Sobering truth in many parts of India in those days and probably, sadly, still found in areas where a girl is not respected for her intelligence, curiosity to learn or treated as an equal to a male child. Tragic tale and one that leaves you with many questions about Chitra. Can relate to your anger and frustration and thoughts on the possibilities of what could have happened to her. Eloquently penned.
Thank you dear Anita! Appreciate you reading and writing to tell me. Indeed there’s been progress and it’s to our benefit. And as you say there are still too many milieus where this madness continues on…
Poignant ! Losses that cannot be computed is exactly right. And the many, many that suffer far worse as you well know. And yet the land of contrasts which is our native home offers blinding juxtapositions of hope so stark against the pervasive dark - like my own mother who somehow became a physician - the first woman to go to college in her family, and did not marry until the ripe age of 33 and that too of her own volition to a widower 11 years her senior. Still astounds me as I watch her dipping her rusk into her tea which I just made for her.
Thanks for reading and writing Sanjay. It warms my heart to hear of your mother’s grit and journey! And you’re right about the contradictions too. In every incredibly difficult situation rife with forces that threaten to mow our resolve down there are always a few who choose to fight back and inexplicably make it. That spirit is to be celebrated of course. I salute your mom’s spirit.
Unfortunately and as you say there are far too many who simply can’t make it and the loss is ours entirely, a loss we can’t compute so it goes unsung all too often…
Heartbreaking piece Reena , makes my blood boil especially when women become each other’s enemy instead of becoming a support system , the patriarchy can never end till this keeps happening…
Well written Reena. You pull us in with your style and content. Though not shocked stories of people like Chitra make me so angry and sad. I hope her married life was happier than before.
Thanks dear Lalitha! Appreciate that so much. My mother said her married life was happier but by then she’d taken on a kind of acceptance of whatever came her way, which makes me really sad too. Thanks for feeling what I was trying to convey. ❤️
A very well written piece,very good portrayal of the same trouble and tribulations which women of our sub continent face to this day trying to carve out a decent and meaningful life in this society ruled by male gender stereotypes
Thanks 🙏 Arjan. I really appreciate that. Glad you found it engaging.
And I agree with you and I’d add most of the battles are at home, in our own backyards and within families. Speaking up is much harder (than social media sloganeering) and perhaps even more important. If we’re lucky we can directly help someone we know…
What a lovely piece, though saddening. I just finished reading Caste by Isabel Wilkerson, and pretty much everything is reminding me of that book, but this poem, too.
Painful but still a reality!!
Unfortunately so true. Thanks for reading dear Mona!
Sobering truth in many parts of India in those days and probably, sadly, still found in areas where a girl is not respected for her intelligence, curiosity to learn or treated as an equal to a male child. Tragic tale and one that leaves you with many questions about Chitra. Can relate to your anger and frustration and thoughts on the possibilities of what could have happened to her. Eloquently penned.
Thank you dear Anita! Appreciate you reading and writing to tell me. Indeed there’s been progress and it’s to our benefit. And as you say there are still too many milieus where this madness continues on…
Poignant ! Losses that cannot be computed is exactly right. And the many, many that suffer far worse as you well know. And yet the land of contrasts which is our native home offers blinding juxtapositions of hope so stark against the pervasive dark - like my own mother who somehow became a physician - the first woman to go to college in her family, and did not marry until the ripe age of 33 and that too of her own volition to a widower 11 years her senior. Still astounds me as I watch her dipping her rusk into her tea which I just made for her.
Thanks for reading and writing Sanjay. It warms my heart to hear of your mother’s grit and journey! And you’re right about the contradictions too. In every incredibly difficult situation rife with forces that threaten to mow our resolve down there are always a few who choose to fight back and inexplicably make it. That spirit is to be celebrated of course. I salute your mom’s spirit.
Unfortunately and as you say there are far too many who simply can’t make it and the loss is ours entirely, a loss we can’t compute so it goes unsung all too often…
🙏
Heartbreaking piece Reena , makes my blood boil especially when women become each other’s enemy instead of becoming a support system , the patriarchy can never end till this keeps happening…
Thank you for reading dear Vanita! And you are so exactly correct on your observation! Thank you 🙏❤️
Well written Reena. You pull us in with your style and content. Though not shocked stories of people like Chitra make me so angry and sad. I hope her married life was happier than before.
Thanks dear Lalitha! Appreciate that so much. My mother said her married life was happier but by then she’d taken on a kind of acceptance of whatever came her way, which makes me really sad too. Thanks for feeling what I was trying to convey. ❤️
A very well written piece,very good portrayal of the same trouble and tribulations which women of our sub continent face to this day trying to carve out a decent and meaningful life in this society ruled by male gender stereotypes
Thanks Chaiti! You are so right. Thanks for reading and writing to tell me.
What a story. Sad. A good illustration why we should not accept moving back on euqality.
Very well written, this. It was extremely engaging, you pulled me right through to the end.
Thanks 🙏 Arjan. I really appreciate that. Glad you found it engaging.
And I agree with you and I’d add most of the battles are at home, in our own backyards and within families. Speaking up is much harder (than social media sloganeering) and perhaps even more important. If we’re lucky we can directly help someone we know…
You're absolutely right. Action is needed. Still, unfortunately. Part of that is telling engaging stories.
Yes. Thank you 🙏
What a lovely piece, though saddening. I just finished reading Caste by Isabel Wilkerson, and pretty much everything is reminding me of that book, but this poem, too.
Thanks dear Nicci! Appreciate so much you reading and writing to tell me. I’ll check out that book. ❤️