Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia by Jean Sasson

The Blurb:  Saudi Arabian princess clad in riches and hidden behind her black veil, Sultana talks about the dark, hidden secrets she had to live with, in her past and about the living treacheries bestowed upon women in Saudi Arabia.

With no freedom to take her own decisions and known only as a bearer of sons, Sultana is the strong woman at the heart of the story in Princess. From her turbulent childhood to her arranged marriage and later being displaced for another wife, Sultana shares her history of the appalling oppression in her everyday life.

From the marriage of 13-year old girls with men five times their age to the killing of young women by stoning, drowning or isolation in the "women's room," the book tells readers how women are left to rot to death in this land. Sultana opens up about the atrocities committed by the Saudi establishment, standing up for right despite the risk of being killed.

Narrating her story to Jean Sasson, Sultana reveals the darkest secrets beyond the veils of the secret society where money, sex and power reign supreme and violation of human rights is commonplace. 

How did I like the book?

Well, this might be one of the most difficult reviews I have written. Like everyone, it’s the claim of being a true story which attracted me to it. If the title was just - “Story of life behind the veil “, leaving out true and Saudi Arabia, would it have made me pick it up? I would say yes.

This book was recommended by my friend Rajshri and I do not remember her mentioning that it’s a true story while doing so. Moral - I would have liked it the same even if it was not claimed to be true.

While most of the restrictions and practices were already either heard or read somewhere, reading them as an overall subject with surrounding details made my heart wrench. I made sad faces, frowned, gasped in awe at quite a few incidents mentioned in the story. Not because I was surprised or shocked, but because I could relate them to some character.

The author has been able to strike the chord at right places most of the times using easy and simple language.

What I did not like:

Editing - I am not sure the pages, but there were a few sentences I could notice which needed better editing.

Rushed up - There were a few sections which felt very hurried and more detailing could have made them much interesting and gripping.

Have a few more related to Sultana’s reactions - but I am assuming that I might get the answers in next two series. I do not want to state them to avoid spoiler.

It would be hard to mention my favorite chapter of the one which touched me most. After a certain time, I lost noting down much details. The ones I noted, “My sister Sara” made me stop and think for quite some time.

I would recommend anyone to read this book not for my culture or religion, but for the plight of some women in the name of same. This stand true for almost all religions and I am sure every culture has one or other myth or misconception women have or had faced sometime in past.

There are many controversies around the authenticity of story. Many of them answer themselves in further series - still many remains questionable. Read a few reviews, stay away from spoilers- many of them do not even warn of the same, and make your choice. From me, it’s a gripping read.

Would I pick up the other books in series? I would say that I might go for them sometime.

Follow the link below to read my favorite lines:
Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia by Jean Sasson

Also, if you decide to give the book a shot, follow the links from amazon as below:

          

I may get a small commission if you purchase using them - WITHOUT YOU BEING CHARGED AN EXTRA PENNY.

What Women Want

It is said that it's impossible to understand a woman. 

What makes women happy?

How to keep  a women contempt?

Why do women overreact?

When would women grow up?

These are some million dollar questions that have remained unanswered for centuries. 'To treat a woman equally or specially' can actually be the most difficult and entertaining topic of a debate ever.

I think that the confusion presists because of various practices followed with or by women. Not only evil practices, but also customary pursuits such as daily worshiping of gods at home, watering the sun and taking care of children are all done by women in the family. However, exceptions are always there, but I have not seen men doing such chores in everyday life.

Some of my friends complain that what's the fuss around this elated International Women Day. I have only one answer to them - "International Men Day also exists; onus in on oneself to celebrate it.”

About social issues, women need to be treated equally as there are many practices whose virtue make women feel insecure and insulted. When the husband dies, lest the jewellery and normal wear, the soulmate is supposed to sit and sleep on floor for some days. No such sadistic practicies is expected from the other soulmate when wife dies. If a woman is unable to manage her home and family at the same time, family and friends advise her to quit her job and it is considered absolutely normal. However, if it comes to men labeled as incapable, he has to face humiliation from society, family and friends per se! 

