Why should I be ashamed?
Unapologetic, Unfettered,
They act, they speak;
Claiming to protect me,
Unleashing the critique.
Naked mindset ought to be blamed,
Not me...why should I be ashamed?
I deny your thumb rules,
I won't marry, I'm not semi-clad;
Fed you, bred you,
Otherwise what you had?
Respect oozes from my name,
Then...why should I be ashamed?
Chalk a circle around yourself,
You shall live and die in it;
Without a woman standing besides,
You can hardly do a bit.
Broken, twisted, with hardly anything to claim,
Standing tall...why should I be ashamed?
*My unapologetic reply to Khaps and to the 'moral police' of Haryana (sadly, my native state).
*Click and Listen this poem on SoundCloud
*Click and Listen this poem on SoundCloud
This thought provoking post also applies to all other 'policing' prevailing in other states too.
ReplyDeleteI agree Sir, it applies to every part of our country.
DeleteHard-Hitting! I wrote one too. Another one is coming up in sometime. They have managed to piss me off big time.
ReplyDeleteI think everybody is angry with the current state of affairs. I read your first post and will read the second in a couple of minutes. :)
DeleteVery well written Saru, as always. The repetitive use of the phrase makes it a bold statement too.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Abhra, coming from you it is a big compliment :)
DeleteWell written.. it is such a shameful situation there... those as%^&oles should be ashamed... not junta..
ReplyDeleteTrue that...Wish we could do something to change it...
Deletei don't know what we men are doing.
ReplyDeletesad but this situation is question mark on society.
It is a big question mark on where we are heading...
Deleteमधुरेश के लिंक से आपकी रचना का पता चला. बहुत सुन्दर और उन्मुक्त भाव हैं आपकी रचना में एक दुखद सत्य के बारे में . लेकिन दुःख की बात है अब भी अशिक्षा और सामजिक बंधनों में कैद स्त्री (खासकर गाँवों में)बारहा ज़ुल्म की शिकार होती है और कुछ हंगामे के बाद फिर वही क्रूरता एक बार फिर से. जो लोग इसे दूर करने की नुस्खे बता रहे है वो ये नहीं क़ुबूल कर पाते की ऐसे कृत्य करने वाले लोग दानव होते है मानव नहीं. ना ही वो देखते हैं कुछ सौ साल के पहले के इतिहास को. मुगलों के हरम को जहाँ उन ऊँची चाहरदीवारियों के अंदर, दुनिया की गुस्ताखनिगाही से दूर हो कर भी ज़ुल्म का शिकार बनना पड़ता था. अपने देश में बहुत परिवर्तन की ज़रूरत है. महिलाओं को स्वाबलंबी बनने देने की ज़रूरत है.
ReplyDeleteI agree, those men are animals. We need change and women have to have belief in themselves. Thanks for sharing your views and welcome here :)
DeleteYour controlled rage comes through your words! Well done!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteOh!
ReplyDeletenicely expressed the emotions
in such difficult situation.
Compelling to rethink.
thanks for the presentation.
Thank you Sir!
DeleteInspiring..
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteWonderful poem depicting the state of women and their ideal response to what's happening in the state!
ReplyDeleteGlad that you feel that the response is ideal. Thanks for reading Binu!
DeleteSaru, so difficult to change the medevial mindsets that cannot look beyond their nose! The sad plight is so well depicted but what you said is true, about incompleteness of a man without woman!Remember even in olden days the concept of Ardhnarishwara existed which people have forgotten conveniently:(
ReplyDeleteYes, we forget what is not required. Actually we are so confused in our existence. I wish things improve soon.
DeleteThanks for reading and sharing your views Sir.
I can feel the anger oozing out in this post and rightly so. I can very well understand where you are coming from. I feel even more angered after listening to the "solutions" given by these Khaps about reducing the age limits of women for marriage. That will not solve the problem, it will only ensure that a woman will be raped at least by one man. Pathetic. I feel disgusted to call myself a man because I will also be judged in the same breath as these rapist bastards.
ReplyDeleteYour anger is quite evident in your poem Akshay. I agree when you said that if married, she will be raped by only one man. Things are deteriorating and we can only hope for a better future...
