Category Archives: India’s Daughters

Studyhall Educational Foundation is launching a campaign called “India’s daughters: Unwanted, Unsafe, Unequal”. We invite the entire Studyhall family, students, alumni, teachers, parents and others to join us as we raise our voice and consciousness against gender violence and gender inequality in India in particular and in the world in general. The campaign will include online and offline activites which will be announced on our website. Please participate in the discussions by writing blogs and comments and encourage your family and friends to do the same. Let us all work together towards an egalitarian social order.

Servitude of a Chagrined Dove

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Ekisha Narain
XI-D, Study Hall School

Near the city of Varanasi there is an Iron casting factory surrounded by small settlements of the workers. I dedicate this song to Meenaksi. A 48 year old woman who lives there and was being raped by her own husband almost every night. She thought it wasn’t considered as rape because he was her husband. Imagine. She tolerated this for more than 30 years! Until one day when her husband, drunk, invited his friends over for a night. After suffering for more than 5 hours when the sun peeked through the window as she laid alone. It dawned upon her. How wrong it was and how many other women might be going through all this in that area alone. She decided to stand up! She couldn’t take it anymore!
She talked to all the women of the area about the incident and they  came together and formed a group against this injustice. At first they were criticized. Their husbands, fathers and brothers laughed at them and beat them for standing against their authority ! But they didn’t know the power of united women.
It’s been almost a year and they have acted against 14 men who were fired and  sentenced to about two years in prison. Now that group has over 30-40 women and 10-15 men which they are trying to expand as much as possible.

Meenaksi. A 48 year old woman who lives there and was being raped by her own husband almost every night.

Exhausted

I continue my journey,
as the outnumbered,
the weakling.
No other choice
but to live with it.
Unconscious.
Not my memory.
I’m not young,
nor fair.
But does it matter?
Not to them.
To him.
I blame God,
I know not why.
Eyes closed
I’m ready to die
Silence,
Pain,
Anger,
Powerless I lie.
Numb.
Guilty.
Is it my fault?
Yes.
For reticent i stay
hiding the embarrassment.
Fearing the forcible.
Every night.
Every night….
But not today!
Today i fly
I’ve had enough
You will not haunt us
Together we stand
against your type
You shall fear us!
Our rage now hype!
Standing tall
We’ll fight!
We’ll fight!
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Who will hear Our Voice?

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Priyanka Chatterjee
Digital Study Hall

I would like to share an experience from my work life, an experience which countless working women face every day when they leave their houses. I was visiting District Institute of Educational Training (DIET) Chitrakoot and Kaushambi, I got late and boarded a bus at Allahabad for Lucknow. It was 4 in the afternoon, I was certain that I would reach home in four hours. As luck would have it engine of the bus broke down, we got delayed by more than 3 hours. When I boarded the bus there were 25 men and 3 women onboard. As as time went by I was the only women left on the bus. It was then that I started feeling scared. I could feel many men staring at me; I could smell the drunken men at the back of the bus. Though I consider myself to be a strong and independent woman that night I felt very vulnerable. As I arrived at Lucknow I called my husband with a breath of sigh and he picked me up at half past midnight from the deserted bus station.

I still asked myself – I am an educated & independent woman and ironically working for empowerment of women, so why was I scared? I remember a little girl from KGBV Ghorawal at Sonbhadra district who said “We are scared, and we do not raise our voice” but that day in the bus I understood what she meant. It was not just about raising her voice. It is the fact that there is no one that will hear and understand. That day even if I had raised my voice, there was no one who I could expect to respond. This is where I feel that no matter how brave we are, we still need the a lawful state, We need government to take hold of administration and make our railways, our buses, roads and public places safe for women.

