Run Of The Mill Lives

The International Women’s Day on 8th march was nearing and my creativity inside tide up intermittently for the expressions, but the overwhelming fogginess was profound than the clarity about the topic.

Sitting with laptop the mind raced and hankered to diverse subjects-one after another. And then iconic Aung San Suu Kyu- the Nobel laureate for peace haunted more than anyone else. Her appealing yet turbulent, out of box way of life, her marriage to a man one year younger than her. Her education at Cambridge, her mediocre life in Britain, her political career at Burma and subsequent house arrest of 32 years. Her youthful look, her poise her unfathomable spirit there was allure in everything about her. The subject was taking shape in me, and then unexpected I under took the journey—

The train had started at usual time at around 6.00 p.m. To relax the encountered melee of startup journey it seemed a big relief to stretch a little on accommodated space of the berth.

Around mid night the occupant of lower birth made the entry. Subsequently a harsh, croaked voice pierced the slumber of everyone in compartment.

“Whose footwear is these?”

Groggily someone replied in irritation- “move them aside and put your luggage beneath.” After her boisterous entry it was her discussion that outlaid us more. Her discussion at the audible limit ranged from politics to inflation lasted till dawn bereaving many of them to their sweet dreams. In next quarter of time I was out of slumber tried to take stock of her. An elderly lady in salwar suit with short hair do –not so condusive to talk with, I opinioned and tossed on berth with annoyance.

In the morning alighting from the upper berth my husband-hushed me that take care of the lady and don’t disturb her. She is a cancer patient she must not be disturbed. When I alighted down I sat at the end of her lower berth taking care.

My engaged attention broke by her query-“are you working lady?”smilingly I replied in affirmation. The lady does not seem so crass in the morning. “Where do you work? Sitting on her seat she initiated.

Few moments of mingling revealed more about her. A retired university staff she was 65 years old. Diagnosed with cancer in 2003 and subsequent three operations she had been fighting the lethal battle on her own.

She was on her way to half yearly check up to the leading health center.

Her indomitable spirit seemed impressive. I didn’t see a single tinge of apprehension in her voice. The way she had been handling her finance and her ailment without any help was amazing. An enthusiastic raconteur and full of social life she talked on every issue from her food habit to lodging.

During the journey the morning news paper too fuelled the my imagination about the Aruna-the nurse at KMC Mumbai who was fighting the life for 38 years. Her plea for euthanasia got rejected by Supreme Court but her fight was still on.

More than year old news still refuses to leave memory. “What does keep her going?” Is the biological superiority of female body which is equipped with power of creation? In the mortal world we name it “ Shakti.”

Then I felt a pressing need to celebrate woman’s day to salute those unwavering spirit who most often go unnoticed.

In my neighbourhood, I got another lady fighting the emperor of malady.However juggling her ailment still her eyes focused on child progress and husband needs. When she talked about her chemo she chuckled in between her narration as if she had been recounting a travelogue.

Heaped with social responsibility, in today’s world Indian women are the most stressed. Managing the two worlds of career and home very few realize her unsupported stature in the home and society. A manager of her nuclear family, as a career woman or home manager she always lacks support of care giver during her needs.

In Indian setup she lacks the facilities like crèche and dignified place or home for parents. Even the mentioning of these needs raises frown as if she is a vampire. Ready to dump children in strangers hand and ready to leave the old without any support and care.

Just be humane and think about the necessary strength she requires carrying the day and obligating her responsibilities. And how long she can sustain herself without pushing in depression and persistent fatigue. A common companion of Indian women!

The world is changing faster so the woman as an individual- to save the society we need to save the woman. Since century she has been taking care of everyone. In today world equipped with education and aspiration she needs some understanding and change in family setup to sustain and showcase her potential. May almighty fulfill to all! Happy women’s day!