Day 8 - Messiah?

Oh, the champion,

of ‘women-oriented’ films?

The staunch feminist,

in a male-dominated industry?

The brave one,

for doing what you do?

You, the trendsetter,

for women-oriented roles?

In the circle of educators,

She asked us all,

to open this circle, tell us 

oh, you teachers, or fellows, 

as some are called,

“you do what you do because…”

They said,

To change the world.

To help those poor kids.

For social justice.

For the love of those little beings.

I refuse.

The only person

whose empowerment

I am concerned with

is me, only me.

I wondered.

What's my because?

Should I say 

why I am really here for?

Do they really care

what I have to say?

I say it nonetheless – 

I am here for myself.

I am here, because

I love to teach.

And that’s my only cause.

Selfish? Or Bold?

What will the world think

for saying such a thing?

Some eyebrows raised.

Some lips smirked.

Some faces tightened.

And yet some red-burned.

Care, I not.

To champion a cause,

Isn’t my business.

The only cause,

to champion

is my own.

Did I said that 

to insult anyone?

Or did I responded 

only to your prompt?

Ready ff you were not

for I might say,

I wonder, why

was the question asked?

I believe

it is very preachy

even patronising

when I think

that I am going to do

something

for the larger good

of women.

I believe

it’s individuals,

in their mind,

and in their heart,

is where that change

must happen.

Yes, it's in their mind,

and in their heart,

is where that change 

must happen.

People say,

my films inspire them.

Humbled, I am.

I truly am.

But, hey, that’s not

what I set out to do,

Or did I?

I didn’t strategise.

I do films and play roles

as natural extensions

of myself and my being,

those that reflect

my current state of mind.

I do what I do,

as natural extensions 

of myself and my being,

those that reflect 

my current state of mind.

Invariably, trying I am

constantly to empower

myself, through my films.

It empowers me,

and if along the way,

it empowers someone else,

then that’s great.

But I am no messiah,

nor am I a god or a devi,

or the champion who can

change other’s world.

To be a feminist

is to know one's rights

and equal opportunities.

Therefore, a right to live

one's life on her own terms.

She must change her life

and champion her cause.

as each day, I have to do mine.

They must champion their own cause,

As each day, I have to do mine. 

- Based on Vidya Balan's interview in HT Cafe and interspersed with some conversations with people in education/non-profit word.

#Day08 #The100DayProject #100DaysOfProseToPoetry #Empowerment#Education Vidya Balan Begum Jaan

Day 7 - Killed.

April 4, 1968, an activist.
April 4, 2017, acts of activism.
Shot, released... and killed.

- Based on the ridicule of activism that Pepsi made by its recent advertisement launched on the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, a civil rights activist in U.S.A. This haiku poetry is inspired by the Wire article, Activism and Tokenism.

#Day07 #The100DayProject #100DaysOfProseToPoetry #PepsiAd #HaikuPoetry

Day 06 - The Single Stories

Saturday, afternoon. 

I log in to Facebook.

A friend's wall-post pops up.

"I marvel at the mindset 

of Indian army men

who rescue 

the same people 

who pelt stones at them 

in Kashmir.

He adds, "I also wonder 

at the morality 

of the Kashmiris 

who clutch 

on to the hands 

of the same army men

at whom they pelt stones!"

and he hashtags, 
"#Twisted #WheresKarma"

I read. 

There's a reaction 

already in my head.

Sharp.

Instant.

But, I pause. 

Think.

Come back.

and reread.

Like? Dislike?

Or Comment?

Shall I?

What's the point?

Will it be a troll?

Shall I just send 

a personal message?

I pause, and Think.

 It's on his public wall. 

So why a personal response?

I write,

about my views,

my schooling at the army school.

and my views counter to his.

Or is it in addition to his?

I write, 

"story of Kashmir has more to it... 

while there are those 

'who rescue the same people 

who pelt stones 

at them in kashmir',

there are still those 

who rape and humiliate. 

I am not saying 

that all Kashmiris 

are victims or becharas. 

But when we pose 

a blanket question 

on a "morality of Kashmiris", 

or for that matter anyone else,

I think, there's an opportunity 

to dig deeper 

than what we see. 

If we only present 

or engage 

with one side of the story, 

it leads us 

to veneration 

or hate. 

I assume 

you want none... 

and I hope 

what you seek

is a more nuanced 

and dialogical discourse."

I tell him, go watch, 

‪Inshallah, Kashmir: Living Terror

I pause.

I read what I wrote.

Should I hit send?

Or should I not?

And then I hit it. 

It's gone. 

Gosh! Should I go and delete it?

Or edit something?

I wait. 

I re-read. 

Get up.

Walk away.

Do other chores.

When I come back to the screen,

I see the notification blinking.

A new comment from him.

He writes, 

"I agree with you 

on blanket stereotyping. 

There is a big difference 

between 'morality of Kashmiris' 

and 'morality of the Kashmiris'. 

Maybe, I should have written 

'those kashmiris' 

which is what I meant 

with the definite article 

and maybe you could 

take a pause 

before 

jumping 

to a conclusion 

that the definite article 

was missing!"

I read. 

And reread.

I pause, 

this time more intentionally.

as was suggested.

not to jump 

on conclusion 

or for conclusions.

You know those moments,

when you want to laugh

and express pity or anger

at the same time?

This was something like that.

I pause.

I read.

I hit reply.

I write,"Sure"

I think, 

"no it's not able that definite article. 

It's about that judgement 

you through 

on a group of Kashmiris 

whose journeys you don't even know.

It's about the army men 

whom you venerated

whose journeys, again,

you don't even know.
It's about these single stories
you hold and regenerate."

I add an emoji - :-) 

and add, 

"thank you for clarifying,

I think, " You see,  

a father who rapes his son 

or a daughter 

in the night

and still takes 

care of him or her

in the day

the child might receive the care,

but could you say

he or she shouldn't throw tantrums?"

I add another emoji - :-)

And hit send. 

P. S. - And while 

what's said and what's not

in the comforts of our homes

there may be

some Kashmiris still being raped

and some army men still being stone-pelted.

- Based on a Facebook conversation with a friend.

#Day06 #The100DayProject #100DaysOfProseToPoetry #Kashmir

Day 5 - Grateful, I am.

For early morning cuddles

and you-are-home kisses,

for the home we have built,

and the garden we have grown.

For the green and the black 

and the milk-based teas,

be it with the lemon grass, 

mint or without anything.

For the Moonlight, 

be it movie or the night,

for 'omelette in the fridge' 

and hands held till I sleep,

for the walk in the garden,

and the AC and the trimmer,

for the subbing in my class,

and the breakfast and the dinner.

For last night's conversation,

and your embrace when I cried,

for the care with which 

you hold me every time,

for the drops and the call

as and when we go away,

for challenging my worldview

and adding many perspectives new,

Oh, my love! Grateful, I am

for moments such as these 

and a thousand many more,

for this life with you,

that I so dearly adore!

- Based on the gratitude notes my partner and I share and post in a part of our home for each other.

#Day05 #The100DayProject #100DaysOfProseToPoetry #Gratitude #Grateful