Whispering Thoughts

While walking through rural Haryana, I was deeply struck by the names given to young girls: names like Antima, Kaafi, Maafi, Batheri, and Kshama. The irony of these names—synonyms for apology and regret—contrasted sharply with the lofty rhetoric of empowerment. This poem emerges from that memory, a stark reflection on the hollow celebrations of Women’s Day and the harsh reality many women endure. And while we sit in our plush cabins, dressed in the choicest garms, talking about empowerment,  inspiration and elevation  of "we, the women",  a girl is born in the rural remotes, and for the rest of her life,  she will be called,  no, not by the names of Durga or Lakshmi,  but by the synonyms of apology and regret. Happy women's day. Sounds so hollow...right??? Welfare unto all  Rab rakha