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I AM A GIRL CHILD

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Vanshika Rastogi 
X-C, Study Hall School
I am a girl child,

feel my agony .
listen to my plight.
 I too have a heart that beats like yours
Ten fingers and ten toes
I too  have a mind that thinks like yours
And feels joy and sorrow too
When I was born,
no one was happy ,
no one rejoiced.
 Parents considered me as a burden
which they had to carry all their life.
Growing up I tried to fulfill every expectations of others,
crushing all expectations of mine.
Why then   do you think I don’t deserve a chance?
Why am I considered worthless?
Why do you believe I don’t deserve to live …
and give me death when I’m helpless?
I too yearn for a life someday
Belong to a family, make friends and play
Grow up, fall in love and have a child or two
Have a wonderful life just like you
Don’t kill me, don’t let me die .
Even you know your life is not complete
without me.
 The mythology says girl is a form of goddess
only to be treated with love respect n reverence,
but no one even treats me nice
guess that’s the hypocrisy of mankind.
Don’t treat me below nor treat me above,
Just treat me equal.
Empower me n let me bloom like a rose in the bouquet of life.
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Today I Feel Ashamed To Be A Man

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Dharm Pravartak
Student, Study Hall School

Why do we care if a girl was brutally raped and was left for dead in Delhi. For every protest movement that takes place in the country there are about 30 rapes taking place in India. Not even a month into 2013 and we already have 27 cases reported in the country . I ask the men of my nation, have you no shame, have you no conscious, have you no heart? Why are you raping women, they are not just objects of sex. They are the ones who give you life. they are the ones who make you the man you are. they are the ones who have raised you from puny thumb sucking babies to the full grown man that you have become, you do not feel one tinge of shame and disgust when you commit such heinous crimes. Now i ask those men who stay quite when they see such a crime happen, has the chivalry and bravery in you died? where does that chivalry go to when a girl needs your help. why does it only come when you have to abuse someone or beat up your wife or daughter or mother. We very loudly shout that “Babri Masjid” was made on the land where Lord Rama was born and we should remove the Mosque and build a temple. We are the followers of Lord Rama but may i ask you all a question that do you really even understand the meaning of the title “Maryada Purushottam”. It means a Gentleman Beyond Question or Doubt, a man of the highest morals and ethics. my dear men what do we do we rape women in the name of that great GOD/Person we kill women, rape them and have riots which then become communal. sometimes i wonder that do these riots really take place for the purpose they are supposedly taking place or just for feasting on women and young girls. Men if you so badly want sex then go to a brothel and satisfy yourselves there are thousands of them all across the country but please stop raping and molesting women on the streets, stop making them feel vulnerable and weak all the time. just imagine how you would like it if it was your mother being raped or your sister or daughter. For heavens sakes stop it India has had enough of this, don’t bring more shame to MANHOOD, men should be known as protectors, providers, safe keepers and not as rapists, molesters, butchers. Please stop doing such things that other MEN FEEL ASHAMED TO BE MEN!

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All from one origin ‘ A Mother ‘

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Jyotiranjan Nayak,
Class-VIII-A,
Study Hall
My view point on the brutal Delhi gang rape case that took place on 16th December, 2012 is that, we should be really ashamed of the fact that we call ourselves the largest democracy in the whole world where the women aren’t even safe to move around in their own country. This incident really shook me from inside and a question was raised in my mind that, Are women safe in India? Obviously not, but why? Women are now becoming the target of men who do not hesitate to make them feel vulnerable, and, worse, attack their dignity.

A recent study states that India is the worst country for women among the G20 nations. The report suggests that Indian women are not free from violence. The National Crime Reports Bureau 2011 shows that Bangalore comes second in the country for crimes committed against women. According to the report, Bangalore has 1,890 cases, which accounts for 5.6%, after New Delhi (13.3%). Why do Indian men use sexual violence to rob a woman’s security? A recent survey revealed that Indian women are the most stressed out in the world: 87% of our women feel stressed out most of the time. This statistic alone has caused me to stress out. Even in workaholic America, only 53% women feel stressed. Sexual Harassment in other cities

