On The Status of Women... a Beautiful Song

As is my normal daily chore, in this silent lonely existence of mine, I was going through the different news stories on the Internet, stories from different places and regions, different communities and religions, watching over the great Tamasha called Life.

One article specifically caught my attention - it was an article from the highly respected BBC, it stated that even the UN had accepted defeat to the evil of sex-trafficking.... Hold on, did you say accepted Defeat?

I was shocked, I was stunned... I was speechless and out of that pain, that shock was born a feeling of severe revulsion and disgust... something which now finds expression in this article of mine...

In 1958, the great Sahir Ludhianvi, a poet of exceedingly brilliant talents and capabilities wrote an haunting ditty on the facts of feminine life in our male-dominated world... a beautiful song that was very beautifully composed by the underrated N Dutta and masterfully sung by the incomparable Lata Mangeshkar for that paragon of beauty Vyjayanthimala.... 

It's sad to note that today, even after the passage of 52 years, still, the song is as true as it was then .... It's a matter of great shame and great pain but the truth remains that we have failed as guardians of the women in our midst....

The song goes as follows:

Aurat Ne Janam Diyaa Mardon Ko, Mardon Ne Ussey Baazaar Diyaa
Jab Ji Chaahaa Maslaa-Kuchlaa, Jab Ji Chaahaa Dutkaar Diyaa

Woman Gave Birth to Man,
Man took her on the path to Prostitution
Oppressed her, Repressed her at His Will
When felt so, kicked her to Oblivion

Can there be a bigger truth and source of shame than this? How do we, the mandarins of society sleep silently and peacefully as such a crime is being perpetrated in our world?

The hand that rocks the cradle, the hand that's supposed to rule the world, is thrown in the dirty streets of the dark corners for the 'crime' of having a vagina!  Is this the way, we treat our mothers.... the ones who carried us in their wombs for 9 long months? 

Is this theur destiny - to be beaten, to be opressed, to be used and abused and then thrown unto the paths of Oblivion? Where are those that claim women's liberalization?

Tulti Hai Kahin Deenaaron Mein, Bikti Hai Kahin Baazaaron Mein
Nangi Nachvaai Jaati Hai, Aiyyaashon Ke Darbaaron Mein
Ye Wo Be-izzat Cheez Hai Jo, Bantt Jaati Hai Izzatdaaron Mein

Measured in Gold, Sold in Market Places
She dances naked, in the Pervert's Palaces
An undignified piece of Lard, that's shared among Dignified Faces

The honour of the poor woman is no honour, since long have the rich measured it's worth in Golden Coins, to be sold as deemed fit in Market places and the practice still continues in the name of sex-streets..... The woman that clothes us in our childhood is forced to dance naked for the pleasure of the King, the mighty and the high... the Mandarins of Society, for whom Shakespeare said "And they are all Honourable Men" showing their honoured dignity by robbing a poor, unfortunate being of her dignity!

Is her naked body, without rights? Does she have no right to her own dignity, for she possesses a vagina and not a penis? If someone is a prostitute by her right, it's her choice, but by what right do we choose to take away one's dignity, if she does not wish to be in that profession? Is she a piece of lard for being a woman and only a woman?

Mardon Ke Liye Har Zulm Ravaan, Aurat Ke Liye Ronaa Bhi Khataa
Mardon Ke Liye Laakhon Sejen, Aurat Ke Liye Bas Ek Chitaa
MardoN Ke Liye Har Aish Kaa Haq, Aurat Ke Liye Jeenaa Bhi Sazaa

For men, every crime forgiven; for women, even tears, a crime dire
For men, every bed is strewn with pleasure, for women, only one funeral pyre
For men, sleeping around, a right; for women even life a quagmire

It's indeed a sad world that differentiates so deeply between men and women... a world where there are glass ceilings for personal growth, a world where a woman is blamed for being raped.... we live in a world, where women are expected to follow a set pattern and any query is considered insubordination!

