No LAWS, Only LOVE!

I am not writing this piece because I have to, or I must or I need to score some brownie points. I don't! The person I am about to talk about and my relation to her is such that no matter how sincere my feelings most of you are bound to doubt it. And read it with a pinch of salt!

But that's where I would beg you to do so differently. You would do me a huge favour if you did not look for intended meanings, tried to read between the lines. Or think that this piece is a mere tool to have an impression solidified. It's none of that.

Today I wish to talk about my mother in law. Mine was an arranged marriage and like the protocol demanded I was to meet the mother before the son. Well! It was supposed to be a meeting where she was coming to see if I would make a good match for her son! And such real incidents are often if not always marred with reel life telecasted tales.

At least to be in all fairness there is always this fear of suddenly being in the company of a woman,(your potential MIL) with a placid face, horrid expressions and who has come prepared to give you tests of fire, where one must prove ones worth so as to deserve the sweetest fruit -her son!!!
Uff the nautanki! I love it. And i would have loved it even more if it were the case with me. The story of my life in that case would have been different.

But to cut the long story short I must confess, I was not given a chance to glare or gloat. This woman who arrived that evening to see me walked in with a million dollar smile. A sort of smile that was assuringly warm. There was no fuss, no drama and most of all no test from her side. She and I talked loudly,And laughed even louder. My mum meanwhile pinched me trying to remind me that I wasn't meeting an old friend nor was I in the middle of my mad parties! I have to add, that for those brief moments I would go quiet, or try and talk soft, but this woman who I was so utterly enjoying would have no such elements as demure and docile ruining the natural tempo of the evening. She would always rescue me and I would then find myself being grateful to her. I liked the fact that she wanted to know the real me! And was not sticking to some age old rule book of how to go bahu hunting! And if you think, I am making up about the book on bahus, then partly you could be right, but mostly it is true. At least I have been told that there has to be one which is reffered quite extensively these days!Anyhow, excuse my digression.

Thanks to this lady I would find my way back to my original pitch and aakaash tod hansee ( laughter that would break the sky) .
Honestly, I forgot why I was there and most importantly why she was there. It was fun from the start till the very end. Basically that evening was nothing that I or anyone could have dreamt of. Our match was made in heaven. :)

Now, I call this woman Ma. Soon it will be a year since I got married. And a little less since I moved to UK. Things have changed in my life faster than any formula one car! I knew they would, but never imagined the extent of it. There are good days, and then there are some lonesome days where I find myself missing my work, my friends and Delhi. There are days when the darkness from the outside finds its way inside my house and my heart. There are days when I feel like running back home.

But then there is also the time when we drive from Sheffield to Darlington to be with ma and papa. And then there is the time when she opens the door and hugs you tight. It's her way of saying,' I have squeezed all sadness out of you now what's left is only happiness.' Being around her means being happy. I really don't think you can come across her and not feel loved.

I love my parents. God knows I love Amma and Pa! A child can never say that enough. I miss them like I have never missed them before. But when I am with ma, I know I am loved with the same intensity, the same heart as Amma and Pa.

My ma ( here I must add papa) spoil me rotten with million gifts for occasions created at the spur of the moment. And that's something they needs to stop doing! I honestly am running out of space.
Ma loves to feed me to the extent that I literally have to run from her sight. She will not let me move a finger except when I am eating! The truth is My ma is not my mother-in-law! Actually I can't bear to use that word for her!

I also know that we live in the era of saas -bahu serials, and a piece like this will lead to all kinds of assumptions and speculations. And it's funny, in the sense that most people would have put their money on the fact that I would be the last person writing something like this. Well! Here I am not only writing it, but meaning every bit of it! Thank you MA for being my mother and most importantyl my friend!

P.S( First and foremost, papa I love you lotssss. :). And secondly, Yash if you think I said yes to you I would say think again;))
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you!

Divya Jha
25th December, 2011.

We the People: Which way will you swing?

The last couple of months have seen some big news and even bigger headlines. From Anna's Lokpal Bill to Rahul Ghandhi vs Mayawati to the riots in London to an angry/exasperated Vijay Mallaya doing what he hates the most, talking to the media about not abandoning his baby Kingfisher and not ever having asked the government for a bailout!

While the big guns continue to grab the hot seat and become even bigger, let's spare a thought to the one day headliners. Leave the Anna's, the Gandhi's and the Mallaya's to hog the limelight. Trust me; they do it well and that too in a very nonchalant way. They can very well do without the common man, contrary to what they want you to believe.

