The Awakening......

"He is your husband, right? And all the families have trouble, every husband and wife has disputes amongst themselves, you need to settle the matter at your house, why do you want the police to intervene in such petty cases?. . . . "

Kali had bowed her head down to hide her face and big drops of tears fell from her big eyes like big sparkling pearls on the glass surface of the table. She sat opposite to a leather upholstered chair which was arched in a comfortable position beyond the table with glass surface, the man speaking to her was a healthy, strong built person, the face was wheatish and was covered with wrinkles and a scar drifted toward the right cheek from beneath the right eye focusing an injury that might have occurred during an encounter, he had a mustache that started thick from the top of his fat protruding lips covering almost the 2 inches gap below the mouth and grew few centimeters thinner towards the corner of his chubby cheeks, which glazed when he smiled, the clear white teeth with gaps within were like sharp spears pointing out of the mouth. The face depicted quite that of Kali saw in the posters which were stuck on the walls of the houses in her village, quite like the "Ravana" in the film of "Ramayana". Kali looked at the glass surface of the table, she could not face the man, whose uniform shone with the Ashoka emblem above no star and his name read R. P. Singh.

Kali could not understand anything after all the tortures and remorse that she had to suffer she was asked to settle the matter with her in-laws, what does that SP want? Is he suggesting her to return back to that black hole , where if she returns she has no way except "death". . . .

"You should go back and ask for forgiveness, anyways your husband has every right on you. . . . you are married" he went on. Kali had a lot in her mind, today she escaped from her in-laws to file a complaint against them and she is now being suggested to go back?

That evening Kali returned. . . . little did she knew that she would have to return back soon to the police station covered in blood and handcuffed. . . . . . .

"Look I am here to help you unless you tell me the entire truth, I cannot help you. . . . . you need to trust me and above all trust yourself. . . . . . whatever you did was in self-defense. . . . . . " the empathetic lady spoke politely to Kali, who was seated with a bowed head on the visitor's chair, she looked tiresome with dirt and stained clothes, her hair had remained uncombed and untied for quite some time, with few dirty locks flipping out here and there. Her big eyes bowed down, the face had clear vision of fear and remorse, wrinkles had grown towards the edges of her eyes making her look older than her actual age. The dried lips sucked for water as she licked them up to wet but she remained silent. . . . . at the age of 22 she seemed to have grown 20 years older.

"Kali. . . you need to speak up. . . . "said the lady again, who held a glass of clear water towards Kali. "I am here for you Kali. . . . and you don't have to worry, even if nobody stands beside you, I would and I promise I will bring justice to you. "

For the first time in 14 days of jail custody Kali spoke. . . she spoke her heart off, tears rolled down as a never-ending stream. The words of kindness were like a spark for her to break down her silence. . . .

"What? only 5 lacs rupees? Are you serious? And that is all for this dusky girl? My son is a good employee in Sethji's office and his income is quite good, we have spent so much on his upbringing and education, he is doing a good job, earns well, what else do you want for your dusky girl? And more so you are giving it to your daughter and son in law only. . . . . and your son in law is equivalent to your son. . . . . you can give a fridge, TV and a bike at least for him leave alone the heavy gold necklace, bangles and earrings. . . . . " explained Kali's would-be father in law to Kali's father.

The father of 3 daughters already in debt till neck while marrying off his elder daughters and now the last one, Kali's father could not decide since it seemed to be quite troublesome for him to find a match for Kali. . . . she was dusky, not good looking, she just completed her higher secondary education and educating her further was a challenge as he did not have much of savings after marrying off his 2 other daughters.

Kali and her sisters lost their mother at an early age and so their father who was a school teacher in the middle school wanted his daughters to be married off at the earliest. Only Kali was left, she had great dreams of studying and going to college. But marriage was important her father had explained. With whatever he had he married off his youngest daughter. . . . but could not give the "gift" to her in-laws on time during the marriage. . . . because of which he was insulted every now and then and after lot of bargaining ultimately he was given a month's time to "gift"his son in law with 5 lacs rupees, gold, and a bike.

