Women Empowerment: Why The Hypocrisy?

For some reason, people have always considered, from time immortal, that jobs are gender specific. Each and every job comes with a tag pertaining to certain gender.

When all outdoor tasks were for the Male members, female were to be confined to their indoor tasks and this was the case until about the late 20th century. Slowly the situation changed and there came a situation were any task can be done by anyone; all it needs is passion and persistence.

When a male looks after the household chores or when a female becomes the breadwinner of the family (even when the spouse was alive and well) the society is not able to take this as the stepping stone towards a better living. The society as a whole considers this scenario as an ill-effect of either the "powerless male" or "over-powered female".

If you are thinking that this isn't happening in OUR society, think again. Ask the lady in middle 30's who sells flowers at the corner of your street, or the old lady who stands everyday under the scorching sun to sell coconut water or to the teenage girl who sells these cheap scarves in the traffic signal.

Had they been treated the same way their sibling brother was treated, a lot would have changed; they'd have escaped those consent “wish you were a boy” talk from their parents, those ill-words from their spouses, those “you are a prey to me” look from the men whom they deal with day in and day out.

Who do you think is responsible of this gap?

When we boost we are technologically developing leaps and bounds, women who have unfortunately lost their husbands are still treated without humanity. Though there is no more of setting them on fire, they are still killed everyday by the looks, words and deeds of others. Just answer my single question, is a widower treated the same way? Isn’t the loss the same on both sides? Yet how can it be so different?

And being a woman, I can say that the gap has been narrowed to what it was a few decades ago. But still we have a long way to go.

I am raising my hands to bridge this gap. Are you? 

The Movies And The Controversies: Why The Ban?

By Harinie Thiagarajan:

A few days ago, while returning from work, a particular tit-bit played in a local FM caught my attention and kept me thinking for a long time. The scene in it goes like this. “There is a wealthy king who wanted to take a movie that will be an entertainer and as well as an eye-opener for the people of his country. After many months of intense thinking, he called up his minister and advisory board to reveal his 3 top stories among which they had to select the best. With each story he told, the listeners came up with some protest for either its title or the story or the character depiction. Frustrated, the king gave up the idea of making a movie forever.” This ad ends with the RJ saying comically, it is way easier to direct an adult movie as it draws less controversy than any other movie in India.

Now think again. Isn’t there a bitter truth in whatever he said? Despite all the protests related to women empowerment and women safety, adult movies are still being filmed and screened in cities without much trouble whereas the movies that have actually been directed to bring about some revolution in the minds of the people have got caught in the most troubling controversies.

But the shocking thing is, it is not something new to our film industry. Right from 1970’s, certain movies have been critically devastated. Be it the Aandhi (1975) with its screenplay similarity to Indira Gandhi’s life and political trajectory, or the Bandit Queen (1994) which is based on the true story of Phoolan Devi, or Bombay (1995) for its depiction of communal riots, or Fire (1998) for portraying a lesbian relationship, or Aaja Nachle (2007) for citing caste-demeaning remarks in the title track. Not just them, Black Friday (2007), Parzania (2007), Jodhaa Akbar (2008),Firaaq (2008), Billu (2009), My name is Khan (2010), Singham (2011), Aarakshan (2011), Gangs Of Wasseypur (2012) and now Vishwaroopam (2013) have all been the victims of such controversies.

Though controversies actually kindle the viewers’ curiosity and eventually help the movie to become a blockbuster hit, it puts the movie and everyone in it, into a bad light. I agree that an entertainer shouldn’t crash anyone’s feelings. But it isn’t fair on our parts to blame the entire movie or its maker when some things are to be said point blank. I am not supporting the fact that movies are to be made to hurt people’s sentiments, but my point is that there is no need to create unwanted hype and controversy over movies that are actually made on a much plainer sense than perceived.

If people really want to put sense into the movies, then my humble request is to eradicate those songs and dialogues that have cheap meaning. Isn’t that more awkward than depicting the truth?

Check out my other articles on Youth Ki Awaaz here on http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/?s=harinie

It is not a matter of seconds!!

Recently I saw this advertisement in a regional channel where a mother asks the audience what makes a kid double smart and says that they need for wait for a few more days to know that secret.  I, like the million or so fans, was curious that secret. After weeks for prolonged trepidation, the answer was unveiled. It was an advertisement for some dhal variety.

Now, don’t think I am getting nowhere to the point. When we were all kids, the products that were targeted on us were candies, ice creams and other such mouth-watering delicacies. I still remember the song of the ad when for the Bubblegum named Boomer was first introduced (which would be like more than 10 years ago). Kids in those advertisements were happy and enjoying; they didn’t not bother marks or tournaments or anything. And the moment I saw such an ad, I had also enjoyed it and went along with the next 20-30 seconds it lasted.

My point is, the kids in today’s generation are pressurized to the maximum and that being showcased in the ads too. Why should a kid always be a smarty-pants to make his parents happy? Why should a kid always has to excel everyone in his class (that includes his friends too) to make his teachers all proud? At the end of the day, this makes the children a mere mark making machine. Is that what we want from the group of the society who has, at the maximum, a few more years to be care-free before they start running in this marathon of life?

I know that in this competitive world, I shouldn’t be lethargic and never bat an eye because even in a split second, thousands and thousand would race me and reach the destination before I did. But isn’t it up to the individual to choose that destination?

We aren’t sheep to follow the herd and the moment everyone realizes it, the so-called race for living will become a comical phrase; we all will start living for work than work for living! 

Ah!!! 2012...

2012! Everything I asked for and even more..

Just like any other New Year’s eve, 2012 started off the same way, never-ending expectations and hopes with fear tagged along. I asked for just one thing in 2012. That was, to have no regrets for whatsoever that happens this year. And now, I say proudly that I really don’t have any regrets at all. 2012 was one hell of a roller-coaster ride for me.

I am and have always been unstable as far as emotions are concerned and 2012 made me realize that there is nothing wrong in being so.  I was happy, strong, sad, naughty, vulnerable, week, flirty, rude, sweet, heartbroken, emotional, lovely, irritating, in love and possibly everything that a human can possibly be. And what’s more, every time I was one of those things, something or the other happened that made me realize it is never wrong in being who you want to be.

This year is possibly the year, when I have interacted with so many new people, visited so many new places, did so many new things that I have never dreamt of in 2011. From a small town girl college, I got introduced to media, received an honorary award (which is by and large, the biggest possible award I have ever been acknowledged with), traveled all the way to Pune and started my first baby step in returning the goodness to the world.

So here I say, with head held high, I have grownup and all thanks to you, 2012..