Ritu Bhanot
[ Seventy-odd years ago, when I was born, the birth of a son in the family was rejoiced. Daughters were considered a burden, since they could not 'earn' money and needed protection. Their main job was cooking and house-keeping. Consequently, educating girls was not considered necessary. As a precaution against exploitation, they covered their faces with a veil, and generally stayed within the four walls of the house. Over the years, things have changed dramatically. Modern machines need very little physical effort and therefore, women can operate them just as well, if not better. Military, which was the last male bastion has also been broken, and one finds them anywhere and everywhere. In this little Hindi poem entitled "Nari" she has said something very profound, and eminently readable. For those who may not have heard of her, Ritu is a linguist who is a professional translator and interpreter. She migrated to Strasbourg in France a few years ago, but left her heart behind, in India. The meanings of all the Hindi words are given at the end of her poem. As I was mulling over her composition, a question occurred to me, which is given as a tailpiece. We seek your answers. Ed]
नारी
प्रेरणा [i] , प्रेयसी[ii]
नारी[iii] नारायणी[iv]
है सार[v] संसार का ।
है माता कभी
कभी अर्धांगिनी[vi],
कभी खिलती हुई-सी कली ।
हृदय[vii] परिपूर्ण[viii]
प्रेम, ममत्व[ix] सदा[x],
प्रलय[xi] की ज्वाल[xii] अंतर[xiii] लिये
दुष्टों[xiv] के लिये काल[xv]-कालिका[xvi] है यह,
है यही राधिका कृष्ण की ।
प्रेरणा, प्रेयसी
नारी नारायणी
है सार संसार का !
[i] Inspiration
[ii] Beloved
[iii] Woman
[iv] Goddess Lakshmi or Durga
[v] Quintessence
[vi] Wife
[vii] Heart
[viii] Full of
[ix] Motherly love, affection
[x] Always
[xi] Final destruction of the universe
[xii] Flame
[xiii] Heart, soul
[xiv] Wicked
[xv] Yama, Shiva, Time, Death and destruction
[xvi] The Goddess Kali
A Tailpiece
I think, we are all agreed on the need for equality of opportunity for men and women. Gender bias is sinful. God created men and women to complement each other, and in many respects, women are superior to men. When in distress, men call out to their mothers for help (‘Hai Maa !’ are the last words uttered by many soldiers in battle) and if you look into their purses, you find a picture of their wife. It is also well known that parents receive more love from their daughters than sons. Why is it, then , that the Lord chose to wear the male form when He appeared on the Earth to represent God? I find that nearly all the major religions have been founded by men. The list is headed by Jesus Christ, and we have Mohammed, Conficious, Gautam Buddha, Mahavir, and the ten Sikh gurus. The heads of some of the recent cults are also male : Sathya Sai Baba, Bhagwan Rajnish, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The Muslims do not permit women to enter the mosques and the Sikhs do not permit them to recite ‘Kirtan’ in the Golden Temple. And, of course, the Pope is always chosen from amongst the ‘Fathers’ . Can some one tell me, why God has been partial?
Hi All,
In my opinion, the subject is being dealt with within a small community who all have progressive (enlightened?) views; quoting what most of us already know. The problem is with the die hard male population that has either not considered the problem of treating women equal to men seriously enough or just shrug it aside as a meaningless proposition. Besides, the status quo gives man a superior position in society, nurtures his ego and gives him power (within the family, if he is the sole earner).
We should also remember that evolution of society, or periodical changes in values and attitudes take place with changing circumstances and influence of outsiders who came and conquered our lands and imposed their values and culture on the people they got to govern. So, to my mind, we should ‘go to the field’ and try to educate the masses about what the position of women was in the good old Vedic society and now that we are free to once again adopt those values, we should do away with the foreign influence of the culture that the invaders imposed upon us over almost 600 years of our subjugation.
But yes, the poem is nice and as all poems go, it says volumes for a discerning person to appreciate in a few words.
Dinesh Chandra
short,simple,sufficient . Few are able to express with such economy of words.
Dear Friends,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation of my efforts. I didn’t respond earlier but I have read all the comments.
Personally, I feel that a woman has many facets. I was born in a Hindu family with Vedic beliefs, I never felt that I had any competition from men. Both had our place in this universe. We say that we are progressing but when I look at the freedom enjoyed by women in Vedic Era and the restrictions imposed in today’s society, I often wonder, which freedom. Earlier we had women like Gargi and Maitreyi who wrote vedic hymns and then came a time when women didn’t have the right to study. Still we have people in India who think that it is useless to educate women.