Delhi 4,489 cases (13.3%)
Hyderabad 1,860 cases (5.5%)
Vijayawada 1,797 cases (5.3%)
Sex crime against women in Bangalore
Cruelty by Husband: 398 to 458
Molestation: 308 to 250
Rape: 65 to 97
Dowry deaths: 52 to 53
Sexual harassment: 40 to 50

There are many India’s at present. It’s difficult for a socio-economically and sexually repressed India to live with the modern, independent India. Backward ideas about gender and sexuality overpower the India in which women want to live on their own. Indian society has always prided itself on a strong masculine figure. News Agencies say that our Indian Army is the second largest army in the whole world. An army is present to protect the nation, but what’s the worth of having such a huge force at our borders when women aren’t safe in their houses itself. We are guided by weak laws, slow judiciary system and a very ignorant policing system where there is no justice and no one even bothers. And neither women are given enough support in their family to come out and talk about it. So, women face the worst of both worlds.

Aren’t we all sons, brother, fathers, all from one origin,’ a mother ‘ isn’t it. So shouldn’t we protect them and also should look forward to support our sisters, daughters, mothers, and friends and make them feel secure that they are living in a safe India where no one would harm them.

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बिटिया की कलम से

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Suman Diwedi
Study Hall School

बिटिया की कलम से

स्वप्न यूँ बिखर गए,
अश्रु बनकर बह गए ,
हम राह देखते रहे,
वे मौन व्रत लिए रहे ।

कोई ना था पास तब,
जीने की मुझमे चाह तक,
वस्त्र तार -तार हो गए ,
हम जार -जार रो पड़े ।

साँसों में भी तब जान थी ,
धड़कन की उसमे आस थी,
मोमबत्तियाँ हैरान थी,
जलने की उनमे चाह थी।

जो पिघल-पिघल कह गई
दास्ताने-जुर्म की,
आवाम ने आवाज़ दी ,
अब और नहीं! और नहीं !

होगा शहीद इस तरह,
मिल करके आज ये कहे,
बेटी है गौरव देश की,
पत्नी और जननी वही,

जीने का उसे अधिकार दो!
उसे उसका संसार दो!
यहाँ मान को सम्मान दो!
अब राह,देखेंगे नहीं ।

तुम मौन व्रत लिए रहो।
हम साथ देंगे नहीं !!!!!

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We all need to think

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BARILA BISHT
Teacher, Study Hall School

The principle of gender equality is enshrined in the Indian Constitution in its Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties and Directive Principles. The Constitution not only grants equality to women, but also empowers the State to adopt measures of positive discrimination in favour of women. These days special focus is on empowering women and girls, because I believe they hold the key to long-lasting social change in communities. It is the moral, social and constitutional responsibility to ensure their progress by providing them with equal rights and opportunities. Today women with their smartness, intelligence and hard work have conquered the whole world. They have excelled in each and every profession. Women are considered to be more honest, meticulous, and efficient and hence more and more organisations prefer hiring women for better performance and results. They are much better in multi- tasking than their counterparts.

Inspite of the positive development of women in India, gender discrimination still persists. In their work places they are doing extremely well but at their homes they are never in command and some are even ill treated. Women have been empowered but have we been able to empower the men to handle and respect these empowered women? The answer largely is No. Here is some food for thought.

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A Question Unanswred

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Dharm Pravartak
Student, Study Hall School

A Question Unanswred

I saw the light through the windows
I saw things change outside it
But Why Was I Not A Part of It?

I saw my brothers go to school
I saw them grow in all awe
But Why Was I Not A Part of It?

I saw men walking on the streets
I saw them go places beyond the horizon
But Why Was I Not A Part of It?

Men enjoyed their lives
Men had all the fun of their lives
But Why Was I Not A Part of It?

I saw the world change around me
I saw men change it too
But Why Was I Not A Part of It?

Am i dumb or am i weak
Am i foolish or Am i a freak
Why wasn’t I am part of The Decisions of My Life
Why was I just used and abused
Why, Tell Me Why?

Why Was I Not A Part of It?