Each day grew severe for Kali in her matrimony house. She was made to do the menial jobs, from cleaning the house to washing clothes, cooking, taking care of the elders, buying vegetables from the market she did them all alone single-handedly. . . . . her in-laws got a free maid for themselves also revenge that Kali's father could not pay the dowry on time. With the passage of time Kali was pressurized to bring in money from her father and when the deadline passed and her father still could not pay for the gold and bike. . . . . the anger fell upon Kali. Tortures grew upon her. . . which led to physical, mental, and emotional assaults. . . . the in-laws and her husband who was unemployed and had faked his job status not only threatened her to death but also physically tortured her. Kali was broken down because of all the assaults that she went through. . . . . . later the in laws made her break all her contacts with her relatives and father.

Her father was not allowed to see or meet her nor was she allowed to go to her father's house. They even tried poisoning her. . . . . which did not work out so they tried burning her by spilling hot water on her. . . . . She was tormented in all possible ways. Kali could not break the bond and escape. . . . . she was taught not to leave her matrimony house at any cost. . . . the domestic violence grew day by day.

In our country the cases of domestic violence are less reported mainly due to women not standing up for their rights or they are taught from a very young age that whatever happens never leave your matrimony house.

But how long a woman can suffer and withstand? The tortures, burns, assaults, remorse, Kali could have suffered everything but when she was "auctioned "for a bike she could not withstand. . . . how she escaped that afternoon and reached the SP's office, how she returned and was forcefully pulled to that "Mandi"(Market place)to be auctioned as animals she did not know, what she remembered was that she picked up the sharp sickle from the coconut cart and with one quick stroke slit the throat of the man holding her hand forcefully who claimed to have "purchased" her in 5 lacs, blood oozed out of the man and his body fell breathlessly on the ground. . . . . . she was all stained in the fresh reddish black color.

Shakti, who was listening to Kali thoughtfully was quiet until now, she took a deep breath. . . . . a cop had already alarmed her of the meeting time. She held out Kali's hands gently and promised, "I am not going to let go of them. . . . . "

"Girls are meant to be in the kitchen and doing household works. . . . why are you studying?" laughed Sonu. His little sister looked at him with swollen eyes, big drop of tears rolling her pink cheeks. . . . . she was not crying because her brother stole her chocolates but because her brother tore her books. . . . .

The attitude has been same across all the male members in her family. She was treated as a second gender, deprived of education and everything that her brother received. She was a "girl"thats what the female of her household told her, she needed to bear everything. She should be learning how to cook, look after the household and do other chores. Education was the right for the boys of the house. They should be educated to go out, get jobs and earn for the family.

Shakti often thought, why was she denied higher education, right to go out of the house, right to get the biggest piece of the butter on the phulkas or paranthas, right to speak and share her thoughts freely with her elders. . . . . why won't her grandfather, father and uncles listen to her even though whatever she spoke was logical. She could not understand why her grandmother, mother, aunts were behind the"purdah" and covered their faces with the edge of the saree.

A time when women empowerment has been at great heights, she read about women walking the space, flying aeroplanes, working as advocates, doctors, engineers, artists and they are not behind anything why then her family, her village still did not support the empowerment of the women?

She knew the step she took at the age of 17 was a matter of shame for her family. . . . . they would never see her face again. . . they were more conscious about their honor rather than their daughter. In case they would find her she could be killed but Shakti needed to take that drastic step, tear off all the bondages that a girl would be tied to, break the shackles of all the superstitions. . . . . . she escaped from the house. Today she has no contact with her family, they might have taken her to be dead, she often thinks if only her parents would realise the truth they would have been proud of their Advocate daughter.

A tear drop rolled down her cheek, how long would women suffer?Is there no way we can see women like Kali standing for their rights and the male of this "Male-dominated" society supporting them? Even she had to face discrimination as a child, why? because she was born a girl child. . . . Why should male have all the rights? Why should they deprive females of every liberty and rights.

Women always say, 'We can do anything that men can do. ' But men should stand beside the women saying, 'We can do anything that women can do. "Why this discrimination?

When a woman is assaulted, one of the first questions people ask is, Did you say no? This question assumes that the answer was always yes and that it is her job to revoke the agreement. To defuse the bomb she was given. Only because she doesnot have the right judgment?She cannot speak for her rights? or she does not have the right to speak?

Until women understand their rights they would not be free to think, to analyse, to understand, and fight for themselves, they need to be empowered and above all they should have the Channel to empower them.

Jyoti , was waiting for Shakti, "Welcome ma'am, welcome to our Ashram".

