FREE. FREE. FREE.

It isn’t rare to hear – “ ye ladies ka pta nhi problem kya hai”, “ help kro toh dikkat na kro toh dikkat”, “ these feminists are too complaining”, “ itna kuch toh kr rhe hai aur kya kre inke liye”. Some of you might have passed comments like these or may be just thought of them in your head.  Well congratulations. All this while you were wrong in what you said and thought.

Let me come straight to the point. Delhi government made an announcement to make the metro and bus rides free for women. Applause… it is definitely a great thing to listen at first instance. But wait, think again. First question, why is such a decision taken? The answer could be coming up elections or the ideology of our selected representatives about women. This reminds me of the joke made on women and sale in shops. In both the possible why answers, it is clear that women are being seen as the easy targets and hence weak. While you are trying to be helpful (in my words- “partial”) to one particular group (in this case particular “sex” of the society) not only are you accepting the inequality between those groups but are also carrying forward the differences.

Men in our society definitely enjoy many liberties they are given access to by our society (it includes even women). But dear Delhi government not all men are born rich just like not all men rape. It would have been appreciated if students or old aged people or the public in general was kept in mind while taking the decision. After all you represent all the other sections of the society too not just women.

You said that you wanted women to travel safe. How is a free ride assurance for the safety? And clearly you don’t expect us to travel in metro/bus all day. We will step out of it. What about the safety from the place we are coming from and the place we are going to? How happy should I be about my safety for about maximum 2-4 hours I will travel? Wouldn’t it have been better if you talked about the other much more important concerns in your state? I am sure you have a long list of them, which you ignored very well and played gendered politics.

Marriage- A Social Politics Or Not?

आप ने ऐसा बहुत लोगों को कहते हुए सुना हो गा, कि “हमने तो सब कुछ किया। इतना पैसा लगाया। फर भी नही चली।”  How do I say that this is the whole problem why it did not work. Not saying that आपका पैसा किसी काम का नही है। but yes it need not necessarily be as useful, as you think it is here in marriage.

Parents today are saving money for two big events in their life. This is at least what I have noticed and you would see how futile their effort is in doing so. First is marriage. Yes you all knew about this one. Some of you might even have started saving themselves according to kind of celebration you would want on that one big day. Which is cool by every means. As it is being planned by you much before time from your own salary. It is amusing that how every next relative including your parents would constantly say that getting married might improve your life, bring you good luck and would make you a better person, being specific a better man. As it is said mostly for men. It’s funny that how by saying this they probably mean that the only good that is to happen in one's life is through this other person who they will marry. It might also be said that those who are right now the part of his life are the reason he is spoiled, is not a good person and these same people are probably the bad luck. Funny... right? That how they are making a case against their own selves.

“Hahaha धीरे धीरे सब सीख जाये गा।”

“तुम्हे कुछ आता क्यों नही है, कुछ सीखा नही।”

I don't need to tell which of the above sentence is for whom. It is like a job for which you bribe to get it. And then work, without even getting paid. But the good news ladies, you get the title - of being a wife of xzy. In simple language, it is not the job we choose to do and are happy doing. You just need to get a job. Because shadi toh krni he pdti hai beta, agr is samaj me rhena hai toh. I am not trying to show the gender inequalities here. Rather just pointing towards the entire social politics.

All I am trying to say is that don't try to compensate the certain things with money. Money could only help when you yourself are mature to be in a relationship. And parents if you think that your child is mature, let him/her manage it. But if no then, don't force it upon them. As it makes no sense then. Things don't need to be done just because they need to done. Doing them only when you are ready is a better way. Get yourself the job you want to do. Just suggesting.

The second thing I mentioned above are the expenses of the coaching centers.