Maybe it is because modern men are insecure
But do they really need to be? I don’t think so. Women are not there to compete with you but to complete you as you are there to complete women. We think differently but it takes both to make the humanity continue on path of happiness.
Just some random thoughts…
Best regards,
Ritu
Many thanks.
RK
Dear Gen,
It’s a lovely poem and touches the heart. The author has done well
in keeping it so simple and yet so expressive . The comments practically recount
our Indian religious relevance and the present day reality. I. as a husband .
became aware of this superiority of Women soon after marriage and hence I have had a very peaceful and happy time since then. Long Live our Devi Shakti
in what ever form they present themselves.
Vinod
What was relevent till yesterday, is irrelevent to-day.
I see women a shade ahead of men-how can it be otherwise? Incidently woman gives birth to a man and how can the creater be an inferior human being?
It is our mind set, perpetuated by unequal opportunities, that make us believe that men are superior. To-day the world has changed and this mind set (if it exists) is a rflection of poor upbringing!
Dear General,
An excellent poem that I have read after a very long time.
I personally feel that, Nar, Nari are two sides of a coin. Who is superior would be a funny question. Why have such feeling at all? God is one Supreme power with no form or gender. If that be so, why assign genders to that power? It is because, our ancestors knew that human mind is not stable and cannot concentrate without a form: thats why they have given a gender and a form for that Supreme power: Allah, Jesus, Ram etc, etc. Naam me kya rakka hai ? If one can achieve Concentration w/o an idol or a mantra, that is the best form of prayer. But how many of us can do that even today? One of the reasons for not able to do that may be because our tuned minds for an idol worship. Pl dont mistake me for being against Idol worship. I myself do the same. Though things are changing in the male dominated society, it is only in the metros, cities and amongst the educated youth. Go to the villages and backward areas. You will still find the male chauvinism existing. No one can bring a change in the lives of people till the time that affected person wants it and strives for it. Jab tak mai bechara ya bechari sochega, aap ke saath vaise hi sulook kiya jayega/hoga. Mai saksham hu, mai sakthi ruup hu karke jab nari samaj sochne lage to parivartan jaroor aayega. Then no one can stop them. Pl remember Jhansi Laxmi Bai, Sarojini Naidu and other freedom fighters.
Jaihind.
please do read my version
u///me
from times immemorial
women like
a mom,
are unforgotten today
also you display strength
not weakness,
go match with
DIDI of the East
Jaya of south
MAYA of Uttarapradesh
and
Sonia Gandhi
Our naturalized queen
Priyanka in tow we all know…
see Indira in reflection
and Kali and Vishno mata
and then woman don’t shy of me
I am naught in front of thee
though as Colls many know me….
Yes I may be…
thanks to women like all yee
what say you of woman
ask Sheila ji
and future hope
the BJP Premier to be
what’s’ her name
just don’t ask me
all know her jee,
the leading
of LADY OF BJP
dear GENARAL,
interesting gospels. why we forget jesus was born to virgin mary,
karan was born to kunti , from Sun God
VAISHNO MATA, KALI, DURGA, SITA, MIRA, RAZIA, MAMTA, MAYA, JAYALALITA, SHIELA, SONIA , ARE ENOUGH FOR ANY WORTHWHILE MALE TO DEFEND HIS CASE. WE ALSO HAVE MALLIKA, KARREENA, KATRINA, … WHO CAN CHALLENGE ANY MALE BASTION…,
SINCERELY,
SULTAN
Dear Surjit,
Thank U for sharing the lovely poem by Ms Ritu Bhanot.
My answer to yr question.
It is true that all religions r headed by men & not women. However, in the Hindu religion women r given great importance. always Vishnu is worshipped along with Lakshmi, Siva with Parvati & Brahma with Saraswathi. Lakshmi Puja, Parvati Puja & Saraswathi Puja r important events in Hindu lives.
The importance given to women is best illustrated by the forthcoming DURGA PUJA.
Sundara Rao
Because like God , a woman is also an enigma. Man has neither understood her nor can he match her.
