The values

Every generation passes on some values to the coming generation. This has been a valuable asset and lesson taught by the elders of the family, community, tradition etc. The values of principles taught and followed by the older generation may not be fully approved and applicable to the next generation owing to the changes that happen due to many factors, but even then the underlying message is definitely worthy. Values and lessons may be about how we talk, and what we do. eat, what we wear how we behave and how we treat others In some cultures eating food after the sun sets is a big no. The reason cited for this practice is eating late in the night may kill insects etc. that may hover around the lights in the kitchen or the dining area. This of course cannot be relevant for the present times as we use ovens, induction stoves etc. for cooking which does not require any fire at all.

These appliances run on electricity, right? But eating early is very good for the digestive system and so this may be the lesson that our elders wanted us to learn. It is a two-sided lesson that we have learnt from this simple practice. This is one of the many instances that we can cite. So, values are passed from generation to generation and they are followed or otherwise with some modifications.                

The prompt of the painting made by an anonymous artist depicts a scene that looks like a village in Rajasthan. The painting shows an elderly patriarch dressed in the typical local costume along with a group of women who appear in local colourful lehenga the costume worn by ladies of Rajasthan. The costumes are definitely colourful as is evident. A lot of thread work and mirror work is the speciality of costumes of that Region. The long skirt, with a top and the most important aspect of the costume, is the cloth that is worn to cover the head and face that is transparent so that visibility does not get affected. This is called the odhni or dupatta. Women need to wear heavy anklets and heavy kada or bangles. They were typically dressed may be as per the customs or as per the weather requirements such costumes were worn by their elders which again is a tradition passed on to generations.            

The story is about the life of people in Rajasthan one of the biggest states of India area-wise. The Thar desert, hot climate, less rainfall, water shortage and above all female foeticide and child marriage are some of the most common points that come to our mind with reference to Rajasthan. Of course, History speaks about great kings and queens their valour, the grand palaces and so on. Beneath this facade, there is a stark reality of how women are discriminated against and harassed whether it is personally, professionally, or academically and the meanest being wearing a ghoonghat or head weil even within the home all the time and the disgustful part when they have to openly defecate wearing a goonghat. It is quite disgusting to read about it and imagine how disgusting it is to the ladies who have to go through this in their daily lives as it is like that.      'Tauji'as he was called by his relatives as a mark of respect was none other than om Prakash who was also the sarpanch of the village. That day his mood seemed to be very bad. Most of the time the ladies do not interfere in most of the matters. They are most of the time either in the kitchen or doing myriad jobs. That is how they spend most of their life. Schooling is out of their jargon. They are put to household work like cleaning, cooking etc. very early in their lives. By the time they are about 15 years, they are got married off, sometimes to a much much older man in return for the money he pays. Yes, in some towns brides are bought in marriage and this is due to the wide difference in the female and male sex ratio.

Now coming to the story tau ji was angry about something which Shiba his granddaughter has done a day back. The girl dared to talk about open defecation, female foeticide, lack of sanitation, and lack of good teachers in her school, on the show 'mann ki baat'. It was a daring effort she made to make everyone aware of what the situation in her town was. She had the guts to put her words to the high chair of the country who is making good efforts for the betterment of the downtrodden and backward sections of the population. Tauji was angry with her as his own lack of competence got exposed. His ego took a big besting. unknowingly the little girl had opened many closed gates that had stopped progress, development, and growth in her town as well as surrounding areas. What was the result her grandfather and father were annoyed with her. She was looked at as if she had committed a big mistake. All the panchayat members too were annoyed with her efforts. But, Shiba had a silent supporter who was strong no not physically but mentally, it was her 90-year-old grandmother who applauded for what her granddaughter had done. She recalled what difficulties she and many like her had undergone all these years for no .mistake of theirs. The most fundamental rights were not allowed for them. Being denied even basic necessities they were leading a life of imprisonment, denied a right to speak, read, talk and the list goes on.

She was happy that finally there was an outlet which allows all and sundry to express their feelings, woes and difficulties. The result was unexpected and good. The town got a group of civil contractors and other men who would restore the broken areas of the school. They would build a couple of toilets that could be used by everyone the common toilets whose maintenance would be managed by the corporation from the funds collected by the panchayat. Each area and its betterment would be monitored by a group of young, alert volunteers and yes shiba and her grandmother will definitely be a part of it. Why not, after all, it was her initiative and presence of mind that made this possible. The village will get a much-needed makeover. And the most important change will be that the women of the town would not have to suffer in agony for going to open toilets in a goonghat.