Let's for a moment look within the common man club, I know the first thought in mind is, that's hardly a club and if so, the membership hardly any matter of prestige. But look closely and you will see your real/everyday heroes. Actually, the reason why you and I aren't looking is exactly because they don't want to be portrayed as heroes or something spectacular. They do their duty as a citizen and as a human and then merely fade away in the same common man circle. To them it's no big deal!

Take for example, the two men from Bombay who came to the defence of a few women who were being harassed outside a club in Bandra. Keenan Santos and Ruben Fernandes, these boys  did what they thought was right. Standing up and helping complete strangers because that's what we as children are taught. Yes there were many others present there and yes it happened in India's most progressive and westernised cities. But it takes real men to stand up to defend a woman's honour. And these boys were just that. Neither of them would have consciously thought about being a hero or being dead. It was their reflex action. Like when one puts one's finger on a hot plate one immediately springs it back. Not much thought process is involved there. Isn't it?

The same went for Keenan and Santos. Their actions were just as straight forward. Now many of us, without spine would call it foolish! Yes those of you can very well return to the Anna's and Gandhi's. Feel intellectual in knowing what's happening and discussing how corruption is a bad thing. And how it's someone else's dirty job to fix everything that is going wrong.

Because what some of us won't ever realise is that a change begins single handedly. It takes one to stand and one to make a noise.

Which brings me to my another member of the common man club, Catholic nun Valsa John (52), who was involved in a movement against displacement of tribal people by coal mining companies in Jharkhand, and was shot dead early on Wednesday. The murder happened at Bachuwari village of Pakur district. Reports said a gang of about 50 people surrounded her house. The assailants singled out Valsa and attacked her with weapons in her room killing her on the spot.

A woman, a nun and she single handedly stood up to various threats. Her family members are reported saying that she had been threatened on various accounts. But she would not budge. Is that another act of foolishness or merely living a life of doing what's right?

Do these people who make one day headlines really put all that thought into what makes for a great visual drama and rehearse their scripts so that they can be portrayed as heroes? I don't think so.

The moment they take the plunge they are in it 100 per cent. They know their reasons are right, their intent is right and the rest they leave it to god. (Although this does not show the dear almighty in a great light!), but then again more than god the blame looms large on you and I- the bystanders who are capable of turning anything into a saas bahu serial, just about anything for a visual treat or instant salacious pleasure no matter how morbid the situation and how catastrophic the result.

We like to think that as a society and civilization we are moving forward. We like to tell our children that equality shall prevail if we put our faith in it. That inherently people are good and if you do well to others it too shall come back to you.

Honestly, the world that we live in today we don't want any good coming our way. Because we can't be too bothered doing any good either. So while we are ready to miss school/college/ work and sit with a candle, go on marches, we are not ready to act when the opportunity actually knocks on our heads.  At that point we let two boys go alone in a fight and die, a nun to take on a mafia and be brutally killed. We like nothing better than standing tall at the post of a bystander. And 'making a difference' philosophy is then royally kicked in its arse.

Before the riots occurred in London, a peaceful march was organized by the locals to protest the police response to the fatal shooting of Mark Duggan by Metropolitan Police Service firearms officers. But as soon as the scenario changed into a violent one it turned into a riot. These riots were characterised by rampant looting and arson attacks of unprecedented levels. People who had nothing to do with the case or even participated in the initial peace march saw it as a perfect opportunity to do an early Christmas shopping. Teenagers, men and women saw it as a convenient way to instant material gratification.  A perfect example of the participation and unity of the masses without any invitation, ironic but true.

I have never doubted the power of the mob! In fact it can never be undermined. But the pertinent question to be posed at this juncture is that what we use that power for?

When I look at these incidents, the obvious dichotomy instantly hits me. The people are the same everywhere, the longitude and the latitude does not lend them any great or base powers. It ultimately comes down to what we make out of the situation in hand.

Rather than being exploited at the hands of those who want to make the headlines all day, everyday, rather than being convinced that the force of the common man needs a face which has to be shown on repeat telecasts all day, for weeks and for months, we must now look within ourselves. We must be aware of the real commoners amongst ourselves who not only carry great potential but will not want anything in return. It is not about the Anna's or the Gandhi's. It is about the nameless, faceless heroes who do so much more but yet are unsung. And probably their charm and power lies in just one headline!

It's time for all of us no matter where on the globe we are to make a noise and believe that with us shall be brought a new era of revolution and we most definitely do not need a candle for that. All you require is a conscience. Give it a jolt and you will be amazed to learn that it's still somewhere hanging in there.

