Happy International Women's Day

Today is International Women’s Day...!

As we all agree there should not be a day or time to appreciate someone because if someone has done something for you good then you must respect and appreciate them always.

These days when I see there is so much of hype about gender discrimination, all I want to say is please don’t divide and don’t increase the gap.

I grew up in a family of four. Mom, dad, brother and myself. I always felt we complete the family because for me my dad is there and for my brother my mom. You can call it opposite take care of each other or whatever but that was a team. My brother being the elder was always calm and obedient and I being the black sheep of the family, who always was curious about things and liked to find reasons for everything. I never settled for an answer which says ‘it used to be like that and so you also do the same’! No, I always challenged those situations and I never felt that I am doing certain things because I am a girl.

I remember me and my brother’s birthday times we both used to have clothes stitched and at times we both used to wear it to go and watch children’s show (kid’s movie) and it used to be trousers and shirts. There was nothing specified that I should wear a frock or skirt. Probably those are the things that dared me to do things which was not common with girls in India. I used to climb the guvava tree that was in front of my house and play with boys. I did all that a boy would try to do or learn such as bicycle riding or bike riding, to the extent that I became a field hockey player which mostly parents wouldn’t send their girls because they feel what if the girl break their leg who will marry them!

I give so much credit to my mom, the woman in my life who brought me up with certain values that I cherish even today. Its true that my mom was very strict when I was a kid, she was like a strict principal of a school. She would be so strict in making me eat all the vegetables whether it’s cauliflower or bitter gourd I should finish and the reasoning she would give that time is to have beautiful skin or long thick hair. I feel as a mother how much a mother should do to teach her kids because if you make the learning fun then kids adapt fast but then there are some lessons for which one should be strict.

My life as a high-school kid was amazing, I enjoyed my freedom and being me. When I started my college, I decided what to choose as a subject instead of my parents pushing me into something. My mom only had one thing to share with me and that was to be financially independent.

I remember my mom had a condition where she said she will marry my dad only after getting into a job. This was in 1965, and I am sure then there was bigger discrimination between men and women. But I guess those days everyone just gave in to whatever role society decided for them. Sometimes, even if there are certain society and cultural impacts one should speak up for their rights and wishes to be fulfilled.

I remember as a kid I was very sure of what I want and when I want. I was very open in asking what I want and my dad being the best man in the world always fulfilled those for me irrespective of what time it is. I think that skill and nature I get from my mother who was determined of what she want and she made sure she gets it.

I truly believe the woman who always taught me to be financially independent, the same message is applicable for today's women as well.

I have only one wish, that if we raise our kids as kids and not as boys and girls then lot of selective teaching will stop and kids will pick what they want to learn and do in the world.

Let’s treat everyone as equal. If you treat a woman great then you must treat the man too as great – because there is no difference as human other than biological differences.

I want to wish every woman a Happy International Women’s Day and say let’s not discriminate anyone!

~ Dawn