DeleteQuite a flow of anger through those few words.
ReplyDeleteIt was required!
Deletethe message has been delivered strongly!
ReplyDeleteThanks Joshi!
Delete"Standing tall...why should I be ashamed?"...You have rightly pointed out to something which is more important than even punishing the culprits...the victims should first realize that they are not at fault...they are not week and meek...
ReplyDeleteYes! And I think our society should also think like that, it will be very comforting to the victim. We certainly need to evolve morally. Thanks for reading Amar.
Deleteand other day i saw in one of the episodes of satyamev jayate, the SP of Haryana police making futile efforts for women rights and protection ...how untrue was that ?
ReplyDeletevery well written Saru !
Of course, it is not the reality. Thanks for reading Rahul.
DeleteStrong, dignified message, Saru!
ReplyDeleteDo go through this when you can :
http://lafemmenirvana.blogspot.in/2012/10/letter-to-torch-bearers-of-indian.html
A brilliant take on the current situation Nirvava. Thanks for a wonderful read. :)
DeleteI hope the moral police also look into their own homes and see what the MEN in the house are doing
ReplyDeleteand we talk of being the top most nation .. HOW can that be
Bikram's
I hope so too...I doubt we can be No. 1 nation.
DeleteIt's been a great repartee to khaps who have been trodding us as we are not human. Very true! without women no man could stand.
ReplyDeleteGreatly expresses! :)
Men and Women complete each other, we have to understand and accept that.
DeleteThanks for Gayatri.
Hi Saru, well written.I remember Satyamev Jayate episode on khap panchayath.When the audience and Amir was blaming khaps rules and regulations and telling them that they dont have any rights to take law in their hands their face was red with anger.Instead of understanding that everybody is against them they still want to be rulers.
ReplyDeleteYour anger against them is very well expressed.Hope situations will be better in future.
I think they can never understand, for that you need brain and I doubt them having it. Though, as you said, we can certainly hope for a better future.
DeleteThanks for reading!
Thought Provoking and beautifully expressed !!!
ReplyDeleteCan really feel the anger in your words !!
Happy Blogging and take care !!!
Thank you Ankit!
DeleteLike always you do beautiful things when you put words togheter.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a blessed week:-)
Thank you Tania :) You too have a great week.
DeleteHmmm...nice and strong reply to the stupid mindset of these people, hope God will give them, a heart to introspect themselves and this can not happen until and unless we start ignorning them and protest strongly who favour their thought and allowed them to make their muscle stronger by letting them exercise freely.
ReplyDeleteI would like to accuse both media n politicians for their selfish behaviour. One is greedy for TRP n another for vote. If we seriously want to change the mindset of these people and want them to make them realize that they are wrong. We should start ignorning them and let them feel we don't required them....btw nice expression of thought but it could be more powerful if you had expressed these thought in Hindi otherwise I liked the attitude of this poem especially the title of this poem.
Keep rocking n TC...
You have raised an interesting point here. Yeah, ignoring them will solve some purpose. And I will try to write something in Hindi as well. It's been really long that I posted in Hindi.
DeleteThanks for reading and sharing your views. :)
Wow!Amazing verse,powerful words,forceful and forthright! Brilliant stuff. Have a great day Saru.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sir, you too enjoy your stay in US.
DeleteProfound Saru. I can see the anger, the pain, the frustration of what we all civilized humans must feel.
ReplyDelete'Civilized', you said everything in one word.
Deletesituation was not good before, now is getting worse...
ReplyDeleteI agree...
DeleteIt's really irritating.Powerful reply indeed. Smart take Saru!:)
ReplyDeleteThank you Tarang!
DeleteHard hitting.. If this poem is shown to those Khaps then the guilt for making such statement will kill them.. Well expressed..
ReplyDeleteI doubt that, if something should kill them that it should be the shame of their own deeds. Thanks for reading Sonia.
DeleteHaryana is not only yours, it is ours too! If there is a burden, we all carry it together or throw it together. We don't have to feel ashamed about what they do. We have to find out a way, that is the only way!
