Power of greatness

Great people have the magnetic power to drive u towards them. Since my childhood I had  great fascination for Gandhi ji.As I was born in the year 1945, my childhood was full of stories related to struggle for independence,Gandhi ji 's role,brutalities of the British,supreme sacrifice of the martyrs;  pain n suffering of common people during the struggle,the partition n its aftermath.Movies of that time portrayed similar themes n dreams about national reconstruction .we were greatly influenced by movies like Jagriti,AnandMath,Boot polish,,Jagte Raho,Shaheed etc.Songs of these movies'De di hamen azaadi bina khadak bina dhal' ' Vande Matram',Nanhe munne bacche teri muthee mein kaya hai left indelible marks on our tender minds.I ,personally feel children must be exposed to such inspiring characters n real life heroes.I was in class 6th when we were taken to Amritsar on tour by our school;  and the memory of our visit to Jallianwalla bagh with the story of blood bath it experienced at the hands of the British,the bullet marks,the well of death in which hundreds of women jumped to save their honour could never be deleted from my mind.When a simple visit to the place could made our blood boil,we could visualise how it must have impacted n strengthened the freedom movement.Your heads automatically bow in reverence to pay tributes to the martyrs who made supreme sacrifice to get us freedom.

Since my childhood ,I wished to visit Sabarmati Ashram which had been the centre of Gandhi ji's activites n where all the leaders used to meet n all important  decisions with regard to freedom movement used to be taken.My dream came true when my son was posted to Ahmedabad in 2002 and we visited him.Our visit to Sabarmati Ashram remains with me as one of the most cherished moments of my life.It was like a pilgrimage.   We visited each n every room ,read each n every display of events related to his life n his role in freedom struggle.We could feel his presence ,his power in each n every corner of that sacred placeThe most cherished moment of the visit was when I had the honour of sitting at his feet at his lifelike statue in the Ashram to pay my respects n also feel the power of truth-his strength.

If the nation forgets his contribution,his ideology,his philosophy,it does not lessen the power of the great man.It simply shows our inability to face the truth n appreciate its power.All those who tend to belittle his role will be forgotton but his name will always remain on the world scene written in golden letters because Truth does not need patronage from anyone.

Women Empowerment---3

All of us want harmony in life at home as well as at place of work .An atmosphere of peace,happiness,love n understanding is of utmost important for the smooth functioning of any institution n flowering of life n its potentialities.
Family n marriage are two most powerful institutions which have served as the backbone of Indian society   and stood the test of times.All through the ages it has been the spiritual and ethical values of women in the family as mother,sister and wife which have  nurtured  and nourished these institutions and have been a source of strength and inspiration to menfolk. It is this inner strength, which has sustained women through unjust and discriminatory conditions that cropped in the society with time, that has saved the institutions to fall apart.But this has certainly created disharmony within these institutions as well as in the society .The maladies afflicting the system have to weeded out.Women empowered with spiritual n ethical values combined with education and economic independence can certainly play far more constructive role n bring back harmony in society.Both, men n women,have to understand the need of the times and find solutions through mutual interaction and agreement on all issues.
The main cause of  trouble these days is the misconception of the educated employed women that they are not supposed to look after   home n children;on the other hand men take it for granted that it is the duty of women.The conflict is bound to affect the loving relationship n cause friction.The solutions have to be found amicably as looking after  home n children is very demanding and calls for sacrifice,unconditional love, willing diligence n selfless support by both.Both need to understand that their roles are going to be more challenging and should be prepared to face the same happily as it is this sharing which is going to strength the bonds of love.
Marriage is a very sacred  relationship ,u have to transcend all physical n material considerations and be  spiritually connected to respect each others' individuality for a life long relationship.

Women Empowerment-2

My four years stay from1950 to 1954 at the small town referred to in my previous write up n my observations regarding the discrimination against women n many other facets of life left  an indelible impression on my tender mind but that also strengthened my belief that life could not be accepted as it is;n that if u want change u have to be the change,u have to empower urself to fight ur battles. The oppressor will never help u because they r the beneficiary .But once u decide n empower urself not to accept anything unacceptable in ur life all unknown  forces join to come to your help to give u courage of conviction to fight  battles.