Image source

Special treatments feel blissful. Opening the door, pulling the chair, giving a hand to step up or down  - all these are of no use to display respect when the same woman is treated as a secondary choice for jobs and the man are abusive at his own house. Expensive gifts from someone special are worthless without his or her precious time. 

Following are some lines which might help answer the question - "What women want?".

She gets excited

All by a tiny flower

She feels honoured

All by a little pamper

She goes happy

All by some time

She flies on clouds

All by a quick hug

She hits the high

All by a modest achievement

She feels blessed

To have a parent

To have a sibling

To have a lover

To have a child.

She - The Woman

Want just some space

Space in family

Space in society

Space in HEART. 

I’m blogging for the India Today Woman Summit 2015 #WomenPower activity at BlogAdda.

Law Of Nature - Sushmita Sen speaks up about Female Foeticide

I shared my views on one of the most heart-wrenching issue around women - Female Foeticide in my earlier post.

I came across this beautiful message from none other than Miss Universe 1994, Sushmita Sen.
(For the readers who do not want to or can not view the video, read the transcript below)


English Transcript:

Good evening ladies and gentlemen. It's been a strong and beautiful night and you all have been very very patient. My name is Sushmita Sen and I am a proud mother of two very beautiful, young ladies. One of who is already, ready to be model. May I please... I am a little scared with her on stage. Maa! Where is my maa? Every one, Ladies and gentlemen, please my mother.

I need to come back to a point where I can see you all. I believe ** ladies and gentlemen. I believe 'k duniya mein jo bhi hota hai kisi wajeh se hota hai". It's not an accident. Every single human being in this room tonight is here for a reason. And that reason is - that the age of the Aquarius is on its way by December 2012. Have you heard of it? Oh no! You have'nt Haan! Age of the Aquarius is when women will rise. It is the time when we will come to the awareness of the female strength. It is not a coincidence then, that tonight we have this wonderful platform.

God bless you Lilavati hospital, God bless you Manish Malhotra, God bless you Lubna adams, Vipul Bhagat, Sangeeta, all beautiful ladies that participated tonight who are also mums. Because when we do this, we create the single most important awareness.

I have been blessed, to be born in a family. To a mum and a dad who raised me just as a human being. They didn't differentiate between a girl and a boy. So, I never grew up, like many of us blessed people realising that this is what happens to the girl child in the smallest of districts of our country.

We will no get into statistics. You know why? Because it is depressing. We are not going to talk about the cruel things that happen to them. Because we have to focus on stopping it. We have heard about the problem, we know the problem.

But as Mother Teresa once told me, just a year before she passed away. She changed my life I tell you that. I was 18 years old and I went and met her in Kolkata. And, I told maa, that maa you know, I see so many babies. There must have been 55 cribs in there. And they are all girls! They don't have boys or do you have a separate room for boys. So she says no, we had only 4 boys and all have been adopted. These are only the girls.

And the reason she smiled about it. She said these are the lucky ones. They didn't end up in dustbins. They ended up with a future. Where some body, a loving home is going to recognise the fact that there is a reason why the law of the nature says to you - I will not let you choose. When you become pregnant, you will not know- you shouldn't. If it's a girl or a boy. That is laws nature of keeping the balance between the nurturer and the provider. When we kill the nurturer ladies and gentlemen, we create an imbalance. An imbalance that we will be so sorry in generations to have done. Because life will stop to exist the way we see it.

I made a promise that day that I am going to, Ok - let's clap.

I know, I just really, this is something very very close to my heart. And I can't stop talking about it. Because I keep. Feeling, k 'Agar aap, itni choti si baat agar aap samajh lete hain. K jab log duniya badalne chalte hain...'

You can't change the world. Are you crazy? There are number of people doing all numbers of things. How do you change the world?

Don't worry about it. The world will change on its own.

You change one life. You change one thought. You tell one father. Today, truly you are a blessed man. Because not only do you have a girl, you have the womb of the universe. She will then nurture life beyond. Right?