ReplyDeleteYes, we have to find a solution and no one is ashamed. It's a reply to those who think we should be sorry for their mistakes.
Deletevery well written saru..!!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteSadly, it's a state where no one is ashamed. And, is this really only Haryana's story? Our entire society is going through some really perverted times.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is the story of India but Haryana aced this time. We have to evolve as a country.
Deletenicely written and indeed a good answer too..
ReplyDeleteThank you Monali!
Deleteunfortunately whatever a woman does gets beaten up a lot, good post saru! Whatever happened ,was truly, shameful
ReplyDeleteTrue that!
DeleteThis is very very powerful and very well-addressed!! Very well done Saru! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Pranita! :)
DeleteI only wish the concerned could understand the spirit of this truth!
ReplyDeleteI wish so too...
DeleteChalk a circle around yourself - I like that.
ReplyDeleteGood to know that Sir!
Deleteliked it.. pretty ruthless and biased rules are made by khap.. ur short poem clearly defines d atrocities of the women living in such areas..
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteWonderul lines Saru, have tweeted and shared it. Hope it reaches to the Khaps...
ReplyDeleteI hope so too and hope they think about it. Thanks Priti!
DeleteVery well written, Saru. Loved it!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ekta!
DeleteAre men owners of women and girls?
ReplyDeleteAre women and girls their slaves?
Why are they treated like properties?
Where are we heading to?
No, No and can't answer the other two questions...
Deletebeautiful expression...we call the Taliban barbarians.?.we can beat them any day in our treatment of our women.
ReplyDeleteWe are becoming nothing but their replica. Sad situation!
DeleteI tried to come up with an equivalent word in English but somehow this one came from my heart. Tod-fod jawab to the Khaps and other such useless establishments in the name of moral policing!
ReplyDeleteWe need to tell them strongly, hence this reply. Glad you liked it Deepa!
DeleteThe angst of a lady aptly depicted Saru.
ReplyDeleteThere is indeed no need to be ashamed. Break all these bonds and fly high, the sky is the limit. Fear not for fear shall be your undoing.
Very good post Saru.
Hope it awakens the people.
Regards
Jay
http://road-to-sanitarium.blogspot.in/
Well said Jay! Truly inspiring and motivating.
DeleteThanks for such a beautiful comment.
A strong message in a beautiful poem! I love these two lines;
ReplyDelete"Without a woman standing besides,
You can hardly do a bit."
Sometimes its just sad to learn about the things happening in this world, at such a modern stage.
Right, the situation is really sad. Thanks for reading dear!
DeleteKhaps... Hmmm, they are bunch of idiots!
ReplyDeleteAnyways, A+ Work! Phenomenal!
Thank you and I am nodding on the first sentence.
DeleteBravo! That should be the spirit of every women. A poignant piece, Saru.
ReplyDelete" I deny your thumb rules,
I won't marry, I'm not semi-clad;" --This says it all!!
Thank you Ma'am! :)
DeleteGreat retort!! Wish they would confine themselves to chalk circles!
ReplyDeleteWish so too...Thanks for reading!
DeleteA fitting reply.I love your sentiments & the way you have expressed them-it is they who should be chained & home-bound.
ReplyDeleteYeah, for their stone age thinking. Thanks for reading Ma'am.
DeleteProvoking
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteTrue, I wish somebody could read it out loud to these people!
ReplyDeleteThey need it, I guess...
Deletetrue said...
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing...
:)
DeleteBefitting...thought-provoking!
ReplyDeleteSad state :(
It is indeed a sad state!
DeleteWell written Saru, Speaks for all of us ~
ReplyDeleteThanks Ghazala!
DeleteLoud, strong and hard hitting... a job very well done Saru!
ReplyDeleteThank you Arti!
DeleteThere are some outstanding metaphors here
ReplyDeleteRespect oozes from my name
naked mindset.
And most importantly, I feel that anger that heat on your face, while I read this poem! Thats is the intensity. And I share this anger and intensity with you. Angry terribly angry disgusted. Native state or not, it is our country in 2012 and this bullshit is what we face!