P.S (A role of a bystander never really allows anyone to have a complete experience of the scene at hand. The only way to ensure complete entertainment is to be in it first hand; hopefully with a conscience I will see you on the right side.)

Divya Jha.

17th Nov, 2011.

Hai Mera India.

Now that washing, cleaning and cooking and not to forget making list of channels (approximately 175 of them) that we are paying for and cannot watch on our new dish TV is done, I am sitting at our work station and thinking about Mera Bharat! Yes! Mahaan too!



Am I feeling patriotic? Not really. But I do love my country and my home! (I should make that clear before people slam me with being a firang now that I happen to be in a firangiland!)



Anyhow, the reason I was thinking of my country is because of this man called Jason! Poor Jason is not even an Indian, he doesn't even know me yet, and yet the man reminds me of home where getting things done is as easy as snapping ones fingers.



Well! Our dear friend Jason happens to be a handyman who is supposed to come and make me new shelves, closet and hangers so that clothes, crystals and crockery can breathe and not die of suffocation. But as life here would have it, probably getting an appointment with David Cameron is easier than having Jason over to get the work done.

When I first arrived in Sheffield I hoped that settling in depended on me and of course my family here, who have been more than great! I have received nothing but love and more love. And that is one of the main reasons why I just fit in so beautifully. Thank you Ma and Papa! Really mean that from the bottom of my heart.

Incidentally apart from family I forgot about perfect strangers, people who were supposed to make my settling in a bit more comfy and organised. I expected this bunch of strangers to appear quickly, take instructions from me, get the work going and last but not the least finish their work in my house and disappear with equal speed. Alas! Life had other plans. And I missed my trip to the beach or I am perfectly confident that I would have landed myself in possession of a magic lamp which I would rub to my heart's content and have my wishes done!!!

Now this is where I am forced to think of Delhi and Patna. Two cities where I have lived most my life, I never once felt the need of a walk on the beach or a magic lamp! Dilli Mein Yamuna hai, also know as Jamuna Par which by the way is capable of killing you because of its stench even before you have paared (crossed) it. And Bechari Ganga Ji is not the like her old illustrious self nowadays. Dried up and still with dirty corners feels confused if it still holds the same importance in her devotee’s hearts. This digression was necessary to explain why the idea of a sea side never hit my head!



Anyhow, coming back to the issue at hand, if it were Delhi, Sanjeet, my man Friday would have used all the tactics to bring a man and get the work done. He would have cajoled, crooned and caught hold of the plumber, electrician, or the carpenter in this case and seen to it that the work was done.

Now the scenario changes a bit more to my liking when I think of Patna. To get work done at home, there was no need to cajole, croon or plead! The carpenter or the 'badhai mistry' would be summoned by Pa's gunman. The man would come running at the speed of light, finish the job in hours, bend in complete obedience and tremble till he got a nod of satisfaction from me. Oh! And in case I did not like something he would work all evening to get it right! I know! Sounds atrociously feudal on my behalf, but don't worry my part of hell is under construction by god's own angelic carpenters! I hope they get it right the first time. But coming back to the mortal, trembling carpenters of Patna for now, they are made to give you super service at super fast rate. And I loved it. Made me feel like the lord of some manor! Not that I don’t feel like the Queen of Rockingham Lane already. But my paradise awaits the presence of superior beings, for example, The Handyman!



 The truth of the matter is that the tables have turned and surprisingly I feel more like human and that too a very ordinary one! Thus I shiver to call Jason a mere mortal! His availability is as rare as the gods themselves. Apparently when Yash first called him, that was about three weeks ago, he was told that we will have to wait for a couple of weeks since he was occupied with some contracts. I have been waiting and the ‘couple of weeks’ are soon turning into a month and yet there is no sign of his divine presence! Wait! When and if we do hear from him, we have to make sure he gets to work immediately, minus phrases like, 'perhaps this would look nice' or 'what do you think will look better?' because his per day wages are good enough to make a sane man delirious!

I am not even thinking of the electrician and other help for the moment. Justin is a handful and has my undivided attention for now and most times till he does what he is supposed to do.



I am a religious woman apart from many other things. And just like I pray for family and friends and their wellbeing everyday, I pray for Justin, a man who will one day fix my house. Till the time god shows up in the face of Justin I am honing my other godly virtues, that being faith and patience!



