Do we need a Women's day?

p.s. I know, Women's day is long gone. This was lying in my drafts for some time now and I didn't want to delete it.

 
Why should you celebrate Women's day?
And if you must, why limit it to a single day?
Why the need for a particular day?

An occasion is cause for celebration
But a woman? She is a person
holding humane qualities like anyone
just being the reason of her creation


We were created all for a reason
God never preferred one over the other
Why then do some rather
 be a man and not woman?


We all have some of each other
Neither is complete without the other
Every woman has a man in her
A man in himself is complete neither


Neither is superior
neither is inferior
the world wouldn't be fair
if one out-weighed the other

Man and woman; yang and yin
have qualities of being
both: masculine and feminine
let us hence cherish every being

Not just on a special day
but every breathing day
so that a person does not
remain an occasion
to warrant an occasional celebration 

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The Women In My Life

Women’s web is hosting a “Feminspiration” contest to mark the 100th anniversary celebrations of International Women’s day. The contest requires an article to be written about any woman (en) who is an inspiration to others. As I pondered over which one great woman stands worthy to be saluted, my mind drew a blank. I could not single out any one particular figure. I realized that I need not look beyond the women who played a significant role in my life -my mother, my Grandmother, my sister and my maternal aunt. Sure, they have not cut a big name for themselves but they are all inspiring in their own way, each leading a different yet similar life; in bringing out the inner strength to live life with a smile on their face. I thank women’s web for giving me an opportunity to celebrate the women in my life.

My maternal grandmother is a person who can give tough competition to any woman-entrepreneur of today. She is ever enterprising, full of energy and ideas with a never-say-quit attitude. For a woman who although does not have a formal education, is very street-smart and knows the ways of the world. I envy her motivational power and wish many times that I had inherited this quality from her. Even at her age when one would be content letting others take charge of the housework, she is ever-eager to lend help in the kitchen and even enthusiastic about dishing out savouries and sweets that are tedious to prepare.

My mother balanced home and work with single-minded determination only so that we (my sister and I) could have a more comfortable childhood and could be offered the luxuries money could provide. We grew up under the watchful eyes and loving guidance of our grandparents (her parents). She missed our childhood and growing years not because she was a career woman but because she had to pitch in monetarily to the family kitty. In spite of being a working woman, she tended to all our needs-from taking care of our studies to cooking our favourite food to buying all that we asked for. She always gave us quality time during her working days.

My chitti (mother’s sister) is a second mother to me. She is a woman, who, in spite of all odds has faced life with quiet dignity. With my uncle spending long hours and sometimes days at a stretch at work, she spent a greater part of her youthful and married life single-handedly bringing up her only son. Being in a single-income household and with a nothing to boast about income, she saved every penny for the son’s future never caring for herself. A great cook and homemaker, she never shies from feeding large crowds-even strangers.

My sister is the ideal daughter, sister and wife all rolled into one; a fantastic multi-tasker and gifted person. A grounded person, she has always been a great support system during my low-phase in life. She does everything to perfection. With a travelling hubby, she single-handedly manages the finances, the home, plays parent to a demanding toddler, pursues her hobby and also socializes. They recently shifted to a new home and she was the sole person to make sure that the house took a ship-shape look, from supervising the site to coordinating the workers to making numerous calls to the interior decorator.

These are qualities that truly make a woman a class apart. In the daily grind, we somehow overlook and take these for granted. Whether as homemakers or working force, life is never easy for women. Three cheers to them and the entire women clan!

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