The Help

This movie triggered the idea for writing this blog. It was always in my mind. But fate decided when it had to be published. So, now.

Since time before history, women have given up a lot. Sacrificed a lot, just to help people around them. Majority of the women. Except for the occasional Joan of Arc, Ayn Rand, Oprah Winfrey and the likes. TIME magazine has a list of 100 Most Important Women in World History. But just 100? Among billions!

Women have dreams. Men have dreams. Women want to do things. Men want to do things. There is no difference between the last four sentences. The only difference is that some of the women are stuck. Stuck behind societal values. Stuck behind human values that are defined by people in a so-called civilized society(which is based on a biased understanding of the world). Stuck behind their husbands, parents, in-laws. And the list goes on.

Of course there are lots of women who follow their dreams. But I'm talking about women who don't get the opportunity. Women who have social walls around them. The ratio of the number of women who are independent to the number of women who are not is often limited to our peripheral vision. People whom we know. The country and city where we live. But i'm sure statistics will paint a different picture(or pie chart or a graph). To reiterate - i'm talking about women who are not able to... or find it very difficult to fulfill their dreams - or whatever they have in mind.

I have no authority to write what women think. Nobody has. Except for themselves. Everybody sees life through what they have seen. So this is from what I've seen:

I've seen two of my cousin sisters who were forced into marriage. "Good girl, she'll listen to what we say" it seems (yeah, those were the exact words). My sister wiped her tears and walked into the Fort Knox of formalities. I was 14 years old that time and I found it totally unreasonable. I just couldn't... just couldn't... accept it.

Another friend who wants to finish writing her book and publish it. But she has to wake up early, cook, play a dutiful daughter-in-law, abide by numerous religious customs, go to work and come back home in time...and then find time to write her book.

Another friend who has to take care of her baby, 24X7, 7 days a week... who spends sleepless nights taking care of the baby... who finds it very difficult to get her own 'me-time' - to spend time with her friends, to pursue a career, to do various other things.

Another friend who is stuck between parental pressure and peer pressure. Who is out to find a job she likes and is in search of a life she loves.

Another dear friend who wanted to be a badminton player but wasn't allowed by her parents to travel beyond the city for inter-state matches. And that was the smash shot of her dreams. And much later, she wanted to learn swimming only to be scorned by her in-laws and parents.

(from a book titled "Myth=Mithiya") It is ironical that for all the value we give to the rational, life is primarily governed by the irrational. Love, sorrow, ethics, morals, aesthetics, rage, hatred, greed are not rational.

In my pessimistic opinion, it is difficult to start a social revolution and change things over night. It probably needs a big idea, big planning and a big push. And right now, I have no clue how!
I can only think of one rationalized idea governed by an irrational thought - if every individual in this planet loves his/her family and friends... and lends a helping hand, things would be a lot more better, right?

So anyone who is reading this right now can start by helping people around him/her. Help your wife, friend, sister, mother, anyone. Help them in whatever way you can. To realize their dream. To do what they have in mind. No matter how big or small it is.
And that will be of great help.