P.S.( Thank you Sanjeet, Tiwar Jee and Mishra Jee for keeping the Jasons out of my life till now.)



Divya J Thakur.

23.06.2011

From a daughter to her Father!

A new chapter has begun and I am not yet turning pages ahead. I am still going back to the old passage, trying to look for new meanings. I have wondered enough about the future. About what is right and what is not. And now I am merely a spectator watching over the rights and wrongs. Life teaches you to love and then it also teaches you to leave. Both are done with equal competence. We call it adjustment. And we don’t prepare for it like any other test of our life. We are just thrown into the pit and we have to learn to survive.

For most of my life I have been running to seek substitutes. My love has found one man, and since the time I knew that man and his love, I have been busy finding a substitute for him. Not because his love wasn’t enough. On the contrary his love is sufficient for this and many other lifetimes to come. But because, the fear of losing him hangs around my neck like an albatross and hence I look for something that might fill the void that he would leave behind.

I am an ordinary girl who thinks that superheroes are not real. But dads are. And my dad is my hero. Not knowing when that consciousness dawned upon me, but I knew he is special. Thousands of miles away I can hear the laughter in his voice; I can see the twinkle in his eyes and feel the warmth of his hands. We are growing old. We have shared a lifetime together and yet there seem so much more to be shared. I am not scared of the distance. I am petrified of time. It ticks away slowly. And I cannot make it still. It’s a futile war and I hate being on the losing side.  

My father means the world to me. And I am not the first daughter to say so! Although I secretly wish, I was the first one to love him the way I do. My lessons in life have come to me by watching him. He is not a preacher but a man of actions. His optimism would put gods to shame and his anger kids to bed! (I can vouch for that!)

I remember writing an essay on my father for the school magazine. It was an instant hit. My teachers and friends went moist in their eyes. Everyone appreciated the sentiment and the writing. My father said, ‘Write shorter sentences, it will help you make fewer mistakes.’ And then he smiled. The smile I knew well. He was happy and sad. That was the first time; I was leaving home for college.

One thing led to another. I finished college and got myself a job. Jumped through various profiles and then one day decided in the favour of a sabbatical. I was once again living as his daughter, writing C/O MK Jha on my forms. It was a happy reunion with my long forgotten past.

The two years spent with him before I tied the knot made us closer than ever. Our arguments were unstoppable but our love like always had no stopping. To this date he remains a man of mystery to me. We still have the longest discussions on phone and not when we are present in front of each other. Poetry and literature is his weakness and his legacy to me. That’s one thing that exclusively comes to me. I am proud and grateful for this gift.

Now that father’s day approaches some might say I am getting sentimental and mushy. But the truth of the matter is that pa is in my heart 24*7. We are physically distant but in love we are together, in verse and poetry we meet, in between the lines we fight and in rhymes we make up. I have a father who grows young with every written word. How on earth is a substitute possible for him? He is my muse for now and for ever. And when I sit down to write it is his faith that shines the most.

I am my Father’s daughter for now and forever.

Happy Father’s day pa!

Love miloo.

United we stand, Divided we fall.

United we stand, Divided we fall!

Endless stories have taught us that moral lesson. And as children we seem to have understood it, at least learnt it in the rote method. But to everybody’s disappointment, in the present scenario, the judiciary not only endorses a divided culture and history but also flaunts it.

After 60 years a judgment on Ayodhya saw daylight. Let's just quickly glance through the before and after effect. Everyone openly agreed that violence was not an option. Everyone also agreed that no matter how lousy it sounds, let man decide on GOD!

Two days before the verdict we saw political parties appealing for peace, Bollywood actors appealing for peace, possibly dogs and cats on streets appealing for peace, therefore suddenly turning the common man of this country into the most dangerous and dreaded mind, who has nothing better than a riot to plot!. All this drama continued while kids enjoyed two day off in schools, offices worked half time (not mine) and news channels had a field day gathering TRPs’.

Anyhow, the point being, after agreeing to everything and anything we saw this judgment. Let’s give it a thought. Not a Hindu or a Muslim thought, just a thought. What did we do as a nation who already has tasted the blood of division?

Partition was given to us as a legacy by the British. We cried over it, killed over it yet carried it. Today we go back to that state of imperialism where the voice of the subaltern has been crushed forever, because today we are divided again, but not by ‘them’ but our 'own'. Many might say this is not the same as dividing people; it’s a mere division of land so that people can be united. I am sure many in this country have already convinced themselves that the judgment is for the best.

