Check out 16 Return-To-Work Programs In India For Ambitious Women Like You!
For all those women who don't want to change the age old traditions let them practice it. But don't push someone else to follow your belief.
Months ago we went for a rice ceremony function. In a Bengali household, rice ceremony is as important as marriage ceremony. Before proceeding with the story I would like to inform our reader about an age old custom in Bengali rice ceremony and weddings. During rice ceremony when the child (irrespective of gender) is going to have his/her first meal of rice, dal curry curds either from his/her maternal uncle or from grand father, the mother of the child is forbidden to attend the ceremony. Similarly, during the wedding ceremony of the male child, a mother is forbidden to attend the ceremony. There are many age old stories that doesn’t make any sense to me. I just think how cruel this society can be. Only mothers are forbidden. I also have a son and I was also forbidden to see the rice ceremony of my own child. Although my husband supports me but my argument seemed unnecessary to my in-laws. At last I gave up as my mother was brutally taunted by my in-laws for my bad upbringing.
Now come to our story. Nina and her husband live in Bangalore and come down to Kolkata for her only daughter’s rice ceremony. The function was arranged in a hall quite far away from her in laws house. Nina’s husband arrived with their daughter shortly after we reached the venue. I asked him “Where is Nina?” and he just nods his head. But I can sense something was wrong. After sometime I got a call from Nina and asked me to visit her. While in the car so many questions were revolving in my head. I knocked and Nina opened the door. Her face was dull and she didn’t look ready for the function. I asked her, ‘Are you not well?’ She simply replied “Not feeling up to attend the party.’
I asked her the reason then she explained. She insisted with her in-laws to let her attend the main ceremony but they simply asked her to leave. So she decided not to attend the party either. Let her in-laws be answerable to the questions about her conspicuous absence. It is indeed a strong step to break an age old tradition. I wish I could do the same. I wish I could be as brave as her. For all those women who don’t want to change the age old traditions let them practice it. But don’t push someone else to follow your belief. But I don’t know when these things are going to stop and a woman can live her life on her on terms. When will society stop dictating in our lives? Should we wait our society to change or fight for our rights?
I am a ordinary woman studied in a all girls school. Love to cook, eat, sing, dance, write, travel,drive, sleep, dream. Busy raising my son so left my job in a leading MNC and read more...
This post has published with none or minimal editorial intervention. 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!
UP Boards Topper Prachi Nigam was trolled on social media for her facial hair; our obsession with appearance is harsh on young minds.
Prachi Nigam’s photo has been doing the rounds on social media for the right reasons. Well, scratch that- I wish the above statement were true. This 15-year-old girl should ideally be revelling in her spectacular achievement of scoring a whopping 98.05% and topping her tenth-grade boards. But oddly enough, along with her marks, it’s something else that garners more attention – her facial hair.
While the trolls are driving themselves giddy by mocking this girl who hasn’t even completed her school yet, the ones who are taking her side are going one step ahead – they are sharing her photoshopped pictures, sans the facial hair, looking nothing less than a celebrity with captions saying – “Prachi Nigam, ten years later”.
Doctors have already diagnosed her with PCOD in their comments, based on photographic evidence. While we have names for people shamed for their weight – body shaming, for their skin colour- racism, for their age- age shaming, for being a female- sexism, this category of shaming where one faces criticism for their appearance has no name. With that, it also has zero shame attached to it.
Please enter your email address