Ilaa's world

Close to the city of Paithan, in a small village called Sauviragram, which lay along the banks of the great river Godavari, lived a woman named Ilaa. Being cotton farmers, her family was well to do, but not among the richest in their area. It was the harvest season, and cotton had to be picked from the plants. The wholesalers and traders from Paithan would be arriving in just a few weeks, carrying gold and goods for barter. They would exchange what they carried for the cotton that the farmers grew. The bales of cotton had to be ready in time! Work was at its peak!

But Ilaa was not to be found in the fields. She wasn't working. Instead, she was sitting by the banks of the great river Godavari.

'I am sick of this!' she grunted loudly.

* * *

She had enough with the voices in the back of her head shouting louder and louder.

She was not just like any other girl since childhood. She did not want to follow the crowd and lead a mechanical life, deprived of all her passions and ambitions. Girls were expected to be in house for most of the times. They would get toys related to household and kitchen chores, ornamental and cosmetics related items, shells and stones, hopping etc., and play in and around the house, and most of the time monitored closely or accompanied by elders, while boys used to get toy horses, bows, arrows, carts and most of the time played outside with little monitoring.

She, on the other hand used to observe the surroundings in a different perspective. She always wondered why would her father go out often while her mother stayed home. Why would her father's decision be the final verdict in matters related to the household? Why would the girls never object their tasks like assisting mothers in kitchen or cleaning house or decorating house or setting lamps and rangoli? Why would they shut off their minds to more important tasks that drive their lives, families and most of all, society?

And a voice in her head used to soothe her off, saying that its all well organized, disciplined culture that keeps the society integrated well and going on despite all the complicated tasks.

This reminded her of the ant colonies she used to observe when her mother was away. She was always amused at the sight of ants... how they carry significantly heavier and bigger objects despite their tiny structure and weight... and how they would always find a way back home, and fall back in line even after crossing many hurdles.

But then she again used to wonder  - “Why would the boys go for higher education while girls barely make it to the school? Why would they be allowed to go to far away places for exploring the work or study opportunities?”

While her anger grew, the other part of her mind would say – “May be there is a reason to it. One parent could earn the bread and butter for the family while the other dedicated the life to the household chores, and raising the children with good values and morals. May be the harsh outdoors are not well suited for ladies and that is why the society’s norms were framed that way. May be men were good in thinking as well as physically strong.”

The last line would not go well with her no matter how many times she pondered on such thoughts.

She knew that in palaces, queens and princesses would have their command, and she felt that the voices of women like her should also be heard just like in the higher dynasties, and strongly hoped that a day would come when men and women would be equally pursuing their interests and maybe, just maybe, the society would be a better place for the likes of her.

No matter how many times she wanted to voice her thoughts in front of her father, just thinking about it would stop her from going ahead. She knew well that talking in front of her father, let alone questioning him, would be a symbol of dis-respect, and the society would condemn it! It would be a bad mark not just for her, but also for the entire family, including the past and future generations. And the society would be so keen on such things especially while selecting the brides for grooms.

With so much of these conversations going on in her head, she had to shout out in order to calm down her inner voices.

The view in front of her also helped her to come back to reality. Whenever she feels lonely or sad or want to be left secluded, she would come to her favorite spot to give herself all the time she needs to find answers to her questions, or maybe, at least get a clarity on what her questions really are. Just like the relentless flow of the Godavari despite the obstacles, she too wishes to go about her goals no matter what.

This is not like the previous times though. She felt it odd, but she thought that a solution would definitely be out there somewhere and she just have to figure it out. She always believed that keeping her cool would help her, though it was very tough for her to be cool.

She made up her mind this time, with a smile on her face. For, she knows what to do next and what has to be done.

She started walking to the fields, to take care of the task at hand first. And while doing it, figure out how to slowly start making friends with her father. That way, may be some day, she could softly express her views and request him to consider her views as well while dealing with the traders, planning the farms, making big decisions, or at the very least, get to listen to the decisions before they would be made.

* * *

“Where were you? What are you doing here? Why aren’t you in the field? How many times do I have to tell you not to go without informing me?”

The questions were blasted all over her the moment her angry father spotted her. He has been searching for her for quite a while now. She smiled sheepishly as a thought crossed her mind “But you always say not to ask someone where one is going before leaving”. But she thought of voicing it some other time. Though she is a bit afraid of her father, she always admired him and well aware of how much he cares for her.

“Your mother has been bothering me to go look out for you, saying that you would always be up to something. She always fears too much… thinking what would happen to my child if it rains heavily and the floods gush out suddenly, when she is lost in her own world while sitting at the river bank”

He told her in a little less harsh manner.

“Sorry papa, I was thinking of something which might be of some help to you” she replied softly.

“You being with your mother would be the best help you could do” her irritated father replied.

She felt that it is not the right time to scratch the conversation any further. But the smile did not fade away from her face, as a plan already made a strong base in her mind, and she is building up her ideas on top of it, just like how the architects in the village would carefully craft the idols on the temples. Any small mistake would damage the entire rock. So there is no scope for any mistake for her when it comes to dealing with her father.

* * *

“Thank god my child is alright! Where did you find her?” Her mother asked her father, wiping off her tears with weary hands. She hasn’t stopped working while worrying about her daughter.

“Why don’t you ask her instead”, grunted the father as he left the scene to take care of the remaining tasks at hand. He was in no mood to prolong the conversation, as he had to monitor the workers and check the cotton storage, with the time pitted against them.

“He saw me when I was returning from the bank”, Ilaa told her mother. “Do you want to know what I was thinking about?” asked Ilaa excitedly. “Now get back to work and help me with this row of plants. You can talk all you want once we go home”, replied her mother, with not even half the concern she had a minute ago.

“Phew… mothers are even more unpredictable!” thought Ilaa, still smiling. “Maybe that’s why fathers are given more importance when it comes to decision making” – again the voice in her head started off.

“I am not going to leave you without telling my plans” said Ilaa to her mother. They both got busy in no time, with the humongous task ahead. The cotton plucking and monitoring the workers, and going home soon in order to arrange food for the family head are the only things in the mind of Ilaa’s mother, as the child is back by her side now. But it is nothing before the task Ilaa set for herself. She needs change! Change in the perspectives. Perspective of her mother first, and convincing her to aid in proposing the ideas in front of her father without outraging him or risking the ideas to be ignored forever. Spreading the fire by sharing her views with her friends at school. Maybe she would get laughed at. Maybe she would get shouted at. But she felt that the risk would be worth every bit of the effort. That’s why her patience levels started increasing. It was no time for letting lethargy take the front seat again, as she has to prove herself first, in order to let her voice be heard and considered.

“Jai mata di!” Ilaa shouted as she sprinted to catch up with her mother, hoping to try and talk while they walk home and setup things.

And that’s how the ideas that were once shared with tree trunks, riverbanks, anthills, rainwater and idols in temples, started to reach the ears of elders in many households!!