Zahra comments : MTM: With due respect, being a woman I find your vichaar in the above article very disappointing and way off. Your whole focus is on women's inferiority complex and men's superiority complex. You forgot to state that men and women are made by God. The physique of men is in a certain way whereas that of women is in a different way. Poets(I am sure you would know of these eccentrics :) ??)care to write very vociferously about women as "sinfae'nazuk" as that's how they are made. It has nothing to do with their inferiority complex vs the superiority complex. It sounds like you are trying to nurture the male ego by remphasizing the physical attributes. By the way, has it ever occurred to you that had men been so powerful, how come God never granted them the privilege of producing babies ? After all, the machos would have done a better job than the "sinfae' nazuk." Probably it's not too late for praying to God to grant that privilege to the "superior beings."
Moizullah Tariq Malik comments : Zahra Once a famous and renowned persian poet was passing through the countryside. He say a teacher giving lecture to his students on his poetry. No one there knew that the poetry which is being taught is of this person. Anyway when he listened to the explanation, he was amazed. He went to the teacher and told him that when he wrote that verses this kind of explanation was never in his mind. .....Moral: Explanation enhance the vision
Ehsas-e-kamtari is used in its meanings of Ehsas-e-kamtar ....means there were and are thinking that women can not do certain things. Also, