Tamizh 2.0: 15 I, Bharathi (சித்திரையில் பாரதியாம் எமது செய்தி)

I, Bharathi… Though it has been almost a century, since I shed my physical body, my sprit has been in this world, live though my works and the few that still believe in my dreams. Many things have changed in this world – too many wars and fights around the world that has strewn apart many lives; breaking up of empires; medical revolution, technological revolution and now the artificial intelligence. The world today is certainly not what it was a hundred years ago.

Today, in this month of Chithirai in the year Hevilimbi, I look back at these pages of history to see what happened to my dreams – alas, some are still mere, elusive. Particularly, my dream for women’s liberation and emancipation is still a dream.

As a proud feminist of my times, I have fought for the rights of women; for women to be able to stand up for her own self. I wanted women to have the freedom to study and be an equal to man, in every walk of life, at a time when male chauvinism was at its height. I imagined the modern woman to be the one that would walk upright with her head held high and with no fear of anyone; for she does not falter as she would possess great wisdom.

நிமிர்ந்த நன்னடை நேர்கொண்ட பார்வையும்,
நிலத்தில் யார்க்கும் அஞ்சாத நெறிகளும்,
திமிர்ந்த ஞானச் செருக்கும் இருப்பதால்
செம்மை மாதர் திறம்புவ தில்லையாம்;

Is today’s modern woman an epitome of this dream? Though there is progress, it is very disheartening to say NO, for most part of it. She is still objectified and considered a “product” for man’s amusement; the morals and ethics being constantly crumbled; strangling her without any physical wounds. I would say, the following about the plight of today’s women

கூனிக்குறுகிய நடை அச்சம் கொண்ட பார்வையும்
பற்பல இன்னல்களால் கொலையுறும் நெறிகளும்
திமிர்ந்த ஞானச் செருக்கை உடைப்பதால்
செம்மை மாதர் இன்றும் சோர்ந்து மாண்டனராம்;

In Panchali Sabadam, I described the plight of Draupadhi, when the son of Dharma, Yudhishtiran, used her as s pawn and lost her in a game of dice. How she was dragged by her hair by the villainous Duchasanan and brought to the majestic court of Hastinapuram. This was where she was disrobed, in the presence of elders and scholars; when all witnesses turned a blind eye. She lifted up her arms and cried out to Lord Krishna to help her. At least she had Lord Krishna to rescue her, from that humiliation. That was eons ago, in the era of Mahabharata.

It is unfortunate that even today many women are used as mere pawns for a man’s gain. Woman, who is considered “Shakthi”, is still crying out for help. And unfortunately, there is no Krishna to help her today. I am sad that the situation for women has not improved that much at all and she is still being an object of desire and sex, even though we are in the 21st Century. In fact, there are more demons that attack women young and old alike; they have not spared even little innocent girls, from their monstrous carnal desires; shattering many lives. How pathetic the situation is today!

I wanted everyone, particularly the women, to be free and feel no fear in whatever they do – face any adversity with her head held high. I wanted everyone’s slogan to be

அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்பதில்லையே.
உச்சிமீது வானிடிந்து வீழுகின்ற போதினும்,
அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்பதில்லையே.

However, today looking at this degraded society, I would say

அச்சமுண்டு அச்சமுண்டு துணிவெண்பது இல்லையே
இளம் தென்றல் வீசும்போதும், இலை கொடிகள் அசையும்போதும்
அச்சமுண்டு துணிவில்லை, அச்சம் மட்டும் உள்ளதே

Women, the Shakthi, one who brings this man to the world, is still crying out loud, running amok to protect herself from the ruthless world. In this struggle, so many of them are lost, no matter where in the world they are – the unfortunate, lost souls.

When will my Panchali rise again? To have her wow – to destroy all men that consider her, mere toy for all their pleasure; for she is not an object. She is full of life too! Though I wrote the following keeping in mind the independence of India, this seems to be very apt for today’s woman, for she is still bound in the shackles adorned by men.

என்று தணியும் இந்த சுதந்திர தாகம்?
என்று மடியும் எங்கள் அடிமையின் மோகம்?
என்றெமது அன்னை கை விலங்குகள் போகும்?
என்றெமது இன்னல்கள் தீர்ந்து பொய்யாகும்?

I asked for equality for all when I said there were no castes or creed to the little girl in “ஓடி விளையாடு பாப்பா”. In முரசு, I clearly stated that even if our colour differs, we are all still made of flesh and blood with emotions and feelings –

வண்ணங்கள் வேற்றுமைப் பட்டால்-அதில்
மானுடர் வேற்றுமை யில்லை,
எண்ணங்கள செய்கைக ளெல்லாம்-இங்கு
யாவர்க்கும் ஒன்றெனல் காணீர்.