And so, with all of your blessings and all of my country that despite being an Indian woman, You gave me the courage to be a single mother. Everyday being asked about my Renne and Alisha.

You have given me as you should every girl child this opportunity. Because god as my greatest truth I tell you, all of us here. Stood on our own two feet, because we are capable and that no body can take away from us.

Ladies and gentlemen, you are beautiful people and you have been tremendous source of strength    For me my entire life. Tonight, take that strength home, change one opinion, one life. I will do that with Renne and Alisha. You that with whoever you want.

I love you people. Thank

We should all look forward to doing more of this. Salam shukriya

I absolutely loved the part when she quoted Mother Teresa  saying that these are the lucky ones with a smile. This is one of the biggest example of creating positive feelings from difficult situations. I am sure everyone would have had a sad feeling when they heard that all boys were adopted and only few girls got parents. But the simplicity with which the message was passed on is truly amazing.

I have already been a fan of this lady. The more I see and hear her, more I fall in love with her.

This post was to be written as a part of April 2015 A to Z Challenge. My theme for this year was 'WOMEN and ISSUES AROUND THEME'. Click at the link to check other common issues women face in and their respective links.

When Amitabh Bachchan wrote a letter to his Granddaughters - Aradhya and Navya

First things first - This post was supposed to about my last day's Marathon. But as I saw the news, the already very popular letter by the legend Amitabh Bachchan grabbed my attention. As a hard core lover of letters, I could not help but post about it first.

As expected, there are mixed reactions to the same. While most people like me find it extremely touching and absolutely apt, there are some who find nothing great about it. Then, there are some, who feel that if he really wanted to write it, why do it openly?

Each person has his/her freedom of thoughts and speech. Below are some of the reasons, I loved it:

1. It’s a letter:

I have lost the count of mention about my love for the letters. I accept that one of them is too innocent to intercept the deep meaning through it and the other one is already on her own path of thought process. But imagine the pride and glory in the eyes of little one the day she begins to understand it. Every time, the girls would feel low, i am sure letters like this would help them buck up. It's bitter but their dear grand pa is not going to be with them forever.

2. It's about daughters and women:

The letter is addressed to his grand-daughters. Any deed done straight from the heart - big or small for any woman is a step towards better world.

3. It came from a legend:

When a famous person talks, there are masses who are looking up to them. Each word they speak can influence someone's next course of action. Thus they need (not must) to be more careful with all their deeds. There are people who blindly follow their icons. Therefore, such clear and impartial thoughts expressed on a public platform should only do well for the society. I think, if it changes the mind of even a single person regarding even a single thought to good, his deed to share the same with world is well accomplished.

4. It reflects the mentality required for society:

I so wish all men and women across the world felt this way about their daughters and women in their lives. The so called feminist word would not have taken birth.

5. It's his choice to share it with the world:

To write a personal or an open letter is all his choice. No one has any right to object to the same. As he himself says - Because...

All said and done, the letter goes as below:

Letter content Source: TOI

Her Resurrection by Soumyadeep Koley

About The Author:

Soumyadeep Koley is a graduate with Chemitry Honours and currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in Psychology. Read more about him and his work at his Good reads profile.

The Blurb:

What is it like to be an unwanted girl-child in India? What is it like to be sexually harassed at a tender age of five? After being tricked and forced into prostitution, can such a woman fight back to emancipate herself from the unyielding shackles of that life, and intermingle with the ‘society?’ Or would she get lost in the sands of time like the ephemeral existence of a sand dune beset by a sandstorm?

So begins Maya’s story in the picturesque countryside of Maharashtra, where she grows up amidst cruelty and domestic violence, being an unwanted girl-child. Yet, like a lonesome beacon beset by sinister wilderness, she pursues her dreams of reaching the stars with her tiny wings. One night, a twist of fate triggers a series of incidents, when she loses everything she had—even her virginity.

Severely traumatized after her father’s death, her mother’s imprisonment, and her own gang-rape, Maya finds herself all alone in the streets of Mumbai, with wolves lurking around for raw flesh. She’s weary, but not wary. She has no sense of the fate that awaits her. What follows, would change her life forever, as also yours, as her heart wrenching, yet inspiring story echoes through time.

