"Happy Women's Day?"

Today is International Women's Day. A day, when all the women are made to feel important and proud of their existence. A day, when they are told of the difference they make to our lives. How, we are eternally grateful for their existence. How much, we love them.

Yet, I open my facebook news feed today to see a response video of a young woman to the controversial documentary titled "India's Daughter", published by BBC Storyville which has been banned in India. I saw the documentary too. I could not help the tears that streamed down my face, time and again, as I acknowledged very painfully for the first time - that could have been me. Those could have been my parents shedding tears over the death of their young, educated daughter. I could have been that girl accused of crossing boundaries, simply because I wore jeans instead of a saree (which, btw, exposes more of my skin than jeans with a T-shirt would) or chose to attend a concert, which unfortunately for me almost always takes place after 8pm (and not even beginning on time, in most cases).

Why should I feel proud that I am a woman from India? Just because I was fortunate to be born to well educated parents, who encouraged me to be the best I could be, resulting in me writing this post in a country far far away? How many women can claim to share a fate even half as fortunate as mine? A large number in the urban areas maybe, but compared to the entire population of India, a measly number I would say. Anytime in a discussion, when the faults of the country are compared to those doing better, we immediately say, "but oh! They do not have our culture, our values, our love towards family, our ancient heritage" and so on. I say, throw this pretense of culture down the drain. We really are an uncultured lot. 

Be it the socially regressive customs which show that men are superior women are inferior or our treatment of the old. Everyone wants to click pictures with white people, everyone wants a fair bride to be married into the family. At the same time, a dark match is judged  badly by all and black Afro-American, African and everyone who isn't white, brown or from the far east is feared and disliked. Be it spitting and littering on the streets or the driving culture on the roads, these are examples of our indifference towards the existence of other people. Let us not even get into corruption - of the big bad political figures or its existence in your and my minds. 

They say that Indians are of a very tolerant nature. How sad that we have tolerated foreign invaders since nearly an entire millennium, but have called for 6 bans in half a week because we are "offended". To me, it looks like a descent down the hill, where instead of progressing into the 21st century, we are really going back to the 14th century. But there's still hope. There is no ban on pretending everything's okay and celebrating this day!

Having said all of the above, I am grateful to whoever it was who decided to celebrate this day. Being a citizen of a country where I have had to watch every single step I take outside my house, it is very nice to be appreciated. Every single woman in my life is symbolic of something amazing and their love and support always keeps me going and reminds me, there is still hope!

To me, feminism isn't about being better than men. Feminism isn't even declaring that men and women are equal. Feminism is a movement to ensure that in societies like ours, both men and women have equal opportunities to flourish in whatever aspects of life they excel at, so that we can harmoniously live together to improve our economy, our environment and reduce our chances of losing humanity. This is feminism I support.

I don't know if things will be different tomorrow. I don't think it's easy to change the mindset of so many people. But one step at a time, I surely do hope we shed our notions of "ancient culture" and look towards creating a new, richer one.

PS: I am of the opinion that Men's day must be celebrated just as much as women's day. Certain douchebags in society cannot replace the wonderful men who do so much for me in my life.

PPS: Tried my best to summarize the thoughts churning in my head since a few days. 

PPPS: If anyone is "offended", this would technically not be written in India anyway. Go do something better with your lives.