It is us who mark male or female as our sexual identity on application forms. We are aware of it. But do we know who creates the distinction between a MAN and a WOMAN? Our session with Preeti Das made me think on gender from a different side today. Masculine and feminine factors do not pertain absolutely to your sexual identity. As a whole society, we label masculinity to a man and feminine or precisely a soft and elegant character with women. In Hindu mythology, god Vishnu is defined with feminine characteristic and Shiva is masculine. It clearly indicates that gender identity has nothing to do with your body type.
A woman can be a bread earner or a bread maker, its her choice, but the shackles of society bind a person to remain in a predefined gender boundary, which is nothing but a limitation of an undeveloped society.
Hinduism is not a religion, its a culture which follows "SANATAN DHARMA" which says "VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM"- all are equal as a family in this earth, irrespective of gender, caste or religion. Every religion gives you equality.
But we have adopted these philosophies only in a wrong sense, thus the dominance of men increased in society.
A man is not meant to be caretaker of his child, but he can rape. He is devaluated if he holds kitchen appliances, A woman isnt encouraged or respected enough to take a stand in society.
People say "behind every successful man, there is a woman" but I ask them how a man can be successful if his woman is still behind him.
People worship "Kali" to be blessed with powers, she is also a goddess, precisely a woman, but they hesitate for their own girl to be a powerful leader, a soldier, a sportswoman, the FUTURE.
Is she only meant to produce future generations, irrespective of her ability to conquer the world like Queen of Jhansi? Parents want their child to be a Sachin, Ambani, Ronaldo or Salmaan but not a Sania Mirza, Indra Nooyi, Mary Kom or Pratibha Patil. They are happy if her husband earns lacs of rupees monthly.
That is like choking of immortal powers of feminism that can lead to true development. "Yatra naryastu pujyante, ramante tatra devta" - where women are worshiped, that becomes heaven. But heaven cannot be attained by us until this veil of misconception about our "predefined gender" exists.
About the author: Anshu Verma is from Udaipur, Rajasthan currently a final year student of Economics. He has been associated with Sauhard since last one year and was part of the fellowship batch last year. He has extended the fellowship this year.
nice yaar..
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