Does your beliefs empower or limit you?
We tell much of freedom, but how much truly are we free?
A news in today's paper that a woman committed suicide because of the dowry issue evoked many thoughts. From the article it seemed it was a love marriage, she was a graduate. She couldn't withstand the issues created by her husband and MIL. He demanded money from her family last week.
Marriage in India is steeped in traditions and deep-rooted cultural beliefs.The dowry system is so deeply rooted in Indian culture.Many often the girls commit suicide when their in-laws force them to bring more and more money from their parents. Though there are now many laws to protect women these days we hear the suicide stories very often.
Many questions arose in my mind, She was a graduate, why couldn't the husband allow her to work and earn. She would have contributed to the family income and be independent. This was a love marriage and how could a man force his wife to such a bad situation?
Another story I found interesting was a birthday celebration of a child. The grandparents were very much interested to celebrate it since it is a BOY. That spirit was not seen when they had a girl grand child earlier.
Even though there are laws to protect these, we as a society needs to do certain things
We need to teach our daughter the distinction between between being well-behaved and being a doormat.
Allow them to stand for themselves when situation demands.
We need to teach our boys the rules of equality and respect, so that when they grow up gender equality becomes a natural way of life. Educate girls as you educate your boys. In not any small way, discriminate between your girl child and your boy child. Allow our girls to stand up for themselves and reach their full potential.
Traditional belief systems have a negative impact on gender equality.Men are believed to be the heads of families and women are expected to submit themselves to their husbands.
There need to be a strong awareness in the minds of the people, the entire society needs to protest against the demand for dowry.
Each mother-in-law needs to think that she too was once a daughter-in-law. A woman is an important member of family and is entitled to all the rights that a man enjoys.
Whatever traditions you follow in your life, take a moment to think of the reason behind it.
Many often we are living in the prisons of our mind, created by us or influenced by others. Are we giving the much needed importance to our life. If everyone uses their mind in the best way world would have been a better place.
Negative stereotypes obstruct peoples ability to fulfill their potential by limiting choices.
Don't let anyone's beliefs ruin your life
We hear generalizations you make about things, about people and about life.You simply accept them as being the truth, and you don’t even question that things could be any different.
We have to believe fully in ourselves.
Free yourself from the prison of mind. We can be happy if we change our perceptions in life. Just because a situation isn’t favorable at the moment, it doesn’t mean that it is ruined or that things will never improve.
Concluding with Tagore's lines
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.
We don't need anyone to assure us of our worth, we must do it ourselves
We tell much of freedom, but how much truly are we free?
A news in today's paper that a woman committed suicide because of the dowry issue evoked many thoughts. From the article it seemed it was a love marriage, she was a graduate. She couldn't withstand the issues created by her husband and MIL. He demanded money from her family last week.
Marriage in India is steeped in traditions and deep-rooted cultural beliefs.The dowry system is so deeply rooted in Indian culture.Many often the girls commit suicide when their in-laws force them to bring more and more money from their parents. Though there are now many laws to protect women these days we hear the suicide stories very often.
Many questions arose in my mind, She was a graduate, why couldn't the husband allow her to work and earn. She would have contributed to the family income and be independent. This was a love marriage and how could a man force his wife to such a bad situation?
Another story I found interesting was a birthday celebration of a child. The grandparents were very much interested to celebrate it since it is a BOY. That spirit was not seen when they had a girl grand child earlier.
Even though there are laws to protect these, we as a society needs to do certain things
We need to teach our daughter the distinction between between being well-behaved and being a doormat.
Allow them to stand for themselves when situation demands.
We need to teach our boys the rules of equality and respect, so that when they grow up gender equality becomes a natural way of life. Educate girls as you educate your boys. In not any small way, discriminate between your girl child and your boy child. Allow our girls to stand up for themselves and reach their full potential.
Traditional belief systems have a negative impact on gender equality.Men are believed to be the heads of families and women are expected to submit themselves to their husbands.
There need to be a strong awareness in the minds of the people, the entire society needs to protest against the demand for dowry.
Each mother-in-law needs to think that she too was once a daughter-in-law. A woman is an important member of family and is entitled to all the rights that a man enjoys.
Whatever traditions you follow in your life, take a moment to think of the reason behind it.
Many often we are living in the prisons of our mind, created by us or influenced by others. Are we giving the much needed importance to our life. If everyone uses their mind in the best way world would have been a better place.
Negative stereotypes obstruct peoples ability to fulfill their potential by limiting choices.
Don't let anyone's beliefs ruin your life
We hear generalizations you make about things, about people and about life.You simply accept them as being the truth, and you don’t even question that things could be any different.
We have to believe fully in ourselves.
Free yourself from the prison of mind. We can be happy if we change our perceptions in life. Just because a situation isn’t favorable at the moment, it doesn’t mean that it is ruined or that things will never improve.
Concluding with Tagore's lines
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.
We don't need anyone to assure us of our worth, we must do it ourselves
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