Oh! Womaniya :)

The international Woman's day  passed a month ago and all I did was post a few FB messages, wished a few ladies in my life, decked -up in a "vintage skirt" ( to me vintage is an outfit I haven't worn since time immemorial :P :P ) , watched the Bollywood movie QUEEN ( which was refreshingly non-Bollywood with lot of authenticity and a Kangana with a refined demeanor and unmatched performance - BRILLIANT ), pestered hubby dear in buying me two new attires which  may just adore my closet for eternity till they see the light of day  (literally! ) - I buy lots of beautiful stuff  (  bags, shoes, dresses etc ) and I wait endlessly for a special occasion to introduce them , so at any given point of time you will find  at least one thing in my closet that I'm waiting to adorn. ;)

Anyway getting back to the prime reason of this post  - a modest tribute to some of the inspiring women in my life!

I went to school with this girl - the bob cut hair, a cap turned all the way round, mud clad sneakers and a hockey stick on her shoulders - though doesn't paint the perfect  glam-girl portrait - today she has her very own style that can make heads turn. To me she is no less than  a diva- she is fearless, highly motivated and her soaring adrenaline leaves me stumped. She manages to excel in anything and everything she sets her mind to - she can write ( she started penning down novels in school ), she can dribble ( made it  to the state hockey team ), she excels at a job she had no clue about , she can create miracles out of junk ( her art and craft work she gifted me in school will always remain my prized possessions ).
She is a self-made woman, extremely independent and to whom her friends are her world.  -'ADMIRATION'!

Another girl from school, though we were not the best of the buds then, our paths seemed to cross again- and- again through junior college, grad school and even through our first job - today she is my 4 AM friend , my one-stop solution to all my problems and a friend I can count on anytime-anywhere.
This care-free girl with an infectious bubbly banter and a big gracious heart taught me the biggest lesson in life - 'You just have ONE life - Live It YOUR way! -'INSPIRATION!

The last one rules my world, to me she is a warrior in the very true sense, she survived many ordeals of marital discords, sacrificed her aspirations and battled a deadly ailment single-handedly just to bring me up.
I do not have words for her ( the dictionary doesn't have the right words for her!) , just a lot of gratitude and a realization that anything I do for her ever, would never be enough.
I SALUTE her and I know I can never be even one percent like her. I am truly BLESSED to be her daughter!

These are not the only ones whom I admire ( the list would be endless! ) - but these three are the ones whom I have known all my life at very close quarters .
I admire every woman I meet because when I get to know her - I find each one of them extraordinarily UNIQUE and SPECIAL.

But in-spite of belonging to one of the cultures that believes in  woman  as Goddesses, the plight of our woman is extremely dismal. The apathy towards the atrocities
and heinous crimes arising against them makes my heart pain.
Though we blame our society, our laws and our system for all this, I somewhere feel it all stems from us women- we just sit back and wait for the world to come to your aid.
Why don't we woman stand up and resolve to bring the change - like Mahatma Gandhi said -
"BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE"

BE PROUD OF A GIRL-CHILD. STOP FEMALE FOETICIDE:
The biggest factor culminating towards the rising crimes against Woman is the widening sex ratio       ( India has one of the worst! ). 
If you are blessed with a BABY- GIRL , Be proud! Give a pat on your back and say "JOB WELL DONE!" - You just contributed to reducing the falling female sex ratio. Yeay! :) 
Never succumb to the in-laws / family pressures of delivering a BOY. Just give it to them : "Your son failed to produce the Y chromosome. So I cant help it :/ . And I'm not a slot machine, that you keep trying your luck till Jackpot strikes! I am happy with my girl! :) "

BE FINANCIAL INDEPENDENT: 
Educate yourself and your gal. Get a JOB!
 Financial independence is the biggest weapon in any psychological warfare. Never lose it.
 Instead of reprimanding and rebuking your girl for following the latest fashion trend of short skirts- grill into her the gravity of getting the best of grades and finding a JOB! Kick her **s if she just wants to sit at home even after you gave her the best of the schooling.
If you are not dependent on anyone, nobody would ever dare to suppress you.

LEARN TO SAY NO:
Be SELFISH  it's not a CRIME. Sacrifices and compromises may be a necessity but you should know where to draw a line. 
A guy sought your alliance just for your family monetary background or the hefty salary you drawn. LEARN to say 'NO'! 
A need arises in the family and a woman is always asked to compromise. But if it's not in your best interests , learn to say 'NO'- without feeling remorseful.

EQUALITY BEGINS AT HOME:
Treat your son and daughter equally. Teach your sons to do household chores just like you taught your daughter. 
Give your daughter the equal opportunity to educate herself like your son. 
Mold your sons to be compassionate towards WOMAN. Make him believe and trust that - 'Treat a woman with gentleness and respect - she will offer you her world'. Never let a woman be treated like CRAP before his eyes.
A world of gentlemen and you will always feel SECURE. 
It's up-to every MOTHER to build such a SAFE HAVEN  - that every woman like her desires.

ALWAYS HELP ANOTHER WOMAN IN NEED:
Never turn a blind eye on someone in need. Never shy away thinking - 'M just a Woman, what can I do?'. Always fear - 'Today it's her . Tomorrow it could be you!' 
You just need to make a genuine effort and you will find the power to kick up a storm! If you as woman cannot feel her pain. Who would?

DREAM. DREAM BIG!:  
Be fired-up and always work hard endlessly and tirelessly to achieve your dream. Having a big DREAM that always keeps you motivated and focused in life and nobody would ever dream to come in your way. An aimless life is a miserable life!
SO dream BIIIIG...never let anyone STEAL your DREAM!

Let's vow to do our bit rather than sit back and crib; waiting endlessly for the world to change!
I vow to do my bit. Do you?