the journey continues…

Early morning my cell started beeping with messages…Happy Woman’s Day! !
I don’t give much importance to any of these days as long as it really has a genuine reason to celebrate. Womans’s day is yet another day for me…
I remember my granny, who was a woman with a strong will. My grand-pa passed away in his early ages, so my granny was the one who took care of the entire family.4 daughters, an unmarried sister and a son, their education,marriage etc. She had a tough time. But her attitude towards life was very positive, she never thought of running away from her responsibilities, She had this strong will power which made her to face any problem in life.I had hardly seen her crying or cribbing for anything. In her 60’s she had climbed the Tirupati Hills 3 times… Can you believe that?

GrandPa and GrandMa,Wedding Photo

Her father was in army, so naturally she had discipline in her blood.Cooking,cleaning any work she was the perfectionist.She had a great enthusiasm towards life till her last days. I remember her saying, when she was on hospital bed that she didn’t put Mango Pickle that year, because she didn’t get good mangoes.Living life till the last moment right?
I wished Mom for Woman’s day.She replied reluctantly “what’s special in that? It’s just a another day in my life..”. My mom who is a double graduate always feels little inferior because she is not working like other women and is housewife. But I always tell her that she should be proud of herself because today we are all in good positions and well cultured because of her. Not only us,she was there for everybody in our big family. Most of my cousins studied in our house , many kids grew up in our house I remember during summer vacations our house used to be a small day care center!!.All these things would not have been happened if she was working!!
My mother-in-law celebrates Woman’s Day in her office. All women in her office buy new sarees and they go for a lunch in a nice restaurant.I have seen my mom-in-law waiting for this d-day from many months.That day she feels very proud of herself and it’s a honor for to celebrate Womans’s day.My mom-in-law, even though she has not studied much,she can easily mingle with anyone.She is not shy or hesitated compared to my mom who always feel nervous to speak in public.Working outside,meeting people and mainly financial independence makes you confident and extrovert in life. I feel good about her because she is doing what she wants to do in life and she is happy about it.
Other women who comes to my mind are my maids.The maid in my hometown, who lost her husband when she was 30 and now she is 60 still working in many houses. Every month,first week,she will be waiting for the postman ,who gives her 300Rs as Widow Pension.She has to pay 10rs to that postman as bribe otherwise he will not give that money to her!!.
My maid here in Bangalore,her husband drinks and fritters away all the money.She will work in 2-3 houses apart from that does a job in school as sweeper.One day I gave my old bangles,rings to her she said she doesn’t wear all those [even though she is interested].When her husband was not well, she has prayed somewhere [probably a church] and she is not wearing bangles,rings,bindi nothing.
So that makes Indian women really special someway !! Isn’t it??.