Women Empowerment!

Happy Women’s day to all the strong and beautiful women of the city!
It’s a privilege to be a woman. Women’s day is not about going to pubs or distributing pink chaddies. It basically is celebration about Women empowerment.
All believe that Women empowerment comes with education. Having dealt with women students for quite a few years, I feel sad to acknowledge the fact that education alone does not make women empowered. Empowerment has to come from within. We know that women are the stronger of the species, being more tolerant, more adjusting and having more faith in themselves and their people. Be it professional or personal lives, women are an icon, where there perform more and perform better roles. We just need to believe in ourselves and our strengths.
In the making of women, we have been blessed with certain things where we are more emotional, more sensitive, and more aggressive than majority men. Let’s take that as an advantage. We do enjoy certain other advantages of being the preferred lot. No doubt there are instances where we feel we are being taken for a ride. But, we must try and take it as a challenge and move ahead more strongly.
Women should not wait for opportunities and circumstances to make them empowered. If men do not wait for such opportunities, why should we? We are born with same heads and hearts. Let’s rise above the old statement of being termed as followers. We need to march along to make our positions in the society. Let our performance speak for us, and not just our sex.
We really do not need any reservations. We need to be conscious of our rights in the society, and in the family. Nothing should stop the women from being empowered.

Slow Man by JM Coetzee

When browsing over new books, i happened to see this small book "Slow Man". Its rare to find a book like this on a male character- usually fiction authors pick up females, or other circumstances and society- it always sells well. This was a reason enough to invest in the book and read it.
The story is of a man, approaching old age, who meets with an accident(in the very first line of the novel), and his leg gets amputated- above the knee. The author has described his feeling of anguish and uncertainty, especially so, because he has no family or friends. He hires nurses for day care. Finally he does gets satisfaction with a Croatian nurse named Marijana. She is a happily married women with three children and a loving husband. Paul Rayment, the old hero of the novel, starts falling in love with his nurse. Not wishing to disturb her life and her husband, he wishes to look after her and her children, and in return get love from her. When he accidentally tells Marijana about his feelings, she does not like it and stops coming for job. Still, there remains association between him and her, and also with her young son, who comes and spends time with Paul. He always nurses the desire to help her or her family, somehow or the other.
Mrs Costello, an Australian Author walks in his life and tells him all about his one sided passion for Marijana. She founds his tales interesting for her books, and somehow, manages to rule his life, telling him all how he feels, how Marijana feels, and what he should do when. Paul Rayment is taken back by the revelations Mrs Costello makes about him and all others. She seems to be knowing all about everyone. She spends days and nights at Paul Rayment's flat- as an uninvited guest. She even later proposes to take Paul Rayment with her to her house and live comfortably, enjoying each other's company in old age. .....Paul Rayment, however, continues to live with his dreams and desires.........
I must confide that male oriented books are not really a pleasure to read.(Unless, someone suggests me a good one)

Many Lives, Many Masters

Many lives, Many Masters- By Dr Brian Weiss is an extraordinary book. You can spend longs hours with the author, reading his experiences, his experiments, his knowledge, his conclusions.
Dr Weiss is a practicing and prominent psychiatrist. While treating one young patient, Catherine, he treats her chronic anxiety and nightmares not by the traditional methods, but by hypnosis. during hypnosis, Catherine goes back to her previous lives. She describes herself, her surroundings, her people, and all. And in the various sessions of hypnosis, Catherine goes back to her various lives. Catherine has actually lived 86 lives. In her various births, the people around her are many- there are some who she knows- knows because they are there in her present life too- ofcourse, in different roles and relations, and some whom she says, i do not know- cause they are not there in her present life. So many nightmares and anxieties of her present life have a relation to the incidents of her previous lives. When she relates them with present, her fears are gone. Catherine becomes more and more relaxed as days pass by and as more and more sessions of hypnosis are held. The best part of the novel is when Catherine leaves her body at the time of each death- she always sees bright light- there is peace- she feels like she is floating- the doctor asks her questions then- which are answered through her- by the Masters- and there are other souls floating- there is a description of how they come back to other lives- smtimes they come into next lives- immediately after going up- and other times they are waiting. They say all ur debts of the present lives, if not paid back- are needed to be paid back i the next life- IT IS A CONTINUOUS LEARNING PROCESS- we learn as souls too- and we learn as humans too- but the pain that we experience as humans is not there wen we are souls- and it is important to learn some things as humans- others are learnt when we are souls.

