(Relevant for Sociology Syllabus: Paper 1- Systems of Kinship & Paper 2 – Challenges of Social Transformation)
· (Relevant for GS Syllabus: Paper1- Social empowerment)
Almost twenty years have passed since my family has been hiring a housemaid. Many have come, many have gone but one similarity that persists in all these maids that I have acknowledged over the years is that none’s husband owns a job or even indulge in daily wage work.
These women run their home independently and even look after their husbands who are mostly drunkards and spent their time gambling or have run away from their homes, leaving their family behind without due support.
I glorify these women who have sought out a way for their survival instead of shedding tears and blaming their destiny. I glorify those children who at the age of learning and playing, contribute their lot to help their mothers in earning per day’s meal.
A newly reformed modern India where women are becoming independent and self-reliant.Women don’t need empowerment; they need recognition and realisation of their power in this society.
I have watched my maids weeping over the condition of their husbands and doing all they can to help their man get a secured job. Yes, women getting their man a proper income! A few days back, I recall my maid suddenly crying while talking about his husband and children. The grief was visible.
The children don’t know where their father is. The wife doesn’t recall the last time she had seen her husband’s face. And yet, there they are; living an imperfectly perfect life filled with small joys of daily life.
It was Diwali. I saw my maid clicking a picture of the rangoli that I made from her small keypad phone. She then came to me excitedly to show me her gallery and with utter happiness, she swiped through pictures of her children, her small house in the middle of the farm area and her husband.
She doesn’t know where he is but when she showed me his picture, there was calm and composed happiness on her face. I don’t know the background of their life story, but no woman deserves to live under shade. And this is not the first time.
Almost every maid that comes in my neighbourhood has an independent house running without any external support. The lockdown made their conditions worse. Yet, these women didn’t lose hope and with a bright smile on their faces, continued living.
You tell me, what should we call it? The story can be viewed from different angles in different perspectives but the prominent part that emerges is the courage of these rural women who come upfront to face the big world and fought to build themselves a secure space in the society.
Name changes, face changes but the underlying story has always remained the same. Not only it is their courage but the awareness that follows. The women I know now, have grown to be strong and independent in all aspects.
They are familiar with government policies and stay updated to all the schemes that they believe can provide benefit to them or their family in any way. This is our New India, I believe.