But according to me this sort of verdict only assures us of one thing, that we as a nation are still afraid to speak the truth and more importantly tell the truth because it's bitter and difficult. 


If the three judge committee agreed that the disputed land originally had a temple, it also agreed that according to the Muslim tenets a mosque cannot be built on the ruins of another religious structure, therefore  categorically pointing out that Babri Masjid cannot be recognized as a Masjid.

Last but not the least, the High Court dismissed the Waqf board’s claim on the land. And technically that's what they had to decide. Whether the claim was valid or not valid. Having dismissed it, you are in not so many words saying that there is no claim! 

So will someone explain to me that if the claim has been dismissed, then why was the decision to give 1/3 rd away made? Definitely not to build a car park for the devotees! 


Why are we scared to say what has to be said? 


The Muslim brothers too have reiterated the same point. That they would have been happier if the entire land was given away but this kind of division doesn’t solve any purpose. What it does is question the intelligence of the 1 billion plus population of this country. 

Obviously, the matter will go for appeal to the Supreme Court. And I am hoping that there someone will show some courage and announce a real verdict. Let there be a true judgment deciding for once and all whether we have the ability to hear the not so pleasant.

The media and Mr. Chidambram, are confident that India has moved on. It has grown and matured as a country. It believes that no matter what the verdict, communities will come to accept it. So how about testing this change and maturity? If we as a nation believe that we have come a long way then let’s gather the courage to hear the real verdict.

No one is impressed with the Honorable Court’s stunt as a fairy god mother trying to send every kid with a return gift from a birthday party. This is no party and that land is no gift. Let us find true honour in accepting what is right. And trust me you wouldn’t need any court for that. Let us be brave and United in acceptance.


And as citizens of this country we do expect the courts to have the courage to go all the way and announce a verdict on the basis of their findings and not on a hypothetical desire to please all. 


To accept such a verdict with dignity would mean a true shift and a dawn of a new India.

P.S. (Division in mathematics mean breaking, cutting a whole into two or many. And as shown it has different results. Let’s not justify that Math in History or Literature and call it a verdict!)

Mother of all weddings! South style!

        My summer although not over as yet seem to have taken a full circle as far as the travel map is concerned. More than a month of staying away from my bed and my bathroom has taken a toll on me and yet I believe this was another great phase!

Attending a wedding in any case doesn't sound easy! Especially if it is to take place within the family. And god save you if you have to travel to a different destination to attend it! 

All your clothes, shoes and jewelery want a place in your box! Everything looks important and there is nothing that you could possibly travel without. After having paid the excess baggage you still are mourning the absence of those endless things that you have had to leave behind. 

However my journey started way ahead of others. And as expected I had more time to shop and splurge! True it did not go down well with some, but that's where the spice comes from. No? How utterly boring a wedding or a family get together be without sparks? All under control for the best please!

This wedding season was different from the usual garish, pompous show of wealth. Not that I have a problem with such shows, as a spectator I quite like variety. And since being vain comes to me quite naturally, I like participating in them with all the glitz possible.

But when it has to be compared to early morning temple weddings with loud chants of hymns seasoned with the smell of sandalwood  and flowers, one actually gets to the importance of the ceremony. The fact that everything looks so pure and unadulterated in a way signifies the real union of the two families. Well almost!


It's not that these early morning weddings are divorced from jazz and show altogether. Right from the heavy Kanjeevaram, patta and various other kinds of silk sarees to unending designs of gold jewelery even when the prices are soaring high makes these events a must go!


While the show continues throughout the wedding and the reception, it's the family that gets a chance to come together. Best are the before wedding preparations, late night gossips, sinful indulgence in cuisines that would kill months of dieting and not to forget the unending visits to the shopping arcade.


The shopkeepers almost become like long lost family, tailors your fashion guide who hold the key to make you look different from the rest and managers of coffee shops and restaurants your personal  helpers  who know exactly how much salt and sugar goes into your meal!



And within all this commotion and attention lies the bride, her make-up and her shopping! Yes! That has to be the priority! After all this show would not go on without her!


For me it was the case of instant gratification, material gluttony and never say enough to anything! Not to miss that too irritated a few. But like I said, it was all worth it! 
The fact that one felt like a big family again where smiles were shared across the room,  sign language became the most important means of communication and wit and sarcasm  sharpened everyday just in order to keep up  with a few made this wedding an unforgettable affair.


Apart from adding more shoes, jewelery, clothes and pounds to my collection and body respectively I added moments with people I love. Captured laughter which promised to set me free and allowed my self to let go of silly tiffs which prevent me from loving what I very proudly call, "MY FAMILY".


