8 Apr 2012
Not the tennis courts, nor the swimming pools; not the Olympic gymnasiums, nor films and music concerts for me. For, I am a Muslim girl
Not higher education if I am in Taliban country, nor the driving license if I live in Saudi Arabia, for I am a Muslim girl.
I am supposed to return home early and skip evening tuitions for, I am a Muslim girl.
I am expected to stay home while my brothers work and progress for, I am a Muslim girl.
And then a day will come when I will be married off too early in my years to a man who already has a wife for, I am a Muslim girl
And ever after that I shall hold my breath, lest he pronounce “talaq, talaq, talaq” whether in sanity or inebriated, whether out of will or completely unintended for, I am a Muslim girl
And should that misfortune befall me, I must wed another man, merely to be consummated, before I may return to the husband I was originally intended to live with for, I am a Muslim girl
Not the planning of a family, nor the liberty to defer motherhood; no permission to work like others for, I am a Muslim girl
But wait, I am waking up, for slept I have for far too long. And when I am fully awaken, beware, I hide within me the Shakti of Durga, the prowess of Razia.
Don’t write me off. Not just yet.
Respected Sir,
ReplyDeleteI doff my hat to this excellent representation of a Muslim girl's life's repertoire.
Best regards,
Stuti.
Thank you Ms Stuti for the kind words. The dilemma of a Muslim girl in some way also reflects the dilemma of the women in general. In varying degrees the female species of the human sapiens sapiens is put to relative disadvantage. Civilizational challenge lies in augmenting this difference.
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