walking down the street,a bunch of friends and I get talking about our future;our life beyond college.As determined as I am about the things I want to achieve in my life, I tell me friends about how I am going to study further and then pursue a job that I love and how marriage is not one of my priorities at least for the next nine years until I am settled & successful in my own life.A friend, whose name need not be mentioned stood silently listening to me and to everything the others had planned but didn't say a word.
The reason for her silence didn't not say she had nothing planned,it was because she could not plan her own future; her silence spoke a great deal about her sadness and jealousy.Jealously that for everyone else marriage was an option but for her a liability;A liability imposed by the family and their native culture and values.While we all went on with our lives, she was going to be married to a man she has never seen before, neither does she have a choice in the man she wants.Born in to this world as a free individual,after nineteen years, she is no longer allowed to be on her own.He will become the owner of her future and her life would depend on his decisions.She can go on with her education if he agrees but getting into a job or working was no where in her cards.Why are we still in such a situation though we are in the twenty first century?
If you think deeply into it, the answer is right in front of us.We as a nation have moved physically towards liberalization but mentally most of us are still rigid.'All women are as powerful as men', holds good only in theory, but in practice it takes a long deviation.
This is a problem that cannot be alleviated by the women alone;the others around her too need equal education and awareness and need to support her and encourage her to grow.But as of now, she will still get married and I will still wait for nine years;My life has many options but her life is a liability.
The reason for her silence didn't not say she had nothing planned,it was because she could not plan her own future; her silence spoke a great deal about her sadness and jealousy.Jealously that for everyone else marriage was an option but for her a liability;A liability imposed by the family and their native culture and values.While we all went on with our lives, she was going to be married to a man she has never seen before, neither does she have a choice in the man she wants.Born in to this world as a free individual,after nineteen years, she is no longer allowed to be on her own.He will become the owner of her future and her life would depend on his decisions.She can go on with her education if he agrees but getting into a job or working was no where in her cards.Why are we still in such a situation though we are in the twenty first century?
If you think deeply into it, the answer is right in front of us.We as a nation have moved physically towards liberalization but mentally most of us are still rigid.'All women are as powerful as men', holds good only in theory, but in practice it takes a long deviation.
This is a problem that cannot be alleviated by the women alone;the others around her too need equal education and awareness and need to support her and encourage her to grow.But as of now, she will still get married and I will still wait for nine years;My life has many options but her life is a liability.
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