The Naari sevashram was established with an oath to be a channel to empower all the women who has suffered in the male-dominated society who are unaware of their rights of speech, education, law, society, political rights.

There were many girls like Kali who were tormented, sexually harassed and had to face domestic violence, now trying to stand upright and face society strongly not by their looks or colors but their talents and achievements.

There were many girls like Shakti deprived of education, treated as the second gender and now fighting to stand up for their rights and gain recognization in the society, being the leaders and empowering other women.

There were many girls like Jyoti, with dreams of becoming actors, who were shown extreme dreams of luxury and happiness but ultimately used as a piece of entertainment for hotshots of the society, then being assaulted and thrown into the drain after "use". Today this institution is supporting them to make their forgotten identity and face the challenges.

Uma Devi the MLA of the area and the biggest contributor to this ashram. She is considered as one of the finest leaders. She considers herself to serve society. A brave, outspoken woman with a good grip in the outside world, politics, socio, economy, well educated but as a human is meek and gentle. . .

She rose from amongst those outcasts of the society where birth as a girl is a taboo, the society where there is gender biases and doesn't step back to abort or kill a girl child in case they get a negative result in the sex determination which of course is done illegally. A child born as a male is given all the importance. The women of the household are tortured if they happen not to give birth to male child, even they are out casted.

Uma devi was an answer to all those hypocrits of the society who serves the "Woman" as goddess and at the same time assaults the women for giving birth to a female child. . . . . .

She not only got herself educated and proved to be a challenge to the opposite gender but she thought of all the other women of the society.

 She believes Women Empowerment isn't about making women stronger. Women are already strong, it's about changing the way the world perceives that strength.

The Naari sevashram was inaugurated with an intent to help those backward and out casted women of the society, educate them with socio, economy, culture. . . . . . women can learn various types of activities like sewing, crafting handmade things, educating others, computer skills above all recognise their talents and make identity for themselves. They are taught to fight. . . . . . fight for their rights, equality, freedom. They are taught the real meaning of Women empowerment, a woman can do anything if she has the trust on herself. She can handle everything in life.

It teaches Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. … It shouldn't be that women are exceptions.

She perceives Women should break down walls and defy stereotypes only then the true meaning of empowerment would be maintained.

Women are leaders everywhere you look—from the CEO who runs a Fortune 500 company to the housewife who raises her children and heads her household. Our country was built by strong women, and all women will continue to break wall and stereotypes and hold their head high freely in a free country.

But how long can a woman hold her head high if she has no support?

If a woman tries to gather all her strength and stands opposite to a man she is teased, critized and without a second thought they are slammed with the tags of characterless or egoistic or outspoken, selfish etc.  

When a caterpillar tries to break open its cocoon to flap it colorful wings and tries to take the first flight, we as a responsible humans should allow them to do so. . .

We look around us and we find countless examples of women fighting with all their strength to break all the stereotypes and competing the males in their world. Whether it is a professional platform, sports, education, science, art, entertainment, family.

With 10 hands ("dus bhujas") the women of our society controls everything both inside within a family and outside in the society.

". . . . . . women should rise to empowerment. . . . since a women give birth to a creation, raises it, nurtures it. . . . .

All the Kalis, Shaktis, Jyotis, Umas , the incarnations of the Goddess in various forms would establish a new generation empowering the future generations to come. Today one Kali or Shakti awoke tomorrow ten Kalis would "Awaken" for the equality, rights and power. . . . . . . . and build a strong nation. "

There was a huge applause, the cricket ground roared with the clapping at the end of the speech. The minister of Women and Child welfare smiled taking a step back from the podium.

She was wearing a clean white saree, with a bluish border with no stain in it. . . . . she was black. . . . . . with wrinkles at the edge of her eyes. . . . today her wrinkles defined her actual age her hair was dressed up, no lock hung here and there. . . . . there was no fear in the eyes. . . . . she looked straight in the eyes of the people. . . . . . . she no longer had dried lips sucking for water. . . . . . she was a "Minister", facing all the struggles of life. . . . . . . . she was now empowered and had the courage to empower other women. . . . . which would not have happened if the incident won't have shaken her. . . . . . . . and Naari sevashram won't have supported her. After 14 years she was no longer the meek, gentle, scared Kali. . . . . . . she was serving the country and society, she was empowered.