Inspired by true stories of survivors and real life events, ‘Her Resurrection’ bravely paints an appalling picture of the society. Heartbreaking, hopeful and immensely healing at the same time, this emotional roller-coaster through dreams, tragedy and triumph is a moving tribute to womankind. Are you ready to embark on a transformational journey with Maya?

The Cover:

The cover page is very colourful and has done full justice to the plot. I would definitely pick it up atleast once if I see it in a bookshelf. 

About The Book:

 It's unfortunate and sad for any part of the world to have a fact that 'we have to fight for the rights of a girl child'. It's actually sad to fight for rights of any child irrespective of it's gender. The book takes the reader to a depressing but real world of cruel fate and tearful facts.

Her Resurrection took me straight inside the heart of a an innocent child, a mother, a teenager, a victim, a survivor and the Winner

Imagine a child telling her dream - "...I want to go to school and speak English like Gavaskar".

I was all smiles on reading this.  Its was such an innocent yet realistic dream. A dream which subsequently led Maya to dream more.

The story is so tragic and Maya is constantly failing with her luck. Yet the human nature to wish and  pray for better is very well visible in the story line.

What I Liked About The Book:

1.    The End: though some parts of book were predictable, yet I so loved the end. It was well constructed and beautifully written.

2.    The little dreams: The small dreams in the eyes of different characters were so real. Dream to speak English, dream to buy a SLR camera, the dream to own a Camera etc.

What I Did Not Like:

Only flaw I found was that some parts were just left behind without any conclusion. For example the so called court case and something which Maya's mother wanted to tell her someday.

Other than this, I was absolutely glued to the book till end.

 There were few gems which can be written anywhere in bold for motivational aura and some for their candid nature:

When a man is here having sex with us, you know, somewhere in a city, a girl is saved from being raped

Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.

 No matter how much life gets tough, stand up, pick up all your broken pieces and move on as the best is yet to come.

 No matter what else you do, put yourself first, and love yourself more than anyone else.

It’s never too late to realize your dreams.

 If you slap a lion, will it remain silent and un-aggressive? Go and stand at the back of a horse and slap its butt. Try to tickle an alley cat and see what happens. See, nothing in nature remains silent if you constantly hurt it, unless it's created defenceless.

...all problems in life are temporary, but suicide is permanent. It can never be a solution.

...a woman is never alone. When she is born, there is born with her a veritable, indomitable warrior. Together, they see, fight and endure so much—periods, childbirth, abortion, miscarriage, eve-teasing, rape, domestic violence, social stigma, breast cancer, trafficked into prostitution, being forced to renounce her dreams… Still why do we stereotype and say that men are stronger than women?

The book can be brought via following links:

Amazon Paperback                         Amazon Kindle Edition                       Her Resurrection (English)

Note: A PDF copy was sent to be for honest review

India's First Female Fighter Pilots - Dream Come True

Last year, I posted about my surprise discovery of the fact that India though being one of the leading nations in 21st century, still did not have “Female” fighter pilot.

Today, my happiness touches no boundary as I post my straight from heart words dedicated to the three ladies who have created the history. Flying Cadet Avani Chaturvedi, Bhawana Kanth and Mohana Singh have been formally  inducted in Indian Air Force fighter squadron on Saturday - 18-June-2016.

Know your limits,

I was told once.

Sky doesn't have one,

I wondered.

Know your limits,

I was told once.

Sky doesn't have one,

I marveled.

Eyes focused,

Mind alert,

Wings wide open,

I take the flight.

The path is impossible,

Explicated everyone.

Sun shines because it burns itself,

I remarked.

Flying high,

Higher than cloud,

Above the mountain,

Over the ocean,

I twist and twirl,

Showing my beam.

It's not your forte,

Orated the laws.

Gravity is already conquered,

I pondered.

Grounded to earth,

Wings spreading again,

And again,

I head upward.

Enemies beware,

Fearless soul,

Goddess of courage,

Empress of the skies,

Is here.

