RAPE - Rise Against Punishable Eccentricity

Silent fear, a part of your life,

Strength you find in keeping mum.

Leering eyes learned to be ignored,

Indignant words, pretended to be unheard.

Every step, a little death inside,

Eulogy to those moments, never given.

Wings grew, but fluttered helpless,

Trials of flight meant losing walk.

Respect taught to the respected,

Lessons to the disrespectful never preached.

Hollow words in school you heard,

Practice in reality never seen.

Crushed by wrong, right was left behind,

Picking up pace, but stamped upon.

Hurt was seen, eyes turned blind,

Bloodied hands, hidden and painted red.

You screamed a thousand times inside

The others screamed right back at you.

You looked at that brother, that friend, and thought-

Why can i not live like him?

The 'wo' of a woman was never wooed,

Force and display of strength looked easier.

Every gesture gave you a million death,

And forced life into your womb.

Star of your eye, a constant pinch,

Memories of the unfortunate never goes away.

That howl, that whip, that constant prick,

Just like another breaking of twig now.

You stopped voicing your voice,

You stopped crying those tears.

You accepted misery as fate,

You died wishing never to be born again!

(Watch this 4:43 min long video before proceeding with the post please.)

Women, especially in India, have grown up mostly with 'cultures', 'values' and 'morals'. The same which apparently do not apply to men. How can something be right for one gender, and not for another in a world where every single person is a human first and then a man or a woman?

Imagine the scenario, where women gather in gangs at the corner of your street, and mock, pass comments at guys passing by. As wrong as it is, be it a man or a woman, the society would blame the girls for being so MANLY! Do we take this action as a quality of manhood? Or should we even accept this? When the scenario is reversed, what happens? The girl comes home, getting teased on the street and is screamed at by the family for not having a dupatta covering her face. Either asked to come earlier than that, or asked to take a different route.. while the real culprits rejoice their misused freedom.

But WHY is the question! A scenario is either wrong or right. It cannot be right for someone if it's wrong for the other. With increasing harassment women face, be it in villages, towns or cities, an action is needed. An awareness is a must. We have grown in a society which has made us accept certain rules for granted, which when defied tags you to being uncharacteristic/shameless. And we have gotten used to abiding to it so much that we have forgotten that it is wrong! We have forgotten that we do not have to abide by these absolutely illogical rules and regulations. 

Here, the awareness is to be spread in men and women alike. A man has to learn to respect the sanctity of a woman. She deserves every single thing in life that he thinks he himself deserves from this life. A woman has to learn to be strong and stand up and demand for what is her's. It's always the survival of the fittest. If you are not fit, try to be. If you're trying, then go ahead and be one!

Many women are either scared because of their circumstances or the atmosphere they have been brought up in. Maybe you will not see a change in your life. But for your posterity, be willing to be the collateral damage for a greater good! Be that hook in the chain that transforms the black beads of despair to the white pearls of freedom.

Be it one little step at a time, but take it! And don't go back. God could not have given a life to anyone if he thought we did not have the strength to work it out for us. When the ball is in your court, seize the day. If not, then seize the ball..!!!

And for all the men out there who are fighting along with us, the women in your life will cherish you, respect you, bless you and love you. And to those who are still sick, ailing with the terrible unfortunate illness of being a male chauvinist nitwit that you are, We, the Women, still wish well while we say to you - "Get Well Soon!"

The video is a part of the movement we have started as a part of KnowYourStar for transforming the life of women. Dwar is not just a movement, but as the name itself suggests is The-War against all the social ailments our society is suffering from and needs immediate eradication. This virus has spread to the roots of our society and we need the cooperation of every person living, to help in destroying it.

This particular series of videos in Dwar - Winning Women is a part of our RAPE initiative.

Visit this link to know more details about this initiative - 
RAPE : Rise Against Punishable Eccentricity 

How you can contribute? Pen is mightier than a sword. So,

Why Don’t You Join The Movement…

1. Write an article/poem related to Women & Women Empowerment and post in your blog.
2. Link back to the article at this link - http://knowyourstar.com/rape/ with a hyperlink so your readers and friends can join us if they are interested.
3. Enter your name and link into the Linky widget. (It should be the post link, and not your blog link in general. In your blog, click on the post title. The URL in the address bar would be the post link.).
4. Read and enjoy as many of the other writers as well. When you read more, most of them return to read yours.
5. Don’t miss this golden chance to impact the society! Let’s change it for better!