Even in those days things were different in cities.In villages, presumably they must be worse.The gulf between rural n urban areas has been widening since independence as all the development in various services has taken place in cities only.State of educational facilities in rural areas is still pathetic.

After coming to the city I was admitted to Govt.Basic School in class 5th, n I must say that facilities available there were comparable to the best of modern schools.It was headed by a very graceful ,enlightened n powerful christian lady who had single status.Thereafter I shifted to the Govt.Hr Sec.School for girls where I completed my education upto class 11th.This was, again, one of the best schools of Punjab having all the facilities.This school was headed by an equally able n graceful lady who was staying away from her husband along with her girl child independently, perhaps due to incompatability.Both the ladies-one single n the other independent ,were giving wonderful n inspiring leadership in administration n management .They were highly respected n admired  which showed  that a silent revolution was on the way otherwise in Indian society  a lady -single or without the husband in service, was unacceptable in those days.We had highly qualified n very smart lady staff in both the schools -the reason being  all rich people would send their daughters to boarding schools in convents because that raised their chances of getting husbands of high status in army,bureaucracy or otherwise from rich families.They would generally serve till their marriage n their career would come to stop therafter because the girls had no choice of their own .Their marriage was to be fixed with the boys of their fathers' choice n thereafter they were to obey the dictates of their husbands.
However exposure to education has led to a sea change in the empowerment of women in cities in the last six decades because of change in the parents' attitude. Slowly n gradually level of awareness has increased; n girls in the process of proving their mettle are outshining boys in all competitive exams.There is no area in which women lag behind men in their contribution. This has given rise to new problems due to ego-clashes which will find solution  with time. Undeniably women, today,do enjoy a sense of prestige n independence but they still have to go a long way ,for the shadow of male chauvinism  still lingers . In fact both boys n girls need to understand that they have to work in harmony  at work place as well as at home which is happening slowly n gradually.
It  is really sad that even in a prosperous state like Punjab , despite spread of education n increasing number of women taking up employment , constantly decreasing sex ratio is a matter of concern. strata. Female foeticide is prevalent- women r being forced by the husbands or their families  as a girl still continues to be considered a burden and a boy an asset.
The scene in the rural areas as well as for economically weaker sections ,which constitutes  a very large segment of population, is still extremely dismal,The only solution to bring light in their life is through education Poor illiterate women  are  contributing meaningfully to the economic sustenance of the family but are still subjugated n continue to be victims of domestic violence.

women enpowerment

My first exposure to discrimination against girls was at age of five.My father was posted in a  small town of Punjab.I was taken for admission to class 1,I was shocked to see the state in which school was operating.
 It was primary single section school in which there was only one teacher for classes 1to 5,the building was an old hall with no walls n all classes  sitting in separate groups under group leaders with a rod in their hands , shouting at the top of their voice.The building should have been demolished long back.The teaching included only reading n writing of hindi,n counting numbers,tables, additon ,sustraction sums etc upto hundred.My father  had joined as Headmaster of the Boys' High school which presented a contrast to girls' school-had a vast beautiful campus with all infrastructural facilities in all areas required for all round development of students.My father was upset about the girls' school but there was no altenative as that was the only school available.My elder sister who was in class 6th had to be admitted in a boarding school in a city nearby.Though I did not raise any question but this discrimination got registered .
The second episode which left a scar on my tender mind was the marriage of a very pretty n lovable young girl from a family  opposite to our residence.The family was that of well to do landlords n she was the only daughter.The marriage was a great spectacle to watch n everything ,seemingly, ended happily.The speculations started when the girl was never sent back for a year ;n finally there was news that she had been brought back n admitted in a hospital.My mother went to the hospital taking me, a six year old child, to see her;n what we saw there was a lifeless skeleton looking blankly at us-there was no pain,no feelings no tears ,she passed away after a few days.I still do not know what the butchers had done to that ever smiling princess.This wounded the little girl I was .
In the same town there was a monument called "satian di bowli' where a fair was held every year to pay tributes to them.The story was that a rajput man of that town had two wives.The ladies were not allowed ever to  go out except with their husbands though the husbands had the right to go anywhere -drink,dance  or for any entertainment show.Once there was a religious street play in the town in the neighbourhood.These two ladies could not control their zeal n went to see the play without their husband who was not in town.Somehow the man got to know about it n the punishment awarded to them was that they were dressed up like brides,taken around the town n finally buried alive at the place which became a place of worship.What impression did it leave on the mind of a child can be well imagined.
Besides,my general observation was that girls were just to obey whatever was ordered,do all household chores all thru the day without any appreciation n had no access to any expenditure or any life of their own.
Based on all these observations my conclusion was that there can not be any change in the life of women  without  access to higher  education followed by economic independence.
I struggled to complete my higher education n took up teaching as my profession because it was my firm belief that thru this profession i could contribute to some extent to improve the lot of girls  by guiding girls,boys n parents to respect the individuality of girls n let them lead a respectable life .I think many of women of our times felt the same way n grew to lead an independent n dignified life.
But alas not much has changed -just see the constantly falling sex ratio in Punjab .It is appalling to see the publicity of welfare schemes launched by the present Govt. for the girls-providing a sum of Rs..... at the birth of  a girl child  n a sum of Rs...... as dowry at the marriage of a girl.will these mercenary schemes help in the empowerment of women?