Women pilots have been flying helicopters and transport aircraft since 1991 in the IAF - Indian Air Force, but the fighter crafts were still a dream for us. After some initial reluctance, IAF finally opened the cockpit for females on an experimental basis for five year.


They will be now posted to either the Bidar or Kalaikunda airbase and would undergo "transitional" fighter training on the Hawks. The advanced jet training (AJT) is a one year training which includes learning intensive combat manoeuvres and armament firing. It ensures that the rookie pilots can handle old fighters like MiG-21s as well as new multi-role ones like Sukhoi-30MKIs and Mirage-2000s.

I have no doubts that the experiment is going to be a major success. Three cheers for the trio.

Gynac Fever

Some time back, I attended a session conducted in my office about cervical cancer. The presenter, a doctor in some leading hospital shared her experience on the statistics. She told us that she lived for seven years in US and had only one patient for the disease during her stay. The girl was again an Indian. Back in her country she served in New Delhi Safdarjung hospital and every 10th woman woman who consults her is suffering with the deadly disease.

The above statistics although personal not only reveals the shocking and insightful need of awareness in the particular disease but at the same time, might have a deep and hidden truth about society - The Gynaecologist Fever. It's the reluctance to visit the gynaecologist.
Blame it on general mentality or popular beliefs - visiting a Gynaecologist is considered a taboo. The visit is generally linked to having sex - another taboo!
There are many other factors which leads to less than required or no visits to a Gynaecologist:

1. Sex taboo.
2. Reluctance to talk about private parts.
3. Uncomfortable check-ups - honestly, even after having two kids, I still feel a bit uncomfortable for a minute!
4. Linking Pap smear tests to loosing virginity - no doubt tampons are a failure in our country.
5. Myth that a visit to Gynaecologist implies some problem related to motherhood.

Awareness and right information is the only medicine for this fever. The sooner women realise that at the end it's their own body and they have to suffer because of negligence, sooner the cure would be available. We must understand that it's a normal visit to another doctor who is just pronounced differently.

This post is written as a part of April 2015 A to Z Challenge. My theme for this year is 'WOMEN and ISSUES AROUND THEME'. Click at the link to check other common issues women face in and their respective links.

Feminism - Stigma

I honestly wonder what's the fuss about this simple term. So I went to Google and searched for the definition of Feminism.

Then, I modified my search and the mere search options that pop up when we type some words stopped me from hitting the enter key. The snapshots say it all.

Common belief about feminism is that it is about women trying to rule over men by hook or crook. Actually, feminism is all about gender equality and empowerment.

Are you against any ill practice towards women?
Have you ever felt sorry for a woman?
Do you think that women should know self defence?
Did you ever think that your mother deserves more respect as compared to your father?

Did you nodded or answered yes to any of the above?

Congratulations, you are a feminist. And trust me, you are do not exhibit any of the negative traits as popularly searched by other feminists who simple refuse to believe they are.

This post is written as a part of April 2015 A to Z Challenge. My theme for this year is 'WOMEN and ISSUES AROUND THEME'. Click at the link to check other common issues women face in and their respective links.

Equal Pay

Job description : Write the word "hello" on a paper with a pen.

I write "hello".
You write "hello".
She writes "hello".
He writes "hello".

I, you, she and he - all get paid to do the job. What should be the payment for everyone?
Ideally, It must be equal for all. Sadly, this is not the case in real world. Generally, females are at a loss. When an average of pay for same job is taken for different genders, the results vary in terms of percentage.

The situation is also dependent on the level of seniority. Starting levels are generally equally paid. The pay difference rises with changes of level, changes of marital status and changes of parenthood status. The fact that it's true can easily be judged by the percentage of females at higher executive positions in almost any field. The number although improving, continues to stand at very disappointing state.

The whole world is fighting for the equality of pay for equal work. I so wish the day when this would no longer be a figure comes soon.

This post is written as a part of April 2015 A to Z Challenge. My theme for this year is 'WOMEN and ISSUES AROUND THEME'. Click at the link to check other common issues women face in and their respective links.

