Fortunate much?

Sasha Banhotra
My only regret was that I was not able to read and write because I was a girl. Women of today are so Lucky. Many parents educate their daughters. I think it’s a good practice. “ RashSundari Debi, “Amar Jiban” (autobiography).
Talking about the old times when the two terms; women and education , were completely two different worlds. She goes on addressing to the modern readership in her work referring to the already debating issues – about women’s education , about the restriction of the old times, about the relentless pressure of domestic labour and so on. While reading her autobiography during my graduation , I was wondering and moreover trying to imagine the harsh circumstances which women had to go through , suffering throughout their lives under hard built rigid systems of the society. The type of women we are surrounded with amidst rapidly developing society Today, i think it becomes somewhere necessary as well as important to be familiar with the ‘gone tough times’ , just to cherish what we have today with us “A power so high, a treasure of all the worth inside , a reason for all the fights ,an armor to inculcate the wretched warrior inside.” Its time that we start embracing the sacrifices that made ‘the change’ possible in all means. It was indeed not easy bringing the kind of change that society shut eyes from and also when it has been ferociously difficult in the past to make things possible in our country, this one being the Legendary one.
Living in the 21st century , where almost everyone is obsessed with and talking about Gender Equality , women empowerment ,where women’s sexuality is still questioned , and feminism is still a term yet to be explored and understood entirely for many people. Where almost everyday new statements and rules are proclaimed for women’s safety and welfare. Its sad that there is still a need to improve lot. I am sure many readers are not even clued with the atrocities females had to go through to attain education earlier . they were well aware and fully graced the presence of education in their forced lives, wisdom was what they craved for. I think We should be utterly grateful to all those Women who sacrificed in every level and sacrificed enormously to contribute in every major way to make Education possible for our generation by sacrificing the rigid Orthodox beliefs and systems. My concern being an educated lady pursuing my education currently is to tell you all , the troubles , the demands , the wants , the rights , the fight is not over The movement is still On and will be until each and every girl of this country is not provided access to pursue her education further for life up to her desired level. And also the most important thing to know for us all is that we should not forget , The Fight is for equality and only equality lets not suffer and degrade our self respects in the process. I mean,girls nowadays are extensively indulged with being a feminist which is a good thing to do and follow but suffering their self respect during all the proving and claiming. They should know that fighters like SavitriBai Phulle , a dalit woman who stood against rigid education system who is now widely regarded as the first woman teacher in India as well as the founder of girls school has made it possible with many more brave women like her. Mahanirvarna Tantra once said “ a girl should be brought up and educated with great efforts and care” . achieved it all with their self esteem not crushed or compressed under the pressure of claiming and proving. Their struggles have been infinitely tougher and bigger than ours that we face today and the reason behind thousands of women getting education today emerging ,developing, enhancing themselves as ‘the Feminists’ today is solely because of the undoubtedly bravest efforts put in by these phenomenal women MAYA ANGELOU ,a great feminist writes in her poem “ phenomenal woman” ‘….Now you understand , just why my heads not bowed ; I don’t shout or jump about , or have to real loud. When you see me passing ; it ought to make you proud…..cause I am a woman , phenomenally phenomenal woman that’s me. “ The fire was lit , we are privileged to keep the flame burning and continue burning till the world ends . They chose to stand against gender discrimination living in the times when women were believed to become good housewives, washing men’s clothes , cared for their rooms and served them meals. They were forbidden to speak in public and did not dare to look at a page with written letters on it. Do you think that’s fair in any possible way, No! Its time we rise and stand stiff on our feet , its time to be stubborn to call out for the rights that they were made to not see with access to education being our key to open all the doors which were shut on their faces with burning household responsibilities on shoulders.
We need to grace and cherish their sacrifices with our subjectivity towards gaining wisdom and knowledge since its said “ a well read woman is a dangerous creature’ , so why not ?. I feel esteemed to be termed as a dangerous woman the reason being my knowledge , too vast to be suffice and termed under a word less powerful and challenging than this. I feel the need to be aware and be acquainted with the Real Challenges faced and be pragmatic to reality of our lives especially when social media is becoming a necessary part of our lives and holding much larger space than reading or writing. A Book holds the power to gain ones access to independence and equality . Being a girl has always been tough in the society but being an educated woman will always be an escape from all the miseries . Maya Angelou , “ Still I rise” writes , “….out of the huts of history’s shame, I rise. Up from a past that’s rooted in , I rise. I am a black ocean , leaping and wide , Selling and swelling I bear in the tide . Leaving and nights of terror and fear , I rise. Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave , I am the dream and the hope of the slave . I rise. I rise. I rise.”

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