The Women’s Day
POETRY FORMAT, 22 Mar 2021
Dr. Ravi P. Bhatia – TRANSCEND Media Service
The International Women’s Day was celebrated on 8 March
A day when they are supposed to proudly, bravely march
Holding key positions in Banks, Corporate sector, Government office
Making impassioned speeches for peace and gender justice
So inspiring, so encouraging, so pleasing is their practice
Kamala Harris, US Vice President, a symbol of Women’s rights and values
Other women political leaders in New Zealand, Germany, India, Myanmar
Newspapers full of photos of rich women parading new clothes, footwear
What about ordinary women, their deprivation, their drudgery
They work as domestic helps, they work in building new dams and roads
Children sitting next to their mothers, inhaling dust, eating leftovers
Is International Women’s Day suitable for these women
Ask them and they respond, ‘We work Day and night, every day
We need Women’s Day every day, not one day in a year
Men mistreat us, exploit us, abuse us
Children need us, but we can’t take care of them
We can’t give them enough food and care
So they learn how to steal, do petty crimes
They are beaten abused in front of our eyes
We suffer seeing them weeping and crying
Oh God, listen to us, we don’t want a Day to wear new clothes
We want peace, justice, harmony and end to our woes!
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Dr Ravi P Bhatia is a member of the TRANSCEND Network for Peace Development Environment, an educationist, Gandhian scholar and peace researcher. Retired professor, Delhi University. His new book, A Garland of Ideas—Gandhian, Religious, Educational, Environmental was published recently in Delhi. ravipbhatia@gmail.com
Tags: International Women's Day, Poetry, Women
This article originally appeared on Transcend Media Service (TMS) on 22 Mar 2021.
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