I have been crazily busy this past week. I just did not get time to come online.
Every year, annually our family meets ( my parents and my brother’s family) . Food and Socialising takes centre-stage. Usually I go to my brother’s place. But this time everyone met at my place.
Hence, life went topsy-turvy. It was fun . It is always fun to be with parents. But I did not know whether I was coming or going ! 😃
And to top it off, I have some art commitments to fulfil.
So please forgive me for the absence. And forgive me for my erratic presence here.
In India, and in many cultures of the Indian sub-continent, there is a custom which I quite dislike. It reeks of gender discrimination.
After marriage, the girl child is socially considered a stranger to her own home. The husband’s family becomes her first family. And she relinquishes all ties and rights with regard to her own family.
Of course, the laws and the modern perspectives have tackled this insensitive social custom to a large extent. There are laws to provide the girl child with all the rights. Yet this inherent socio-cultural thread of gender discrimination, makes a girl a stranger in her own home !
Indian girls have two homes. One is their father’s home ( Maika) . The other is their husband’s home ( Sasural ) . I wonder where is “Her” home ! 😊
In my opinion, the way the society is structured, a woman should first have financial independence and her own home, before she embarks on the journey of relationships and marriage.
Without financial independence, it is a life of subjugation in a patriarchal society. Intolerable for an intelligent, thinking human being - man or woman !
Money is not everything. But money brings financial freedom and empowerment that gives a voice to your soul. And to have the right to breathe free and unshackled is everything.
A shackled soul is a dark place. A free soul is full of light !
My personal life is not exactly smooth. I have always been a bohemian in my soul.
I often tell my son that I give you advice not because I am intelligent or wise. But because I have made more stupid mistakes than you ! 😁
Yet I regret nothing. I see everything. And I feel and I remember !
But there are days when I miss the cocoon of my carefree childhood days. I miss my family. My father specially.
So, annually, when the family meets, for a few days, I revisit my girlhood and the sense of security that only parents provide !
I share a few pics of our family time, January, year 2018 .
😊
Life is made up of memories.
Memories are made up of moments.
The soul forgets dates but remembers the fragrance of moments.....
Papa, Mamma, my Son & Me
My mad-hatter son trying to take a selfie of us !
My Parents, my Brother and my Nephew. Tippy is sneaking into the photo :D
The Ladies - My Neice, Sister-in-Law, Me & Mamma
My Son, My Neice & Me
My Father & Me. My father is 81. He has survived almost decade of changes. I have always been very close to him.
My father and my son are pillars of sanity in a mad world for me :D
And both are horrible photographers ! :D :D
Thank you for viewing & reading. I will hopefully begin my art blogs soon.
Have a great day . Success and happiness to all :) 