Dr. Weiss takes deep interest in conversation with masters, and tells us, his readers so much- that while reading the book and gaining all those which the masters have to say- one needs to close the book- close ones eyes- and ponder over all this truth.

Dr Weiss has beautifully described how the fear of death goes away- how one becomes serene and relaxed- he himself was a changed person- he had become very intuitive like Catherine- they developed a strong telepathy for each other.

IT HAS BEEN SO WELL PROVED THAT OUR SOUL NEVER DIES- only the body dies- we keep coming back- and its important that we finish all major chores this life- we give happiness- we live good lives- the next life is sure to be better.

I plan to read other volumes from this great author. I recommend you all to do the same.

Me.

The Witch of Portobello- Paulo Coelho

Hi all.
After reading some of Paulo Coelho books, one doesnt have to think twice"whether to buy a new one or not?" You are bound to experience new and exciting world through his writings.
I was told it was the latest in the market, and i felt great buying it. This is a biography of a character- written in a very different way. Paulo himself says that he researched biographies before writing this one, but later thought to write in a different manner. He has given a first hand experience of different people about their relations, their feelings, their interactions and about their opinions about Athena- the witch of Portobello. The story of Athena, right from the time she was chosen from an orphanage till she gets killed, is described by all her acquaintances in a very interesting, subtle and pictorial manner. Her people include her foster mother, her own mother, her lover, and than husband, the priest of the church, her landlord, her teacher, and than a journalist friend.
Its true that genes of a person have a much greater influence than the environment. Athena, the daughter of a gipsy women, gets the best of English environment, but the influence of her genes is visible throughout. A bright and intelligent beautiful girl, makes an impulsive decision to leave studies and marry her lover and bear his son. Later, the couple start tasting the difficulties of life, leaving them to get divorced. Athena gets acquainted with different people at her changed residence and place of job. She, seeking a deeper meaning of her life discovers the power and influence of dance, where she finds solace. She impresses many others to join her. Athena, involved in the bringing up of her son, gets involved in rejuvenation of the soul, where in she is joined by many. During these sessions, she is visited by a witch/ ghost who tells people about their future. She becomes popular and attracts media as well as church attention.
Somewhere, during the process of taking up this journey of Athena, we are told that in some situations, (when there is anxiety)the soul leaves the body and body ceases to act at all- you are in no position to do anything, to make any decision- especially if the soul moves hell- but if the soul moves to heaven- its a bliss.... And there are also many other instances where Athena discusses the meaning of life with her people . This makes the readers to think deep and find a meaning of their life too.
Its a biography of a character(living or fiction) written in a very unique and interesting manner by this great author.
Another one, worth investing in. I am sure all will enjoy reading it.

BRICK LANE- by Monica Ali

The book has been shortlisted for the Man BOOKER PRIZE 2003. and the cover too is very attractive. This was enuf reason to buy this book.
Another story of a Bangladeshi women married to a man of her community at England. There is a vivid description of their life style in England. I have had some first hand experience with the life styles of Asians settled(or must i say, unsettled)in England, especially the Muslim community, so i could see a clear resemble here. The author has here described a very simple story of Nazneen, her background, her life indoors, her phinatic and unpractical husband. No where in the story you see love between the couple. There are however no fights, no arguments, no differences too. This is a story of some of those typical women who are born, and live, taking different roles in the society, minus love and care from any relation. But nowhere i read Nazneen complaining about it. It was only my realization. Nazneen, like many of her kinds, has taken up this role supportingly. Just, close to the ending, keeping up with the desires of her daughters, she refuses to join her husband who decides to go back to Bangladesh. She sends him alone, knowing very much that he shall return back.
Monica ALI HAS DONE COMPLETE JUSTICE IN DESCRIBING THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMICAL POSITION OF ASIANS IN ENGLAND. I WONDER WHY PEOPLE STILL WANT TO LEAVE THEIR COMFORTS BACK HOME AND BE THERE AS- OUTSIDERS.
The novel is more of a description of a place and life style, rather than a catchy story. But overall, it was fun reading it. The book has been beautifully bound and printed.
Try reading it!