I feel angry at how we think, how we behave and how we act. We have no morals and reading headlines everyday is the most disappointing time. I agree with whatever you said Jenny.
DeleteUpfront and loud... a strong message.. wish it was read by the wrong doers..
ReplyDeleteThanks Manjulika!
DeleteRead this somewhere- "shutthefucKHAP" .So agree with it. They're sick.
ReplyDeleteEven I agree with it!
DeleteOh how beautiful and it touched!! Sorry for my ignorance but I did not know what Khaps are but reading about it right now!! <3
ReplyDeleteShopping, Style and Us
Good that you don't know about them. They are not worth it.
DeleteFrankly speaking I feel ashamed that we have moved to such state of lawlessness. The Khaps have become a law onto themselves like the talibans. A nation which doesn't know how to respect its women can never prosper.
ReplyDeleteTraditionally in India, women were respected. Women like Gargi, Maitreyee etc had their place under the sun. A few hundred years of Moghul rule followed by the British rule appears to have corrupted our DNA. Sad indeed that we keep on tolerating these khaps.
We are not civilized anymore, we are actually confused to our existence. As you said, things are bad and we can't prosper with such a state. The point of Mughal and British invasion is new to me.
Deletehard hitting perfect
ReplyDeleteexcellent poem
superb one.. as usual..
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteSometimes I feel ashamed to be a man in this world. And why shouldn't I be if there are still such people around. Our culture and society has never properly stood up against these men who never know to look beyond the surface and all they have known and done in their lifetime is run their mouths. Your words epitomize the burning agony and angst of several women (and men). I wish the searing anger of your words would just burn them to ashes.
ReplyDeleteIf words could do that Raj, it would have been great. But these men are living in stone age with no remorse at all. Sigh!
DeleteWell composed saru-jee.. It is the Khaps & moral police who need to be ashamed of themselves.. nice read..
ReplyDeleteYes, they should be and thanks for reading Sunil.
Deletesaruuu.,
ReplyDeletebeautiful.. strong.. stern.. powerful..
you can make anything sound soo good, be it even anger and hate..
Thanks Dipthi, I will cherish your comment forever. BTW, that reminds me of something my husband says to me, 'You make even the dullest things live.'
DeleteThanks for reading and a wonderful comment.:)
hehehehe., i like that.. 'you make even the dullest things live'
DeleteMe too...
ReplyDeleteSuch a strong message this is! Moral policing has always been beyond my understanding. I don't if we should call it plain ruthlessness or immaturity that creates this sort of shameful atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteI think both Harsha.
DeleteInteresting piece, Saru...glad you were able to express your anger, those that which is close to the heart is often difficult to express..
ReplyDeleteYeah, it pinches a lot when the wrong deeds are somehow connected to you. Glad you find it interesting Bhavana :)
DeleteThese Khap guys need some treatment in their own style. The biggest hypocrisy of our society is that it treats criminals as victors and victims as criminals
ReplyDeleteYes, we treat criminals as victims and victims as criminals. And yes we are a hypocrite nation...
DeleteReally its very difficult situation.. I always thinks what could be best solution for this..but no answer came out of my mind..
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's very difficult to find an answer to it. Thanks for reading :)
DeleteApart from liking it, this one will surely pinch them hard ...those people
ReplyDeleteIf used in protest activites and wiill also open up eyes of those who are silent
Thanks for a generous comment Chetan. :)
Deletethe fire of awareness..,
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteWhy i should be ashamed ??? I havnt done anything wrong thn why am I being punished?? beautiful !! and yes congratulations for completing two successful years of blogging (read in yr post) .. one more thing I must have to say .. yr website is very impressive and I loved the images and photographs you have chosen for yr poems/stories/quotes.
ReplyDeleteExactly, we shouldn't be ashamed of our acts. We are free to do what we desire, like men. Glad you like my blog and the choice of pictures. :)
DeleteSo damn true.. why should I be ashamed.. Well written.. Hope it reaches those dumb minds who speak so lowly of women..
ReplyDeleteHope so too...Thanks for reading, Jyotsna.
Delete