We're Impure

I was new to this small village. Many a times your job forces you to step out of your comfort zone. The first week was spent pathetically because I was unable to access even the basic amenities. The teachers were given a separate quarter within the school premises.  

The staff was very cooperative and hospitable. After few weeks I got my accomodation and a domestic help 'Rupa'.

She was a young lady in early thirties with two daughters and a son. She talked very rare and remain engrossed in her work. She would wash the dishes,mop the floor and chop veggies with her son sucking her breast. I suggested her to feed him and then do her work. But most of the time she resisted,"Didiji I have to finish work of five homes if I sat to feed him I won't be able to complete my work. "

Poverty makes one helpless and steals many pleasures of life. One morning a girl of around twleve arrived instead of Rupa,"Amma will come after three days. I have come to do the work. "she said innocently. Clad in a tattered frock,tangled hair but beautiful eyes she did all the work. Every month she would come for three days. I tried to figure the reason behind her absence. Once I asked Rupa and was stunned at her reply,"The females of our village have to live in a hut for three days during periods. They don't use anything and bleed sitting there. After they're done they clean the hut and go to their houses. Females become impure and so are segregated. "

All the speeches and articles on women empowerment seemed baseless when I heard her story. I went with Rupa's daughter to see that hut and my heart skipped a beat when I saw Rupa along with two more women sitting on the ground with blood patches. The hut was stinking badly with flies hovering over blood patches on their sarees and on the floor. Lying on the floor with no food and clean water to drink,these women considered this treatment acceptable.

"We females are impure and has to be spearated from our house during this period. Even our shadow brings bad luck. What's wrong in this?". the elder woman explained me when I tried proving my point of this illogical practice.

How can someone live in such pathetic state!Are females inferior to animals? It's such a shame that living in twenty first century where world is talking about conquering Mars and women in our country are not aware of menstrual hygiene.

I advised Rupa to stop this practice and to start using sanitary pads. As expected she denied.

I was disturbed with the plight of woman and so left my job. Since then I'm trying to change the mindset of many Rupa's living in this area. I consider myself successful even if a single Rupa realises the importance of menstural hygiene.