 

You can visit our site here - Know Your Star - Every Saga... a Spark for Your Success!

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Reassembling you...

In the whispers of a rainy night, crickets give still company

Rustling leaves outside flip my rustling pages backwards.

Revisiting broken land, an idea never so good,

Reaching those cold silver gates, take no step further.

What lies hidden in that beautiful stretch, is an ugly memory.

The unexposed fangs of the shining monster.

Lose the key, and run back to safety,

One click of the lock, and a land of no return.

 Every night I visit, those sullen lanes of no hope,

But the faraway glinting eyes of the monster, still a beauty!

I sit just outside those strong gates, and look deep inside,

The keys dangle in those pockets, but hands dare not move.

The mind holds the key, while the lock calls out to my heart,

Possession of thoughts, inheritance of a lifetime.

Days to months to years, key slips down to the heart,

Opening the lock never appealed so much before.

Before I knew, I ran into the beyond of the past,

Fell again, bruised again, brushed again and I ran.

Out of all the preciousness, locked for ages,

Was the most valuable possession, turned stone over time.

It speaks a language common to commoners,

But mum to me, mad at me, stone for me!

And will always be, until it breaks, it crumbles,

And I will still be there, picking those pieces like I once did.

From those burnt pages turned to ash, I shall polish you.  

Those words still haunt in every smoke.

Reassembling you, is letting history repeat.

Reassembling you, is like killing myself.

Reassembling you, is scheming my doom.

Reassembling you, is a mistake repeated.

But reassemble you, I will.

Because, I love you still.

Doodhsagar Falls - When I fell for the fall !!!

When five people decided to get together for old times' sake and relive the past fun, there were conflicting debates about When was the right time and more about Where was the right place. Once the When and Where was decided, How followed smoothly and then we were left with just pure anticipation.

Kulem Station, Goa

The day arrived and I met my first goofy friend and tagged along with him to meet the goofier ones ;) Hugs were exchanged in the car and a few moments and giggles later, the feeling finally sunk in that we were TOGETHER again! After a sumptuous dinner, saving the food on my plate from 'certain' pesky friends, followed by the Natural's dessert, and a certain rib-tickling ATM incident, we set off to the Udupi Railway Station.

After a pretending-to-sleep ride to Madgaon in Goa and waking up the alarm-guy to shut his alarm, followed by waking all other sleepyheads, we got off the train looking for some good breakfast early in the morning. A disappointing idli-sambar and a 'you-call-that-chutney?' later, we were back on a noisy train to Kulem station in Goa. Pictures clicked, videos shot and mind-boggling-hilarious ideas conceived, and before we knew it, we were off the train and on the Black Bolero to the beautiful Dudhsagar Spa Resort where we had reservations.

A beautiful place welcomed us and a check-in and welcome-cocum-drink later, we set off towards the tents booked for us. It was one of the best rooms I had ever been to until we checked out the washroom area without curtains!!! Well, now how we managed to survive that will need an altogether new post. LOL. Anyway, we left the cozy tents with great difficulty after coaxing each other and set off to find some decent lunch (yes now we had brought down our expectations from good to decent after the disastrous breakfast!).

Dudhsagar Spa Resort

With no ATMs around for about 22 kms, we had a genius mind among us working on withdrawing cash from a bank without the cheque book! The lunch was surprisingly extremely yummy, finger-licking really. A fresh plate of hot cross buns with mattar(peas) bhaji and water-tea. At that point, nothing had ever tasted better to our hungry bellies.

And then we started on THE trek to the Doodhsagar Falls that awaited us at a distance of about 13 kms from the Kulem station. One bag pack with snacks, fruits and one bottle of water, windcheaters on and umbrellas at handy, the Five began their hike at a time that was suggested as not-so-ideal by many. It was 1pm on our watches, and the aim was to reach within 4pm, so we could catch a train back at 4.30pm! Missing that train would mean trekking back through the dense jungle at night with no lights whatsoever with just one torch and a few mobile support!

With a rush of adrenaline and convincing ourselves that we will make it in time, we set off over the railway tracks. With every passing sharp pebble, every slip, every fall, there was absolutely no drop in our enthusiasm as we hiked on, admiring the beauty that surrounded us through that beautiful evergreen forest. The clear creeks, the mini waterfalls, the colorful leaves, the passing trains - it was an experience to cherish.

