The concept of leisure was alien when we were growing up. Meenakshi Jha observes, our mothers & aunts were always busy, making pickles, knitting, hand picking stones from the grain ( packed & cleaned grains are the thing of today!), checking the children ‘s heads for lice, shelling peas ( I find myself selecting veggies which can easily cut & cooked ), mending clothes ( who does that ? In the age of use & throw ! ).
Busy preparing for the next meal ( I have seen my mother -in -law discussing it while having meal, I thought at least let’s finish this one!), the next season , next reason , the next lesson.
Historically women endured without living & survived without thriving. The education was just perfect to enable them to read & write. My grandmother home tutored her children herself till third standard. Her children went to school directly in the fourth ! Can you imagine this, today??
Whether a lack of time or space or just consideration, our women ancestors were denied the privilege of privacy – something our daughters now rightfully demand.
Age slowed them down but not their duties & responsibilities. How come everyone knows of the other ‘s responsibility but never adhere to their own duties ?
We ask our children to slow down to enjoy life & take a break! Religion is a huge escape & has societal sanction. Answering nature ‘s call in rural India or fetching water from a stream nearby the women grouped together. An opportunity in the guise of duty which help them connect to their fellow sisters.
Having collective rituals or doing it for five years was trying to introduce the new bride with her age group. She could then find friends in the family connects.
Today birthdays & anniversaries have taken over but we fail to rejoice the union. In the glitz & the blitz , presents & who was present we do it as a routine .
We have to throw caution to the winds & find opportunities to do what our soul needs. The violence, hurt, disappointments are a part of our lives but we let them to govern.
Having a beautiful, meaningful life in the circumstances we live in, that life!
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