If a man indulges in sexual misdemeanor, he's just sowing his oats around! If a woman does it, she's a SLUT! Welcome to the world of double-standards

Jin HoThon Ne Inko Pyaar Kiyaa, Un HoThon Kaa Vyopaar Kiyaa
Jis Kokh Mein Inkaa Jism Dhalaa, Us Kokh Kaa Kaarobaar Kiyaa
Jis Tan Se Uge Kopal Ban Kar, Us Tan Ko Zaleel-o-Khaar Kiyaa

The lips that whispered love to you, those lips are being traded
The womb that gave you life, that womb is being exploited
The body on which you lent for support, that body is being humiliated

What else can be said that's worse than this.... the lips of a woman are the ones that speak to the baby, tender words of love in his innocence, and those lips are being sold today for pleasure..... the womb which was your home for 9 months, today you exploit it for personal gains.... the body that you held on to, while learning your first steps, today, you ravish that same body!

And you call yourself, the image of God.... Is this the Image in which God fashioned Man? Thank you, God, I am an Atheist!

Mardon Ne Banaayee Jo Rasmen, Unko Haq Kaa Farmaan Kahaa
Aurat Ke Zindaa Jalane Ko, Qurbaani Aur Balidaan Kahaa
Qismat Ke Badle RoTi Di, Aur Usko Bhi Ehsaan Kahaa

The rules made by Men-folk, are for women Truth's Proclamations
The burning of Women at Stakes, are Sacrifices in our God's Religions
Food in exchange for Bondage, And call it Society's Benedictions

These are the truths of Social mores; we made the rules and enforced them, calling them the way of the world, the way in which we should live and by which we should live... We burned women accusing them of witchcraft, we burned them in the name of Sati.... we burned them at name of our religion and called it sacrifice!

We put restrictions on their movements and in exchange gave them security in form of Food.... and then we were shameless enough to call it a Benediction! All our abuses are women-based, all our honour women- based, and yet women live life worse than animals in many of our societies!

Sansaar Ki Har Ik Besharmi, Ghurbat Ki God Mein Palti Hai
ChakloN Hi Mein Aa Ke Rukti Hai, FaaqoN Mein Jo Raah Nikalti Hai
MardoN Ki Havas Hai Jo Aksar, Aurat Ke Paap Mein Dhalti Hai

Every shame of this world is born in Poverty's Frustration
Brothels are the final resting places of the march of Starvation
It's the Lust of Man that becomes the Stigma of the Woman

And this is the most telling point of the poem.... The poet says that the shame of the brothel, is not born of choice but of grinding poverty that forces a woman to sell her dignity to the highest bidder... that Brothels are the final points of a voyage that begins with the untolerable pain of Starvation.... 

The so-called stigma of being a single mother is no stigma at all, it is a reflection of the Lust of the Incompetent. Cowardly male who could indulge in Lust but has no guts to take responsibility of his actions!

So who is a prostitute? The woman who has been stigmized or the man who ran away after his lust was satisfied!

Aurat Sansaar Ki Qismat Hai, Phir Bhi Taqdeer Ki Heti Hai
Avtaar Payambar Janti Hai, Phir Bhi Shaitaan Ki Beti Hai
Ye Vo Bad-Qismat Maan Hai Jo, Beton Ki Sej Pe Leti Hai

A woman is World's destiny, but has been removed from her own future
Gives birth to Prophets, but it called the Devil's Daughter!
She is that unfortunate, who's being ravished by sons begotten by her.....

This is the telling comment that pains me...... it's said that the Mother is who guides the future generations but is herself clueless of her own future.... she has given birth to all prophets from Ram and Buddha to Jesus and Mohammed and suckled them at her breast but is often referred to as, Satan's daughter... as the one responsible for the first Sin! Can there be a worse indictment than this? Can there be a grosser case of impropriety and miscarriage of Justice?

It's high time we think of these before we are submerged in a tsunami that's born of her tears.... Beware, mankind, you cannot succeed by putting your counterpart in chains.... it never worked, it never will!

I am a Man and I am really sorry!