We are half the workforce
The burden imposed on us to increase the wealth of the universe
is a half too heavy to bear
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Still
we get a raw deal when it comes to wages of labour or official
rules or appointments
in the mirror of equality ours is always a belittled figure
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It's
we who sow the seeds in the fields
It's we who rear the human seeds into fruit bearing trees
It's we who till now have gathered the gleanings of your sympathy
It's we who have stood up now with only our abilities as weapons
to oppose your callousness in ignoring
our sweat which streamed out for all of us
our tears of patience we stifled for ages
Yes, it's we who have cast off our shyness to confront you
for our share of love and respect
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Our
path is clear to us
Our feet are ready to run on stony and thorny paths
Before we beat the drum
before we blow the conch to proclaim the struggle
here is the forewarning for you-
As father, as brother, as husband, as son
love us equally
criticize us rationally and give us only due respect
When this does not happen
our social outlook will turn toxic
the welfare of the world will turn venomous for us
Don't drive us towards destruction and annihilation of all
After all if the struggle must begin we are not responsible
for any damage
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(Translation
of Ghantasala Nirmala's Telugu poem, Feminist
Manifesto by M. Sridhar and Alladi Uma)
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| (Ghantasal
Nirmala is a free-lancer and a poet with a feminist consciousness.)
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