Going ahead with the distinctly different and lesser known voices( I know it is relative, what I mean is other than Lata-Asha-Rafi-Kishore), I will trace some songs of Runa Laila. Born in Bangladesh, she sang very few songs for Hindi movies though she has been a star of the entire sub-continent. This is one of her non-film songs but more popular and timeless than any film song could ever become.
While the focus shifts to Modi and other issues, let’s not lose sight of our aim to get justice for the 23 year old physiotherapy student battling for life in Delhi. Our prayers are with her and therefore I pick this prayer which cuts across religious and cultural barriers. I am sure there is no Indian who fails to get moved by this gutsy, spunky prayer. People from all faiths and walks of life are behind this brave girl who comes from an ordinary, middle class family, who was realizing her parents’ hopes and wishes. Apparently her father sold off his land to be able to pay for her physiotherapy education so that she could make something of her life.
The women of this subcontinent share a common history of subjugation, atrocities and injustice. On one hand we are flanked by increasingly unbelievable and mythic symbols of Nari Shakti or woman power- Durga, Kali, Lakshmi, Saraswati in our heritage. On the other hand we have not left any stone unturned to make women feel powerless, voiceless and oppressed. But enough is enough. Let the din not die down this time. There are many more like her who have still not got justice. Women who are used, abused, harassed, tortured, killed, maimed and thrown away like yesterday’s news. Many names come to mind-Ruchika Girotra, Fiza Khan, Shehla Masood, Geetika Sharma and hundreds of other women and young girls we hear of every day, who deserve a totally safe India (and world)worth living in.
Just for your knowledge, Jhulay Lal referred to in this song was a Sindhi Hindu saint and Shahbaz Qalandhar was a Sufi saint. Both are revered in the sub-continent across religious lines for their humanity and compassion. Ali the son-in-law of the prophet is widely revered. At the end of the day humanity is the greatest religion and if most of us could follow it on a daily basis, we would not need any other prayer....
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Phir Dekhiye - Song from Rock On!!- Carolina Monteiro
We have come a long way. And yet in some ways, we’re where it all started. We want to fly, we want to climb mountains, we want to dance, we want to sing, we want to head corporations, we want to get Olympic medals, we want to be mothers, we want to cook, we want to report from troubled areas, we want to party at night, we want to live. Don’t clip our wings. We’re all setting out of our homes every day looking for our place under the sun(or moon!). We are not happy with free meal tickets. We want to earn our living and worth and standing, as much as you.
I remember when in 1990 I stepped into big bad Delhi from a very sheltered life in various idyllic army cantts, it was not easy. Our seniors gave sound advice such as –Don’t go to Budhha Jayanti Park, don’t go to ridge alone, don’t hitchhike to Chanakya! We all did the DTC, blueline, redline routine every day, reminded repulsively of our vulnerability. We gave it back, slapped, screamed, smashed our handbags on some people’s heads. Many of us were blessed with wonderful male classmates and colleagues, who cared enough to walk us through dark alleys home, who took the longer route to see us safe. Working in the hotel industry, doing night shifts, I cannot remember feeling unsafe working with the Taj group ever at any time of the day. Managing a restaurant, my conscience did not allow me to go home by the 12.40 am van every night when my male colleagues would take the 2.40 one. Many of my male colleagues-yeah, mostly North Indian males- climbed four floors at the end of a tiring day to my little barsati and made sure I had reached my doorstep safely. Great father, a brother who is more of a buddy, a totally non-possessive hubby who just lets me be(not easy as I set out to explore a new facet of my many ambitions every 2 years or so!), a very encouraging and inspiring father-in-law. It is time to thank each one of these North Indian men!
But times are more and more challenging today. I would urge all young women today stepping out to be safe, be cautious, be suspicious if need be. Keep a zero tolerance policy towards any form of sexual harassment. All it takes is conviction and confidence. Equip yourself with the wherewithal to defend yourself. Say what offends you, sensitise your male friends and colleagues to gender issues, speak out when faced with inappropriate behavior at the workplace or otherwise. You set the limits of permissible behavior around you. And most of all be proud of, and feel privileged to be a woman!