Dowry system

I think if we go and look at the history, Dowry was actually not an evil practice. It was a means to distribute parent’s wealth equally among all their children - sons and daughters. Dowry in the form of gifts, wealth and property was given to the bride to maintain her own financial and social independence.

With the time, human instinct took over and people started taking undue advantages of the practice. Slowly, the things gifted to the bride turned to the groom and his family.  I am sure that the day when a groom or his family demanded any sort of gift from bride or her family must have been the starting point of  converting it into present state.

Today, the moment a girl is born in the family, parents starts saving for her marriage. The dowry system has been rooted so deeply that many people end up being the victims unknowingly.

Crown on her head,

Smile on her lips,

Frills in her dress,

Even when they went missing,

She was the princess of family.

They let her go,

High on hopes,

Hands in the prince,

To be the queen.

Throne, full of taunts,

Spiked with bruises,

She served the rule,

Paid the price.

Of not getting jewellery,

Of not getting dowry,

Of being a girl!

Right to education is one solution to this problem. But then, the past has proved that even education is not enough to curb dowry. The root cause is the mentality of society. Dowry is nowadays considered as a matter of pride.

Some rich man gave a shining luxury car to his daughter. Some richer man gifted a gold pendant to all guests in his daughter wedding. There are some phrases which force people to show off more and more. At the same time, incidents like these exert unbearable pressure on middle class and poor families. They eventually end up spending all their hard earned money on the weddings and some even borrow it as well.

Some guy refused to take any gift from the girl's family. Some well settled family married it's son to a poor family and shared the marriage expenses. Incidents like these are also heard these days, but are very rare and soon forgotten. Time has come people start taking inspiration from latter ones rather than getting pressurized from former ones.

A girl sent her barat back when she heard her to be father in law demanding dowry. Incidents like this are very-very rare. I think they are the one which are most powerful and motivational. We must try and encourager such brave hearts to a life full of happiness rather than reminding them about the negative consequences in society hence followed.

This post is written as a part of April 2015 A to Z Challenge. My theme for this year is 'WOMEN and ISSUES AROUND THEME'. Click at the link to check other common issues women face in and their respective links.

Child Marriage

She loved her toys,
As did the boys.
Her life was same,
As all children.

She loved the game,
She played a wife,
She enacted a mother,
All in innocence.

She was happy,
Replacing her doll,
She felt excited.
Little did she knew,
Expectations the act bear.

Sea of tears,
End of childhood,
Forced womanhood,
Unrealistic expectations,
All that followed,
The remorseful farewell.

Girls playing with their dolls and enacting to marry them is a common sight among all households. The scene is actually quite cute. But the society took it literally and started imitating it by marrying of kids who are equivalent to dolls themselves. While such kids include both boys and girls, the percentage of girls is on much higher side.

Why Child Marriage
1. Illiteracy
Lack of education results in non-awareness of the ill-effects child marriages cause to children's life. The girls with proper education even if married early are less likely to have motherhood in younger age thus reducing one of the major issue.
2. Poverty
Families which are financially stable generally marry their girls at a more adolescent age. The poor the family is, the more pressure they suffer to get their daughters married as soon as possible.
3. Human Trafficking
Many poor families in some areas actually sell off girls in the name of marriage for the exchange of money to support their families. Such girls have to face the gruesome effects of trafficking including mental and physical (sexual as well as non-sexual)tortures.
4. Gender Discrimination
In many cultures, girls are married at an early age to prevent their virginity. Another case of gender discrimination can be seen when the widowers irrespective of their age are remarried to younger girls.
5. Following traditions blindly
Some cultures follow the tradition of child marriages with baseless beliefs like adolescent and educated girls have diluted minds and they loose their capability of managing the family of they are unmarried for long.

It is needless to say that the impact of child marriage is harmful on both boys and girls. But then, the expectations and health - physical as well as mental impacts are more serious for the girls.
I believe that the only way to curb child marriages is through education. The more educated people are more they are aware about fatal consequences of such practices.

This post is written as a part of April 2015 A to Z Challenge. My theme for this year is 'WOMEN and ISSUES AROUND THEME'. Click at the link to check other common issues women face in and their respective links.

