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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Chitra - a portrait of the unsung
Painful but still a reality!!
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.