In the series on India Empowered in the Indian Express, Fali S Nariman writes on an ideal situation where women are empowered and equal – in the eyes of the law and society… He quotes this poem written by Kartikeya Sarabhai after after seeing the Mahabharata at Avignon.
All rights belong to husbands so says society,
But to be shared by five, – a commodity in the market place?…
All this I accepted, became the wife of five – to each gave a son
I was the only wife of none.
Gambling they went, invited by Duryodhana
Lost all they had, losing even themselves
I unspared was dragged into the court of men
Which were these bonds of Dharma
That tied my husbands?
What kind of husbands these, that are tied by the Dharma of lies?
Years went by, our lives we lived together
Started on our journey’s end towards the snow-clad Himalayas
I fell first, no Pandava stretched a hand
Towards paradise they walked, no one stayed by my side.
Then, I realised heaven too must be only for men
Better then to rest in the warm embrace of this snow.
Also reminded of a post Anand had written recently – Sita continues to be abandoned. And Anand Bakshi’s lyrics in Amar Prem – tu kaun hai tera naam hai kya, Sita bhi yahan badnaam hui.
To the Indian woman – who are you, what is your identity? Sita herself had to go through her ordeal by fire – to prove… what? her chastity? And we dream of equality…
This is sahir at his most accurate:
Aurat ne janam diya mardon ko mardon ne use baazar diya
jab jii chaahaa kuchalaa masalaa, jab jii chaahaa dutkaar diyaa
and this a later stanza from the same song:
mardo.n ne banaayii jo rasme.n, unako haq kaa faramaan kahaa
aurat ke zindaa jal jaane ko, kurbaanii aur balidaan kahaa
qismat ke badale roTii dii, usako bhii ehasaan kahaa
sung by Lata Mangeshkar with Quiet Anger. The film is Sadhna !
i remembered one more stanza – so here goes
jin hoTho.n ne inako pyaar kiyaa, un hoTho.n kaa vyaapaar kiyaa
jis kokh me.n inakaa jism Dhalaa, us kokh kaa kaarobaar kiyaa
jis tan se uge kopal ban kar, us tan ko zaliil-o-khAr kiyaa
boss, Sahir was something else. direct, to the point and better than all the allegories. which is probaly why he is not quoted!
I think Laloo’s comment is so apt: In India, women eat only “Jhootha” and “Joota”…
But things are changing and I must say that it takes time…For instance, American women got their right to vote only last century after the suffragate movement… And now 75 years later, they may have a female president… In such a large country like ours, I believe it’s only women who can help themselves by asserting themselves stronger
I think we all believe a lot in symbolism and think that it will resolve all issues. Like Reservations, Woman Prime Minister, etc etc …. It helps no doubt, but more is needed. Women need to be empowered more and I am talking about rural women here.
Things will improve because lot of NGOs are doing amazing work in that regard. Small steps and we will make the journey.
Did you see Matrubhoomin BTW?
Harini, yes I know this song though I couldn’t remember past the first few lines – and yes Sahir was something else 🙂
but allegories and roundabouts are fun too in poetry, don’t you think? this was one of Anand Bakshi’s last few greats, I guess – of late, he’s been into bhelpuri-mixing with Subhash Ghai and the likes – gud se meetha ishq, imli se khatta ishq types.
and what are you doing leaving comments on my blog at 11 in the night? are you not in hospital? or have you sneaked out after putting the surgeon under anasthesia?
Shivaji, sure we have had a woman PM but what has that done for any woman in India? The majority of women in India are not even aware that they *have* rights – forget knowing what kind of rights and about asserting themselves…
And Laloo said that? that is rich.
@mit, you are right about the symbolism – but that is what happens with a lot of NGO work too – it is restricted to a limited scope and area – NGOs have not cracked scalability – except for a very few. The self help group movement has been very powerful though in many parets of the country… I think it should be taken forward and introduced everywhere…
nope to mathrubhomi – just haven’t the guts to watch that movie…
tomorrow is d day. visit my blog and tell me how you like the new look
oh putting the surgeon under anesthesia sounds good 🙂 oh and i am hosting the blog mela too 🙂 should be fun
h
that story of draupadi’s last walk always makes me so angry 🙁
Harini, enough. hope you manage to stay away from your blog at the hospital. and not develop painful withdrawal symptoms 🙂
Uma, Draupadi’s story as such makes me angry. and sad.
Sita is not empowered, because we all empower Kaikeyis and Mantharas.
hi
Could you please the full version of the poem I, Draupadi
Thanx
angelynn, think this is the full version – atleast this is what I have read – can search some more and post it if you want…