Passing those pitch dark tunnels, praying we do not encounter animals or snakes inside, we moved ahead debating whether we were walking through clouds or fog, when we encountered the first view of the divine. We had reached the view point of DoodhSagar Falls. The exhilaration that followed was epic! All the dropped energy levels rose to the highest. We watched and watched as the water flowed like milk, apt to its name. The parting clouds, the glimpse of the peak point from where the falls originated, to our eyes was magical. It looked like the clouds melted into milk directly from heaven!

And to place a cherry on the cake, a train passed the bridge as we watched. A scene to behold. So magical like it were the Hogwarts express from Harry Potter! In a while, the same train passed us by and we realized that this was the train we were supposed to catch on our way back!!! With this missed, our only hope was to catch a good's train that might pass if we were lucky enough.

But nothing could dampen our spirits then. With energies replenished and maddening excitement, we couldn't wait anymore to reach THE falls. With longer steps and increased pace, we hiked on, and one final tunnel later, finally reached the bridge at DoodhSagar Falls. Standing right in front of it, with arms wide open, we screamed our hearts out. As the water sprayed over us, I felt joy like never before. I could not take my eyes off the roaring falls. The magnanimity of this gigantic beauty was one of a kind. It was bliss!!! When my friend quoted - "If on earth there is a Paradise of Bliss, it is this, it is this, it is this!", nothing could have been more true at that moment.

I sat on the bench, placed a few steps below the bridge with the direct view of the falls. From there, all i did was look up to this mesmerizing beauty. I was hypnotized! I was rooted to that place. I closed my eyes and the next few moments, there was Me, there was the Roar and there was Silence. My head was the clearest it ever was. In those few moments I experienced truth, I experienced happiness, iIexperienced emptiness, I experienced BLISS! I wondered later whether this was how I felt when I was born when my mind was a clean slate. In a way, I was born again in those few moments. I was rejuvenated!

After this encounter with the divine, we walked towards the DudhSagar Station, where a goods train's engine was expected. We ate our snacks in peace in that tranquil ambience, while we waited for the engine. I was tempted to walk back that 1/2 a km and behold that magnificence again. I hadn't gotten enough of it yet. My wish was fulfilled on our ride back standing on the side of the goods train's engine. It was ecstatic! In fact the whole ride back was! It drizzled all the way back and we screamed louder than the horn that the engine blasted. It took our experience to a whole different level.

Watching the wet forest as the sun set, was like looking into an enchanted land. I looked for fireflies, which would have made it perfect, but when I couldn't I just imagined them there.

I was with the best of friends I ever made, I had just experienced a miracle of life, I was in the state of mind I had yearned for years, I was talking to a friend who understood all of this and probably felt the same and in my mind I took a snapshot of that precise moment and tagged it as 'Perfection'!

(I can't thank my friends enough for making this trip happen. Aditi, for being the chirpy happy darling that you are.. AD, for the hyper cheery state you were in, hanging out with you has always been a joy.. JD, for being someone I can share all my thoughts with and knowing you'll understand.. Suppy, for getting us all together constantly and making us the Perfect group that we are! I love you guys!!! You're just awwwww-sum!!!

P.S. I bet you read it in our new tune! :P If not, you will now! :D)


To read my poem written for the same experience, please visit - 

Fireflies complete my magical epiphany.

Fireflies complete my magical epiphany.

~~~


There have been some moments in my life, when the magnanimity of things/people around me made me feel so little. Those were the moments I forgot who I was, and rejoiced the miracle of life!


~~~









The blinding fog, the unraveling secrecy,

Who's to say I cannot read your presence.

There are sparks of my golden hope,

But by the friction of those dark stones.

I see light in your shadow,

Spot shade in that brilliance.

In those eyes, I see my poem being woven,

In that heart, I see my dreams come true.

An unspoken language you speak to me with,

Spoken communication never touched your mark.

Holding my hand and leading me,

But letting go when it's my turn. 

Letting me shine in the enchanted land,

Hiding your silver armor behind that golden tree.

Listen, someday just walk along in silence,

Let that breeze send my thoughts yonder. 

Let me discover my restlessness in your calm,
And find my solace in that roar.

Imagination completes that last missing piece,

Fireflies complete my magical epiphany.

To read my mystical travelogue about my hike to DoodhSagar falls, the experience which inspired this poem, please visit -

Doodhsagar Falls - When I fell for the fall !!!