillette Venus.
The theme is Journey From OR to AND.

Spark The Change. Period!

Spark The Change, O Dear!

Prepare As The Fate Draws Near...

As The Way Ahead Lies Clear...

Resonates The Voice - Change Is In The Air!

King Size? Nah! Live Life Queen's Way!

Truly, There's No Room For Tears...

Hush! Drive Away All Fears!

Entangling & Strangling, All These Years...

Come, Let's Join Hands, In The Flow...

Harness Positive Energies To Put Up A Great Show!

After All, We Are Not Caged - Let All, This Fact, Know...

Now, Above All Bondage, Make Your Reach Throw!

Gather All Strength, Seeds Of Change, Let's Sow...
Engaging, Enthralling, All Limitations, Let's Outgrow!

The day came.
That, which every mother has to face.
That, when her teenage - daughter comes to her with a mix of emotions - bewildered & slender-ly frightened on facing a new change in her body and her life, as well.

Yes, you got it right!
Her Menarche Day.

Frankly speaking, the mother is also at crossroads and takes times to come at terms - to explain to her to take this change in its own stride...

So Was I.
This circumstance made me rewind the reel - go into flashback...

The same day of my life...
But, thanks to the 'new - gen' environment, the freshness of today's times have 'Sparked A Change' towards a Healthy Womanhood.

In our times, it was so difficult to understand the ABC's of this concept but thanks to the 'not so hush - hush' orientations included in the school curriculum about Anatomy & Physiology Of The Human Body which prepares a child-like mind, body and even the soul to deal sportingly with the Change.
The role of School Counselors in the school system is commendable.

Then, to deal with the situation was also a near - Herculean task in the bygone era.
To employ cloth or cotton was extremely unhygienic.
The girls were forced to stay behind closed doors - at home - in fear of staining and hence were devoid of even accomplishing daily chores with ease.

'Those five days were the harbinger of Bondage' - like caging a free bird.

However, Now Is Better.
The times have changed for the better...

Thanks to a hygienic and dependable option of the like of Stayfree, girls no more worry about 'those' days.
They no more fear staining their image, in society anymore.

Periods Are No More Taboo! Period.

Stayfree has indeed initiated the spark for the chain reaction of changes in the lives of women in India.
Living upto its name, Stayfree has indeed encouraged women to Stay Free - to let go of all bondage, snide remarks and the 'hush - hush affair' of Puberty as well.

Even Sanitary Napkins Come With Wings, Don't They?
~~~

This post has been written as a part of  'Stay Free & Healthy Day' Contest here.