The Drama Queen

It was a normal day for us. Children were back from school, getting into their mode of playtime. My daughter came up to me saying that she has a little homework where she needs my help. She had to interview somebody for her English project. She declared that she had chosen me as I was easily available. I readily went with the flow.  She was ready with her notepad and pencil. A bit shy, but excited too. Here’s how it went:- She: So, Mrs. Mamma, how old are you? Me: Urghhh! I am not doing this.  She(almost rolling her eyes): OK, we can skip that part. Me: Fine, I am 36. Don’t publish this! She(chuckling): Everybody knows that Mums and Dads are old people. Anyway, what are your hobbies? Me: I enjoy listening to music and reading.  She: Ohkay! But I haven’t seen you read EVER! Me: That’s because you guys took away all my books. She: Haha! Thank you for introducing Harry Potter in our lives, though! But I haven’t seen you enjoying music, either. ...

We all are seeing several thought provoking posts on the social media, of late. The highlight being: ‘Meri Beti, Mera Abhimaan’. Quite a commendable campaign. It is an extension to the ‘Beti Bachaao, Beti Padhaao’ movement started earlier, nationwide. I hugely applaud the intention of the mission. We have known the discrimination against the girls and women in our society, dating back to as old as History can remember. How they have been considered the ‘weaker sex’ and ‘shown their rightful place’ in the society! How the education and awareness and rights and power and decision-making and sometimes even food rationing were in favour of the ‘men’ of the family! How mothers and sisters and daughters and daughters-in-law were subdued and the favour almost always tilted towards their male counterparts. Women are anything but weak. There is a little joke that is doing the rounds: ‘A woman in labour pain understands exactly what a man goes through when he is suffering from cough an...