Check out 16 Return-To-Work Programs In India For Ambitious Women Like You!
A poem around the recent floods of Assam and Bihar - with a story from another devastating disaster, the 2018 Kerala flood.
A poem around the recent floods of Assam and Bihar – with a story from another devastating disaster, the 2018 Kerala flood.
A story from the 2018 Kerala flood is presented for us to reflect on the devastating effects of this disaster, especially for those who live in bone-breaking poverty.
A reminder that the tragedy does not end with the flood, but enfolds slowly and painfully for some, long after its memory diminishes in the mainstream psyche.
When December Comes
I sat naked on the wooden bench Waiting to be drowned in oil Waiting for all my worries to be punched and pounded out of me By the two women masseurs
Both, from Kerala. One massaged my head, the other sat with her head resting on her arms. Waiting and looking at me. Smiling.
The smile so warm, even my cold hearted self smiled back.
She tells me, Her house fell. A few months ago, when Kerala flooded. Her two daughters and husband live there.
Did they fix the house? I ask. Somewhat, but not really, she says. The money has to go for the girls educational na.
Her grandfather’s grandfather had also not seen a flood like this. Then, why now. Why us. I have no answer.
I ask if she’s been home since the flood, She hasn’t. This job – it must hold. 1200 kms away her family is putting together bits of their house and lives. Half the house was submerged. Many things lost and damaged. Trinkets, memories – the least of them. Cupboards and text books, A table and the masalas kept stored under the counters. So many things lost.
She smiles again. She doesn’t get a day off every week like me. She works from 6AM to 10PM. Massaging away pain. All her clients come back and ask for her. She tells me to do it too. Not because she gets paid more then. But just because. She gets leave once a year.
When December comes she will go home. She will pick up the pieces and live her loss once again. Weep again.
When December comes.
Stuti is a queer-affirmative psychotherapist based in Mumbai. read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
It is shameful that in today's world too, women are abused and even killed for giving birth to a girl, and the infant's life is also of no value.
Trigger Warning: This deals with domestic violence, suicide, and violence against women, and may be triggering to survivors.
I am so glad that the esteemed courts are now giving the much-required verdicts regarding certain ideologies that were not at all entertained earlier. I mean we all have studied this much biology at our school level and it is our duty (our generation) to educate our elders about it.
Why someone have to lose a life to bring such awareness to the society. Delhi High Court gave this judgement concerning a case that filed by the deceased daughter’s parents against her in-laws. She committed suicide as she was harassed and tortured for dowry and giving birth to two daughters.
Please enter your email address