Ode To All Women In The World

The distress signals the 24/7 newsfeed daily brings us

Of rapes, molestations, harassment at workplace,

domestic violence, eve-teasing, dowry-oriented bride burnings,

female foeticides, sexual abuse, trafficking, child marriages,
enforced prostitution,

incantation of a ‘word’ terminating relationships made in heaven

blackmail and extortion courtesy digitization and viral videos

Of all crimes against women perpetrated by the

lowliest of the low and the mightiest of the mighty

by adolescents, the young and the elderly

by aliens as well as by kith and kin

in garbs of sophistication and attires of divinity

cutting across caste, community, class, region, religion and race,

completely blind to and unmindful of

their compassion, struggle and sacrifice,

I truly wonder whether,

as the male species of the homo sapiens,

as participants, accomplices, indifferent witnesses and mute spectators.

rooted in patriarchy, obsolete traditions, and fettered mindsets,

have the conscience and the courage

to celebrate the 8th day of March or any other day as

A HAPPY WOMEN’S DAY ???