I remember when in 1990 I stepped into big bad Delhi from a very sheltered life in various idyllic army cantts, it was not easy. Our seniors gave sound advice such as –Don’t go to Budhha Jayanti Park, don’t go to ridge alone, don’t hitchhike to Chanakya! We all did the DTC, blueline, redline routine every day, reminded repulsively of our vulnerability. We gave it back, slapped, screamed, smashed our handbags on some people’s heads. Many of us were blessed with wonderful male classmates and colleagues, who cared enough to walk us through dark alleys home, who took the longer route to see us safe. Working in the hotel industry, doing night shifts, I cannot remember feeling unsafe working with the Taj group ever at any time of the day. Managing a restaurant, my conscience did not allow me to go home by the 12.40 am van every night when my male colleagues would take the 2.40 one. Many of my male colleagues-yeah, mostly North Indian males- climbed four floors at the end of a tiring day to my little barsati and made sure I had reached my doorstep safely. Great father, a brother who is more of a buddy, a totally non-possessive hubby who just lets me be(not easy as I set out to explore a new facet of my many ambitions every 2 years or so!), a very encouraging and inspiring father-in-law. It is time to thank each one of these North Indian men!
But times are more and more challenging today. I would urge all young women today stepping out to be safe, be cautious, be suspicious if need be. Keep a zero tolerance policy towards any form of sexual harassment. All it takes is conviction and confidence. Equip yourself with the wherewithal to defend yourself. Say what offends you, sensitise your male friends and colleagues to gender issues, speak out when faced with inappropriate behavior at the workplace or otherwise. You set the limits of permissible behavior around you. And most of all be proud of, and feel privileged to be a woman!
SEENE MEIN JALAN AANKHON MEIN TOOFAN SA KYUN HAI - SURESH WADKAR
It is a very sad day for Delhi, for India. How have we turned into such a scary place to live in? It is time for each one of us to reflect and find out how we have created this culture of violence and inhuman behavior? How have we created this urban jungle, lifeless and heartless. And we call our city 'Dilli dilwalon ka sheher’. Each one of us is guilty. Law and order that is meant to kowtow to the privileged only. Slow, crippled judicial system, apathetic political system that mainly focuses on showing the other party down somehow or the other; media, films, ads that promote the objectification of women, men who look at every woman as potential prey, women who accept or ignore the slightest form of sexual harassment in their day to day lives, be it an errant comment or an inappropriate gesture, who step out today without equipping themselves with self defence measures in this anarchic land. The usual debates ensue- the ‘superior’ South Indians blaming North Indian men, the state blaming police, the police blaming the society, the society blaming the media, films, foreign influences. The fact is each one of us needs to take a look at our own conduct/attitude/behaviour and find the answers....
SEENE MEIN JALAN
It is a very sad day for Delhi, for India. How have we turned into such a scary place to live in? It is time for each one of us to reflect and find out how we have created this culture of violence and inhuman behavior? How have we created this urban jungle, lifeless and heartless. And we call our city ’Dilli dilwalon ka sheher’. Each one of us is guilty. Law and order that is meant to kowtow to the privileged only. Slow, crippled judicial system, apathetic political system that mainly focuses on showing the other party down somehow or the other; media, films, ads that promote the objectification of women, men who look at every woman as potential prey, women who accept or ignore the slightest form of sexual harassment in their day to day lives, be it an errant comment or an inappropriate gesture, who step out today without equipping themselves with self defence measures in this anarchic land. The usual debates ensue- the ‘superior’ South Indians blaming North Indian men, the state blaming police, the police blaming the society, the society blaming the media, films, foreign influences. The fact is each one of us needs to take a look at our own conduct/attitude/behaviour and find the answers....
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