This truly was the mother of all weddings in my family! 
To the bride and groom! Cheers.


P.S. (This piece would not have been complete without the mention of stores like Bhavani, Fazzals malls like Central,Mantri,Forum and tailors like Sadhna and Cauvery)


 

Udaan or Balika Badhu? Who is the role model NOW?

Now that I am off my hectic work schedules and irregular hours, needless to say, most of my time is spent reading, writing or merely working out.  Basically living life on my terms. I know many would find that problematic! But anyhow...

So here I was  sitting and  chatting  with my sister who surprised all of us with a visit from Bombay. She is short tempered but always manages to have a valid reason for her anger. (And that is not an excuse, especially when I am at the receiving end of things most of the times.) 


Her anger this time was directed towards the quality of TV serials that happened to be on air on various channels.

These are definitely some confusing if not interesting times that we are living in. On one hand we are talking of compulsory education for all children, we also are talking of women's reservation bill. And most importantly we are making sure that no child gets through primary or secondary school without having written a rather lengthy essay on the 'New Age Indian Woman!!!'


So what happens after that? Suddenly the entire population starts seeing the New age woman in Anandi? (Balika Badhu child star). Honestly! The Tulsis' and the Aparnas' of the world did not trouble me as much as these under aged child protagonists do. We all know that child marriage is an issue, we all agreed long time back that this is a social evil. So what exactly does the production houses hope to achieve by putting up a sloppy version of this twisted reality? 

Following the bandwagon are half a dozen shows on various entertainment channels dealing with a similar issue of marriage in the garb of trying to come out with a solution. What I don't understand is what happened to small town girls like Kalyani from the serial Udaan? She did not have to wear heavy make-up, chanderi saaris or for that matter of fact designer bindis? And she got her point across rather strongly. We learnt the importance of education, self-respect etc, etc...

I am not saying that social evils will disappear on their own if you don't talk about it. But can someone convince me that this is the only way to deal with child marriage, female-foeticide  and other existing evils??? And if so, how is it helping? By merely putting a disclaimer that these practices by no means are celebrated by the channel does not makes it go away!


As a child, I know for a fact that I did not have clarity of thoughts. If I saw Kalyani, the protagonist who was strong, hard working and committed to her cause, I believed that was the only way to grow up! I wanted to be someone like her. I wanted my father to be very very proud of me. 

What are the little girls of our times aspiring to be? Anandi? Ikcha? Or do the creators of these  serials expect  children to have the maturity and the understanding of an adult to deal with entertainment without taking it too seriously?


You dress up an under age girl. You give her fancy jewellary, great clothes and not nag her with school lessons! What you have created is not a protagonist but a virtual nightmare for mothers all over the country! Just take a look at some of the names of these serials, 'Peehar', 'Hamari Devrani', 'Choti Bahu', 'Sajan Ghar Jana hai', 'Geet Hui sabse  parayi'! I can go on and on. How liberating are these titles? And what can we possibly hope to learn or teach with the help of these great work of art??

Are you telling me that girls growing up in small towns and villages are supposed to make these  their role model?


Most of us believe that the younger generation is always a step ahead of its previous one. But I am rather ashamed to say that we as a generation have proved this to be wrong at least in the case of quality entertainment. Rather than focusing on child marriage and only marriage as the main goal of a growing up girl, I am sure we can show much more that will prove to be beneficial to them. 


Just by making a face over the hideous 'K' serials won't do! Or saying that our children understand the difference also won't take away the larger responsibility that we all have towards the children growing up in the midst of this high level drama!
These are the times when melodrama and nonsensical emotions are merely a remote control away. Switch on anything from news to entertainment. And you have the level of drama that one only saw in yesteryear Hindi films!


It's a pity that when science and technology has progressed so much. And our reach to anything is not limited, we are still hell bent in living inside our smelly and obscure closet. Come out of it and breathe right! That's how our children will learn to live right. 

At the end of the day the truth remains that you might be able to make sense of lines like , "Main tumhein chainn se jeene nahi doongi"(I shall not let you live in peace) and, "Hum ladka dekhne nahi, ladki dikhane jaa rahein hain," (We are not going for the selection of a groom, rather we are going there so that our girl can be selected as a bride). But your child does not. 


P.S.(Isn't it better having your child  refer to you as Ma or amma than Ma Saa. Even better, try calling your daughter Laddo and see what I mean!)