This continues to be an evanescent dream, even though the world has shrunk today and has become a global village. Unfortunately, the division is still there, may be even more in the global village. Even in the developed nations I see this division, based on colour and the race and the undercurrents that play in each interaction.

Siva Shakthi, why did you create this beautiful world and throw in so much of evil? The Evil, in people, their minds and deeds. Why did you create me with the greatest emotional intelligence, made me fight for the betterment of woman and this community? I knew my thinking was way too ahead for my time. Even after a hundred years I can see that I am still way ahead in great thoughts, in today’s world.

நல்லதோர் வீணைசெய்தே-அதை
நலங்கெடப் புழுதியில் எறிவதுண்டோ?
சொல்லடி, சிவசக்தி;-எனைச்
சுடர்மிகும் அறிவுடன் படைத்துவிட்டாய்,
வல்லமை தாராயோ,-இந்த
மாநிலம் பயனுற வாழ்வதற்கே?

Did I ask a lot, more than what was needed in my Century or the centuries to come, when I asked for equality between men and women? In a country where woman is revered as goddesses, how come the common woman is mistreated? Even in the so-called developed nations, many women would vouch for the many times they have been objectified.

ஆணும் பெண்ணும் நிகரெனக் கொள்வதால்
அறிவி லோங்கி, இவ் வையம் தழைக்குமாம்;

Why is it difficult for a man to let a women be herself? Why does he always try to subdue her? Why isn’t the woman, the provider given her space and place? How come she is still left struggling? With the centuries changing, the challenges faced by women have actually not stopped; it has just taken another ugly form. When will all this alter and women be at par with men and treated with respect and dignity by one and all?

The developed nations, where women are considered to be equal with men and compete with them in the work force, it is sad that women are paid about 12% less than what a man is paid for the same job. Why is there this disparity?

In this 21st Century, Malala Yousezai from Pakistan is shot, all because she wanted to study. Shakila Zareen, the teen bride from Afghanistan, was shot by her husband in her face, just because (for no reason) he felt like. She escapes from her husband, goes into hiding in India and finally arrives in Canada to start a new life. These are the strong women, the new women, who have come out of adverse situations with their heads held high, and are now striving for the liberation of other women.

It is very disheartening to see the developed nations having women shelters that provide shelter and support for women that flee from domestic violence and abuse.

However, amidst all this commotion and violence, I do see the many unknown faces and hearts that cry out for these unfortunate women. People that welcome these souls with open hearts and arms. The people, both the feminist men and women that strive for the betterment of all women for they know that there can be redemption only if we started treating woman as an equal and with respect. Woman is the nature’s force of nourishment and is the preserver. She is the Shakthi, the power and wisdom, one who stand as a rock, a school to this mankind. In today’s world, she is the one with the highest emotional quotient.

அக்கினிக் குஞ்சொன்று கண்டேன்-அதை
அங்கொரு காட்டிலோர் பொந்திடை வைத்தேன்;
வெந்து தணிந்தது காடு;-தழல்
வீரத்தில் குஞ்சென்றும் மூப்பென்றும் உண்டோ?
தத்தரிகிட தத்ரிகிட தித்தோம்.i

These are the little sparks that can ignite an ocean of humanity. I now have hope that these sparks will change the world for women and thereby this humanity in the future.

உயிர்க ளிடத்தில்அன்பு வேணும்;-தெய்வம்
உண்மையென்று தானறிதல் வேணும்;
வயிர முடையநெஞ்சு வேணும்;-இது
வாழும் முறைமையடி பாப்பா!

Yes, that is what is need of the hour, today. We will need many such sparks to restore kindness and humanity. The little mercies that still happen everyday, is the living proof of those sparks. When we all unite and stand up for the RIGHT, Woman, as Goddess Durga, will rise and destroy all evil and restore peace. Woman, the epitome of patience and virtue!

My prayer of a century is still valid, in this Hevilimbi year; for, as humans, we still have a long way to go to attain world peace and prosperity, for the betterment of every little thing in this world leading to the progress of the wider environment and humanity!

மனதிலுறுதி வேண்டும்,
வாக்கினி லேயினிமை வேண்டும்;
நினைவு நல்லது வேண்டும்,
நெருங்கின பொருள் கைப்பட வேண்டும்;
கனவு மெய்ப்பட வேண்டும்,
கைவசமாவது விரைவில் வேண்டும்;
தனமும் இன்பமும் வேண்டும்,
தரணியிலே பெருமை வேண்டும்.
கண் திறந்திட வேண்டும்,
காரியத்தி லுறுதி வேண்டும்;
பெண் விடுதலை வேண்டும்,
பெரிய கடவுள் காக்க வேண்டும்,
மண் பயனுற வேண்டும்,
வானகமிங்கு தென்பட வேண்டும்;
உண்மை நின்றிட வேண்டும்.
ஓம் ஓம் ஓம் ஓம்

I, Bharathi…