Shodh- by Taslima Nasrin

Hi All!
I read "Shodh" by Taslima Nasrin. It was a great discovery to read that the author was a qualified doctor....and rest we know about her Lajja- n controversies. The preview about the novel said that the author has, unlike her other novels, tried to revolutionize the concept of marriage in tradition bound society. I was obviously tempted to read a new Taslima...
While reading the novel, i felt as if i am reading a chapter of English literature of class 9th syllabus- the language and vocabulary were so easy that i never once had to pick up a dictionary(which i usually have to do with other novels). The novel has very few dialogues and more of thoughts of the heroine- Jhumar. She has in her thoughts described her life before marriage, followed by her love with Haroon, which was just like any normal love affair. And this physics graduate when marries Haroon, she meets another Haroon, who is poles apart from the man she loved. She adjusts completely. There is not a single mention of husband wife tiffs. Jhumar keeps her thoughts to herself and adjusts to be the very good bahu of the house. Her husband even makes her abort their first child as he doubts that it is a result of before marriage college friends. Jhumar surrenders to that too. Later, Haroon wants a child from Jhumar, and Jhumar makes a conscious effort to have a child of her tenant- Afzal(whom she gets attracted to, and develops some physical relations too- for some days). The boy is born, and Haroon least suspects Jhumar . Jhumar's Position in the household changes; she takes up a job too....and lives (hopefully)happily ever after.
The story is written with the background of a typical Muslim Bengali/ Bangladeshi family. So, there wasnt much new to read about their culture.
When the preview says, Taslima has tried to revolutionize the concept of marriage- i wondered how she intends to do it? Will bearing another man's child ,make Jhumar forget that Haroon had made her kill their own son, or that he did not at all care for her happiness, or that her role as bao of the house expected her to be imprisoned in the house, always? What pleasure did that planning of her to bear another man's son bring to her? She wasnt much in love with Afzal. She loved Haroon all the time, and was very respectful to him, inspite of the fact that there was just no love in the marriage...
I read the novel in two sittings, and kept asking myself- if i m getting any pleasure reading it/.....dint really get any answer....

Blasphamy- By Tehmina Durrani

Hi All
After reading Tehmina Durrani's autobiography- The feudal Lord, i always appreciated her style of writing and also the women's frank and open use of words to describe her life. Blasphamy, with an attractive cover of painting(by the author herself), was a tempting offer.
When one reads about Heer, her life and sufferings at the cost of poverty, and her "Pir Sain" husband, i ask her- woman- since when have you become so weak? Agreed, as a woman, you are always made to sacrifice your happiness, your comforts, but not to this extend. How can a woman tolerate all this from a man, even though he would be your husband. What would have happened if she would have broken those chains? She chose to be a slave and also a culprit in joining her husband in his evil practices- just fearing his annoyance, his beatings. Why couldnt you muster the courage to run away? What kind of security does a woman have with such a man? She is weak, i understand, but its also a feeling of mind. When one decides to be strong, there can be no stopping. You have to face the world boldly. But is it really difficult? There are compromises on both sides of the world- with the man and without that man. But when comparing the sacrifices and compromises Heer made with Pir Sain, I am sure she would have been happier had she run away. There are compromises in all relations, in all circumstances, and new ones everyday. We must face life boldly. Only if one respects herself, will the world respect you.
I wish these true writings by women like Tehmina Durrani change the attitude of Women towards themselves. Its very important that she understands the right and wrong, and makes a decision with what is right. As far as compromises ans sacrifices are concerned, lets share the burden of these with men too. IF YOU DECIDE SO, NO ONE CAN STOP YOU FROM LIVING RESPECTFULLY.
Tehmina Durrani in her writings beautifully describes torture against women, as she herself had been subjected to it in her earlier years. Such great women should also work for the upliftment of the women who are suffering and also, ready to leap into fire to give others comforts. We must change their ideology!