To the Gangetic Plains....With KISS of Love [4]
From the pages of Diary.
Dear Diary,
There are many strands of grey among my once lustrous black cascade of hair as well as in the span of 27 years along the Great Northern Plains of India. People talk about Love Jihad, and I wonder if there exists something in real or else I could exhibit a portion of my life with Sohrab and prove things otherwise. Green, Red, Saffron- these are some of the colors I detest these days. They pawn humanity for votes.
#The humble, simple and lovely state in the South is in the news for so many reasons. Some years back, Amma wrote about the hooliganism and the clash of cultures happening in Cannonore. The state is securing No#1 rank in almost all Human Development Indicators, Unemployment Rates and Suicide Rates. Recently, it was even crowned as the drunken state of India.
#All said, I remember the prevailing myths of 'Dosham' for women, so as to proscribe their outdoor adventures after dusk. The myth was nothing but a warning for women to remain indoors lest they be chanced upon by the lurking lustful drunkards. I earnestly convinced Amma that times have changed- women are travelling long distances amidst "traffic jams" to build their career and lives. They should not be pulled down by the chains of patriarchy in the name of protection. At times, you need to let go the thing/person you love-like the way she did some three decades ago. A woman journalist once went on to prove that the streets are not so women friendly after it gets dark, with the help of a fellow cameraman and assistant. She proved but received more of brickbats than bouquets. From questioning her intentions to her audacity, people castigated this brave lady for highlighting the lacunae in women's safety in the streets. However, after a girl died jumping off from a running train to escape the advent of a lecher, her voice began receiving many ears.
#The Government, initially, seemed to have taken a radical step in controlling alcoholism in the State but with the subsequent pronouncements, it becomes evident of how they miss Alcohol while counting the coins of the Treasury!
#Moral Policing is also on the cards these days. Some otherwise-good-intention-wala Culturalists, who see women as a property meant to be protected as they carry the entire burden of honor and decorum in the society, carry on the propaganda of determining dress codes, time-tables and a lot many disciplinary itinerary exclusively for the woman kind. How grateful women should be to these fellow brotherhood and sisterhood spreading elements? Perhaps, With a Kiss of Love.
Goodnight
Alamelu
Dear Diary,
There are many strands of grey among my once lustrous black cascade of hair as well as in the span of 27 years along the Great Northern Plains of India. People talk about Love Jihad, and I wonder if there exists something in real or else I could exhibit a portion of my life with Sohrab and prove things otherwise. Green, Red, Saffron- these are some of the colors I detest these days. They pawn humanity for votes.
#The humble, simple and lovely state in the South is in the news for so many reasons. Some years back, Amma wrote about the hooliganism and the clash of cultures happening in Cannonore. The state is securing No#1 rank in almost all Human Development Indicators, Unemployment Rates and Suicide Rates. Recently, it was even crowned as the drunken state of India.
#All said, I remember the prevailing myths of 'Dosham' for women, so as to proscribe their outdoor adventures after dusk. The myth was nothing but a warning for women to remain indoors lest they be chanced upon by the lurking lustful drunkards. I earnestly convinced Amma that times have changed- women are travelling long distances amidst "traffic jams" to build their career and lives. They should not be pulled down by the chains of patriarchy in the name of protection. At times, you need to let go the thing/person you love-like the way she did some three decades ago. A woman journalist once went on to prove that the streets are not so women friendly after it gets dark, with the help of a fellow cameraman and assistant. She proved but received more of brickbats than bouquets. From questioning her intentions to her audacity, people castigated this brave lady for highlighting the lacunae in women's safety in the streets. However, after a girl died jumping off from a running train to escape the advent of a lecher, her voice began receiving many ears.
#The Government, initially, seemed to have taken a radical step in controlling alcoholism in the State but with the subsequent pronouncements, it becomes evident of how they miss Alcohol while counting the coins of the Treasury!
#Moral Policing is also on the cards these days. Some otherwise-good-intention-wala Culturalists, who see women as a property meant to be protected as they carry the entire burden of honor and decorum in the society, carry on the propaganda of determining dress codes, time-tables and a lot many disciplinary itinerary exclusively for the woman kind. How grateful women should be to these fellow brotherhood and sisterhood spreading elements? Perhaps, With a Kiss of Love.
Goodnight
Alamelu
Pink Chaddi Campaign (Manglore), Kiss of Love(Kerala), Red Alert:You have got a Napkin! (Kerala)....Your south is such a Fun of a State (Mental State) to be with....Perhaps
ReplyDeleteOne might think I am a regional jingoist, but observe after referring to historical facts that Kerala always preceded the rest of the country in thoughts and in deeds (whether good or bad). Your sleazy attempt to malign the audacity to challenge complacent stereotypes is understandable. Pity your ludicrous analysis.
Delete