Tuesday 26 January 2016

The impact of treating Menstrual cycles as Taboo on the conscience of Liittle Girls


Dear Readers,

Today I have chosen to speak about something that has impacted me so deeply when I was young and which has hurt and pricked my sensitive soul umpteen number of times way back than and sarcastically even today sometimes....Yes, I am talking about treating a female as Impure during her menstrual cycles, in major sections of society in India even till the present day...For long I have felt like opening my heart against this despicable menace of Indian Society which makes little girls hearts bleed too....

While society has it's norms, has anyone ever thought how the little girl feels about all this , who has just attained puberty....I remember fainting on seeing the stains of my first menstrual cycle for I felt I have hurt myself while playing basketball.... Though my mom has spoken to me about it a couple of times, I actually did not get hold on most part of the concept as a thirteen year old as may be the situation of many others my age...

It took me almost a year to understand the cycle and I started admonishing it so much as I felt it is such a stumbling block in my otherwise wonderful playful busy routine....

I also hated it because granny did not allow me in temple and kitchen during those days and I loved to hang around my mom's neck whenever I was at home... My mom pacified my heart's burn over this by trying to give my logical excuses but most often I was left wondering why all this applies for only these 4 days....

Soon , I was told I cannot go for the lovely ritual of Hindus of "Kanya-Langura" to relish some yummy food and get beautiful gifts to my relatives' and neighbours' houses while my brother can....it was not only me who was questioning but also my younger bro - " Why can't didi go with me mamma?".....

I felt pathetic amidst all this and the days of my menstrual cycles were the ones where I hit the bottom of my self-esteem...The only silver lining I saw that time was my mom who never differentiated between me and my brother on any fine day to the best of her abilities whenever she can!

As I grew up a little she taught me that when this process is responsible for the most beautiful feeling of the world - to become a Mother, how can we be impure during those days! Her words had the deepest impact on me and I genuinely started living it!

I developed a greater understanding of my periods and lead an absolutely normal life during them! I prayed, entered kitchen, played my favourite sports and did everything else with similar vigour without loosing my confidence.....only thing I didn't enter temples or ceremonies during this period as I in no way meant any harm to other people's believes and rituals!

But for myself, I am as pure as GangaJal during my cycles too and I am proud nature has given me this capacity of giving birth....I feel the purest when I hold my little sonny in my arms... So for all those who treat Menstrual Cycles as Taboo, I reiterate my mom... How can a phenomenon that forms the foundation of reproduction in Mankind, that gives one the most wonderful feeling of being called a mom or dad or grandmom or granddad or aunt or uncle render some one impure??? I am extremely curious to know... The only argument I have heard is that girls were traditionally not allowed in kitchen so that they can rest on their delicate days.... But what about all other places and preventing her from worshipping her lord....I would genuinely like to take this debate ahead from here... As I deeply fear how this malpractice affects the sensitive conscience of millions of young girls in our country as it once did to me and had my mom not come to my rescue I would have never regained myself! We must sort ourselves out on this as early as possible , under all circumstances , for the better future of our young damsels and eventually for the betterment of our society!

                                                     -Truly Yours Roma


This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.

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