The Indian Woman

When a daughter is born, perhaps the father loves her the best of his children…And she knows it and that’s her strength.

Perhaps the brother loves her the best of his siblings, and she knows it, and that too is her strength.

Perhaps the mother is proud of her, and sees her own reflection in her, and she knows it and that’s her strength…

Yet, they are all scared for her safety and security, as there’s a big, bad, mean world out there, full of bad wolves!

So they decide to protect her.

But somewhere in between gets mingled the idea that she has to grow up to be an ideal woman… The ideal wife and daughter in law…

In the name of feminine genteelity, she is expected to be softspoken, adjusting, and modest, full of etiquette…..In addition to being a good cook and housekeeper…

All good…Nothing wrong there….

But she invariably seethes within when she finds no such pressures on her brother. Often, he too expects her to stay within the Laxman Rekha and do his bidding too! But he is a free bird! Noone to question him…He can go wherever he wants, whenever he wishes… Perhaps even flirt with girls, even while he keeps an eagle eye on the sister.

Sadly, even after her docility and modesty, she will come across that one cousin, that one uncle, who will take advantage of her. And she being innocent, will live in constant fear, in constant repulsion…and She won’t tell anyone lest they say she was at fault… Guilty victim???

She goes out of home, all sanskari and seedhi saadi, to face catcalls, whistles, loafers. But she takes that too in her stride, as that’s her destiny.

And then the well trained girl gets married. Now come the expectations of the mom in law… She must have a Sanskari bahu who listens to her, does as she dictates, treats her son like a king, and forgets her individuality! If she’s lucky, she’s loved and respected. If not, she may be ill treated, mentally and physically traumatized, but she must not speak! ADJUST! This is now her home, this is her destiny!

The guys? They don’t even understand half the pain of their daughter or sister… Because they never ever had these pressures…They only judge!

Indian women take it all in their stride! They adjust. Quietly! But most seethe within. Most decide their daughter will not have to bear these pressures. Very few rebel. Some get vocal, some express the pain in writing…They are then called feminists!!

Disclaimer: This is about most women in India in general. Absolutely not about guys. So please don’t get offended, guys.

And this is not my biography. It’s about The Indian Woman.