Jagdish
Hi Uncle,
Actually the answer to your question is given in the introduction of the poem, in a male dominated society how can God take form of a woman, that would automatically make her superior , no? So therefore God appears as a man, it is not God who has been partial, it is us who do the partiality.
Anshu
Excellent poem and commentary!
Too good—- the poem as well as the comments!
I think the the poem is brilliant. Succinct yet profound. Enjoyed it immensely.
The answer sought in the tailpiece can partly be found in the prologue and part in the poem
1. Man and woman are equal in many ways but not all. For example a man has more physical strength and is therefore perceived superior in his ability to provide shelter and protection which has not changed over time…… “As a precaution against exploitation, they covered their faces with a veil, and generally stayed within the four walls of the house.”
2. Woman can destroy evil/wicked but cannot destroy (may sacrifice but cannot destroy) own kith which is sometimes required in the role of God on Earth. Hence the male form …… हृदय परिपूर्ण प्रेम, ममत्व सदा, प्रलय की ज्वाल अंतर लियेदुष्टों के लिये काल-कालिका है यह
God has created all with good intentions.
The differential is vanishing and human race is correcting itself.
A wonderful poem ,which reminded me of songs from the old movies-
“Nari jeevan jhooley ki tarah is par kabhee us par kabhee
hai kitna kathin jeevan iska samjahana isey sansar kabhee”
“Aurat ne zanam diya mardon ko mardo ne use bazzar diya
Jab jee chaha machla kuchla jab jee chaha dutkaar diyaa…..
The times have definitely changed for the better and women are rightly called
the better halves..
the couplets quoted by Nakai are wonderful and remind us about Maan ki mahimaa.. glorifying the wonderful NAARI
RPSingh 20 Sep 12
from times immemorial
women like
a mom,
are unforgotten today
also you display strength
not weakness,
go match with
DIDI of the East
Jaya of south
MAYA of Uttarapradesh
and
Sonia Gandhi
Our naturalized queen
Priyanka in tow we all know…
see Indira in reflection
and Kali and Vishno mata
and then woman don’t shy of me
I am naught in front of thee
though as Colls many know me….
Yes I may be…
thanks to women like all yee
what say you of woman
ask Sheila ji
and future hope
the BJP Premier to be
what’s’ her name
just don’t ask me
all know her jee,
the leading
of LADY OF BJP
“Why is it, then , that the Lord chose to wear the male form when He appeared on the Earth to represent God? ”
There is no direct evidence that God chose the male form. It is just hearsay by male reporters.
I suppose man and woman are like the two sides of same coin indicating they are a part and parcel of an ‘identity’. Indians mostly are aware of the ARDHANARI NATESHWAR form of Lord depicting ‘Unity’ of SHASWAT (permanant or eternal) and SHAKTI (motivation and motive power behind the will to exist). So I suppose the question of man and woman as two seperate identities it self is rather immature. I suppose they marry each other to form an independant (shall we rather say ‘inter-dependant) unit of society in a commune called ‘village’.
I suppose a ‘standard’ on an ‘ideal village’ competant of existance as an independent entity in isolation (i.e. by itself) consisting of professions, guilds , crafts etc; and their matching ‘households’ in the ideal village already exists.
A man and a woman are required to form such a ‘household’ or a Unit (from CO to Sweeper, assigned with the prime function of maintaining it… neat, clean, tidy,spik and span in all spheres (aspects and activities) – mental, psychological, phisical, phisiological, health, hygienic and so on) in Army Parlace is what the word ‘house-hold’ indicates. Bored? I stop!
In this respect, lemme quote a few couplets by Munnawar Rana-
“Khuda Ne Yeh Sifat Duniya Ki Har Aurat Ko Bakshi Hai
Ki Wo Pagal Bhi Ho Jaaye, To Betey Yaad Rehten Hain”.
“Abhi Zinda Hai Maa Meri, Mujhey Kuchh Nahin Hoga
Main Jab Bhi Ghar Se Nikaltaa Hun, Duaa Bhi Saath Chalti Hai”.
“Yeh Aisa Karaz Hai, Jo Main Adaa Kar Hi Nahin Sakta
Main Jab Tak Ghar Na Lautun, Meri Maa Sajdey Mein Rehti Hai”.
“Munnawar Maa Ke Pass, Kabhi Khul Ke Matt Rona
Jahaan Buniyaad Ho, Ziadaa Nami Achhi Nahin Hoti”.
Surrinder Nakai 20 Sep 12