Birth Control Responsibility

While the Indian government is having a tough time controlling the population ever since, women in the country are facing yet another issue - The Responsibility of Birth Control. And yes, this topic is rarely talked about.
When it comes to taking on the responsibility of contraception, the proud men of house generally take a back seat. Surprisingly, science has also been in favour of male counterparts. Let's Take look at the most common contraceptive options available to women:
Pills
Sterilisation
IUD - Intrauterine Device popularly known as copper-T
There are other options aswell, but again mass of population is not aware about them.
And the options available for males - Condoms and Sterilisation.

Honestly speaking, I am yet to personally find a man who went under the knife and opted for sterilisation. Condoms - times are surely changing, but still for most couples, men try and avoid them as much as possible.  Here are some statements I have heard my friends telling me they hear:
You won't get pregnant on the first time itself. (Mostly for first nights)
I would not come inside, you know my self control.
The fun and enjoyment becomes half with this.
We can go for the emergency contraceptive this time!

It totally depends upon individual choice of couples that who wants to take up the responsibility, but  the bitter truth is that generally it's transferred to the lady. I absolutely see no harm in that unless it causes any health problems to the woman, but the fact is that pregnancy involves two people and both must share the responsibility.

Many women end up taking the task because of course the consequences affect women on a much larger scale then men and after all it's their own body. At the same time, many men very irresponsibly skip it because the results would not affect them very much. It is this mentality which is the concern and need to be addressed.

This post is written as a part of April 2015 A to Z Challenge. My theme for this year is 'WOMEN and ISSUES AROUND THEME'. Click at the link to check other common issues women face in and their respective links.

Abortion - Female Foeticide

Every now and then, somewhere around the world, a tiny innocent life is taken brutally just because it's bearers discover that it's a girl. Female foeticide - the practice of aborting a girl child while it's still in mothers womb is illegal in almost every country.
Despite of being illegal, girls child is many times not let to take birth or killed immediately after birth or worse - left unwanted to its destiny.

I know the title of post is not pleasing enough to read, but then, it's the fact. Name it anything, killing, foeticide or anything - finally it is an abortion. There are times when aborting the child is definitely required, but there has to be a valid, rational or rather moral reason behind that. Not wanting that life just because it's a girl or boy and thus might lead to some changes in lifestyle is by  no means acceptable.

Below are some lines which I think the little butterflies would have spoken if they were asked after being the unfortunate victim to ironical practice of Female Foeticide:

You cheered when I dropped,

The family celebrated when you announced,

The people judged when I formed,

The cheer turned in agony when you learned.

My blood would have been the same,

My first cry,

My first smile,

My first step,

My first word,

Except the gender,

All would have been same.

Only if, my eyes were opened,

If, I was allowed,

To form,

To arrive,

To grow...!

The major reason behind these killings right inside the womb is - Desire of a boy. People in our society have developed a culture where everyone thinks that a boy becomes the support system of parents in their old age while girls are a burden. The girls are considered a burden because of the dowry system and the fact that they move to their husband's place after marriage.
We need to open up our mind, eyes and ears with the changing times. People must understand that the situations have changed. Girls were not able to help very much earlier because:
1. Their marital places used to be far away and it took too long to send help because of poor modes of transport.
2. The modes of communications were almost nil- no phones. Thus, by the time need of help reached the daughters and they tried to help, it was generally too late.
3. Female members of home had limited access to finances.

All the above points stands void in present times. Considering the religious sentiments as-well, in our country India, a girl child or a daughter in law is termed an equivalent of Goddess  Laxmi(Money). Thus killing her for the need to a son which ultimately drills down to financial reasons is something that stands unanswered and raised eyebrows.
While it's absolutely fine to call the boys "Kul Ka Deepak"(lamp of the family heritage), it's equally insulting to call the girls "Paraya Dhan"(someone else's money).
People need to keep the the ironical proverbs on Deepak in mind - "diya tale andhera", the lamps fail to lighten up the area below themselves.

