Being a woman

PRATISTHA PANERU

Be a man” is what is justified as a phrase of courage. It has always been so, since I was born and it is still so. When I look around myself, I see a woman facing the most difficult challenges, yet, why should one “be a man” to be a symbol of power?

As tough as it is to be a woman in a man’s world like ours, the survival itself is appreciable. Why are women always regarded inferior to men in all respects? If it is said that, it has been stated in our Vedas, what about the Shivalinga, which tethers great belief and faith. The essence of the Shivalinga lies not in the stone but the simple phenomenon that the continuity of world is possible only by the union of both male and female. This implies that as much role a man plays in survival, the role of female is not an inch less. Besides, the Earth, which inherits in itself, the power of life, is symbolized as a mother. However, one has to “be a man” to prove his or her strength.

If we talk about the lustiness, men are considered to be more herculean than women. But why is the fact that women are the ones who overcome the greatest physical pain in labour, the pain that is beyond any man’s imagination, always overshadowed? All women go through this pain, overcome it, not only once but time and again and still have the vigour and zeal left, to make those new ones a refined person in future. Being a mother is the most exuberant yet the most physically challenging experiences in nature. Still one has to “be a man” to be worthy of being a Hero.

The fortitude that a woman has flowing through her veins is supreme in all respects. It is said that women are weak at heart and sobby. But, when we analyze some incidents in our society, we realize it’s after all the other way round. We see most of the widows caress themselves and their children throughout their remaining phase of life without companionship but most of the widowers find it difficult to spend their lives without a partner even when they have other members of the family. When we talk about great lovers, we take the names of Majnu, Romeo, Madan and so on. But, we forget Sita, who for preserving the pride of love of her life, exiled herself from all her comforts, not even lamenting on her fate. We also subside all those heroines who leave their families for the love they cherish. And the most important of all, women are the ones who shower the maximum care and affection to the world in the form of mother, daughter, friend, sister and wife. Nevertheless, one has to “ be a man” to express his or her love. For all the times I have felt the dignity of being a woman, I will “be a woman” throughout my life in everything and anything I do.