Ashad ka ek din revisited part 3

Just finished reading third act of Ashad ka ek din;leaves u disenchanted,
a romance turning sour due to harsh realities of life n complexities of
human mind-leaves u cold n speechless.Weather outside is cold n sad
but inside it feels bone chilling n sadder.U can get into the heart of both
Kalidas n Mallika n feel the pangs of pain they r going through.

Ashad ka ek din revisited -part 2

Read the last act of Ashad  ka ek din.It was disenchanting as it is always ;
a romance turning sour due to harsh realities of life-leaves u cold n speechless.
Weather outside is cold,grey n sad but inside it leaves u colder,dark n sadder.
U can get into the heart of every character n feel what goes on within .

Ashad ka ek din revisted

It is one of the coldest Jan.For the last five days the Sun has been holidaying in some other parts of the Earth.
Clouds have liked this place so much that they do not seem to move away.The grey days with intermittent spells of drizzle add romance to the air n warmth to the heart which keeps the spirits high n saves u from freezing.
Prabhat Ranjan ji has been kind to post Mohan Rakesh ji's 'Ashad ka ek din 'on net which we read about 40 years ago n loved it .It is indeed a great classic.While reading it I feel that nature has created this atmosphere specifically for this purpose.I can actually see Kalidas writing Meghdoot n sending the messeges through the clouds to Mallika;the clouds pouring the pain of their separation through the drizzling droplets n both getting wet in  the outpour of their love.

colours of life

Beautiful are the colours of life,
Just watch the sky with shades of
blue, a mix of  soft pink,crimson or grey;
And the  flowers in all the colours,
  their shades, and  lovely combinations,
You just can't lay your eyes off a garden,
fullly bloomed in winter,spring or fall;
The birds,the insects ,the fish or
the vast variety of trees standing tall,
all lure you , 

the ocean,the river or a waterfall;
the colours of nature in all its glory
are so soothing ,for they reflect
innocence, purity n peace.
But complex are the colours of men,
each having many faces and many shades,
ever changing showing the worst of dark-
baffling ,hurting,painfully ugly n unacceptable,
it is  journeying through this falsehood
man seeks to reach the Truth ,
through this unbearable noise
  to reach the Peace,
through the changing faces and forms
 to reach that which is
Formless and Eternal,
through the scaring darkness
seeks the Light-because
he knows that He is there;
It is this faith that supports,sustains
and strengthen him to move forward;
The path is difficult and 

journey long and arduous, 

but the goal is the only hope,

Once you  know Him only then
you truly appreciate the colours of life;
If He had not created falsehood
how would you strive to reach the Truth.
- @ Sudesh Prakash