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Living on the edge

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Sachin Nitish
X-C, Study Hall School

Being a woman is a very challenging course and one has to have the guts to go through it but, why is it to be the Indian Woman who is suffering the most?

Let us start by asking a question to ourselves.

Are you ready to accept the truth and stand up against the mistakes? 

Of course not. Why you ask?

You’ll talk about gender discrimination today and start the life with the same mindset of being superior. The patriarchal society of India has brought up everyone that way. Women of India live a life on a string, it’s only a matter of time before they fall off or get pushed. It’s only a matter of time to realize these mistakes. The way you treat your sisters and mothers is how you should exactly treat a walking street passer. Passing snide comments and looks is not an example you set yourself. You may think your physically more stronger and have a superiority thinking going on but remember, You are pushing the women too far It doesn’t take too long before they push back.

How can government help the women?

Amending new laws and giving way too long speeches are not helping in any ways. Enforce the existing laws properly and pay the women some respect. Though the country is ran by many women, they are not really into helping the other women. Listen to the voices of public and try to understand them, Coming to a campaign just for sake of political attention won’t get you anywhere.

How can the citizens help the women?

The way society treats them is to be blamed. A good society would treat the men and women equally by means of everything. Get the women educated and make them understand the laws. The day a society knows a person is molested it should do all it can to make them feel home and not neglect them to a separate world. You see a women in trouble, stand up against them.

How can we change the current situation?

Let the women feel wanted and safe. Let the future generations be made equal and not depend on a patriarchal system. Don’t ever feel that having a women child is a burden.

The campaign’s purpose will thrive long enough to make the women feel wanted, safe, equal.

The day when a women feels safe to walk the streets alone and feels equally treated is the day when we get our true freedom.

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स्त्रियों का शोषण

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राधिका मौर्या(उम्र 15 वर्ष)
कक्षा 8, कस्तूरबा गाँधी बालिका विद्यालय मडिहान मिर्जापुर

देश की राजधानी में एक बार फिर दरंदिगी की सभी सीमाए पार हो गयी है। बदमाशो  ने दिल्ल्ली की एक छात्रा के साथ क्रूरता की सभी हदे पार कर दी  और यह दिल्ली के लिए कोई  नयी बात नहीं है।दिल्ली जो की भारत कि  राजधानी है वहाँ  रात 9:30 बजे यह घटना घटी और पुलिस इस घटना को रोकने में अक्षम रही ।यह दिल्ली में आम बात है लेकिन इस बार महिला के पुरुष दोस्त के सामने आने पर यह मामला प्रकाश में आया है। बदमाशों ने युवती के साथ ज़बरदस्ती की और उसके पुरुष मित्र को बेरहमी से पीटने के बाद रस्ते  पर फेक दिया।युवती ने साहस का परिचय दिया लेकिन उसकी बदमाशो के सामने एक न चली। बदमाश यह  घ्रणित  कार्य चलती बस में करते रहे।चलती बस में तक़रीबन सवा घंटे तक बदमाश उसे पीटते रहे और ज़ख़्मी करते रहे और लोगो को कुछ पता नहीं चला।
सुझाव के तौर पर लोगो ने स्त्रियों को अधिक वस्त्र  पहनने की वकालत की लेकिन मै उन लोगो से पूछना चाहती हूँ कि अधिक वस्त्र पहनने से क्या उनकी  सुरक्षा मुकम्मल हो पायेगी? पूरे देश में इस घटना को लेकर कड़ा  आक्रोश था और  ज़नान्दोलन भी हुए लेकिन इतना समय बीत जाने के बावजूद दोषियों को कोई सजा नहीं हुयी।मेरा सुझाव है कि उन दोषियों को ऐसी सजा मिलनी चाहिए कि दुबरा कोई यह घृणित कार्य करने कि हिम्मत न कर सके। अब हमें यह कहना है , पूरे जोश और पूरी ताकत के संग आओ करें पुरषों से जंग।

 

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