This post is written as a part of April 2015 A to Z Challenge. My theme for this year is 'WOMEN and ISSUES AROUND THEM'. Click at the link to check other common issues women face in and their respective links.

A to Z Challenge 2016 Theme Reveal - WOMEN and ISSUES AROUND THEM

I know I am late! But still, I have to post this...

Come April and every blogger participating in April A to Z Challenge stands on his/toes. This is my second year to participating and like last year, I would leave no stone un-turned to complete the same.
While choosing a theme is not mandatory, but believe me, it helps a lot. When one has a theme in mind, choosing the topic to write about becomes comparatively easy.

The theme of the challenge on my blog last year was - WOMEN IN A TO Z PROFESSIONS. It was a busy busy month for me and I lost the count of searches I made to find those women on the web.

This time, my theme is again inclined to Women. I am still shivering from inside on choosing the heavy topics I would need to write about. The theme for my April A to Z Challenge 2016 is "WOMEN and ISSUES AROUND THEM". With so much emphasis around women, there are still so many issues that persists in our society. Each day, I would pick an issue - social/health or may be something other and share my views on the same. 

Do I have my drafts ready? 
No! Well, at-least I have the topics ready for most of the letters except letter X and Z. Please drop in comments section if you have some topic on these letters.

Wish me luck...!

A to Z CHALLENGE 2016
Sunday		Monday		Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
							1	2
							Abortion - Female Foeticide	Birth Control Responsibility
3	4		5		6	7	8	9
	Child Marriage		Dowry System		Equal Pay	Feminism	Gynac Fever	H
10	11		12		13	14	15	16
	I		J		K	Law Of Nature	M	N
17	18		19		20	21	22	23
	O		P		Q	R	S	T
24	25		26		27	28	29	30
	U		V		W	X	Y	Z

Are you participating in the challenge this year? If yes, do have a theme in mind?
Share it with the readers and give them a glimpse of your blog for the coming days.
Read the theme for other participants - here.

Happy Anniversary Promises

Asking my man to make promises! Which better day than the WOMEN's day and most important, our WEDDING ANNIVERSARY. Yeah, it's our anniversary today. Here goes the open letter to my husband about the Kasams I want to take for me.

Happy Anniversary dear…
I wish that we stay as loving as always and even more and more close tom each other with each passing moment. Love you to the moon and back Mr. Sehrawat!


Remember the first anniversary, when I gifted a poem to you? Here is what I have to say to you today (It’s not that good as last time – your brother in law edited that and he is one hell of an editor)!

Dear Husband,

We met with families,
We talked with anxieties,
We laughed with surprises,
We married with rituals,
With all the passion, We fell in love.

The rituals that were,
Some promises which bore,
Most we kept,
and broke many more.
We laughed, we cried,
We fought, we sought,
We gave up, we made up,
We did it all, but together.

Today, the same day which tied us,
I want you to promise me again,
Not the traditional,
Not the emotional,
But little things,
I PROMISE,
To make you Smile...

Promise me, you would never believe in the famous quote – “Promises are meant to be broken!” You know what; all quotes and proverbs are not true. There are some which are meant to be forgotten. 

Promise me you would let me get that tattoo done - the most difficult one.. It’s one of my crazy dreams everyone have.  I know you absolutely hate them. May be that’s why it’s on top of my list. 

Promise me you would take me to scuba diving once at-least. I do not know to swim, but still, I have to do it. I absolutely love the mere thought of going under the sea among those beautiful creatures.

Promise me you would continue letting me shop nonstop anytime anywhere.  Yes, he has never ever stopped me from buying anything any time. This is one thing, all women wish for secretly!

Promise me you would pamper me like your new girlfriend always - especially when we grow old - those old couples look super cute and awesome holding hands and romancing freely.

Promise me you would stay as loving and as sexy as always.

With Love,
Amita...

Husband dear is not going to like it, but how can any girl not love love Ranveer Singh. Watch him below as he take some sexy vows for his lady...


I’m blogging about the kasams I want from my man this Women’s Day with the #SadaSexy activity at BlogAdda