In a small classroom of BITS-Pilani, Goa, ten hesitant
voices struggle to remember their alphabet. Hands, worn out from holding the
broom all day, shake while trying to wield the pen. Welcome to a teaching
session of Udaan. At times when I look at these women, I wonder if we’ve failed
womanhood in some way. I look at their anklets and I wonder if they are nothing
more than shackles, stopping them from reaching their full potential. A few
weeks ago, we restarted our classes with renewed vigor, but our efforts
suffered a blow when one of the women, Kasturi dropped out because she was
getting married. She was all of 19 and wanted to study more.
This inequality, injustice isn’t limited to slums like Zari
or Birla. In metros it takes a sophisticated but as ugly form. A woman enjoying
her beer or wine is frowned upon. In a place like Delhi, you can’t go out in a
skirt or shorts without attracting lewd comments. What can you expect from a
city who’s Chief Minister despite being a woman has such a nonchalant attitude towards the
safety of women.
To some of you, this may just be another feminist rant. But,
the issue of women empowerment is a very real one. Inequality exists in this
world, but that doesn’t mean we get used to it. Don’t let injustice become a
way of life. We at Udaan are trying to do our bit, are you?
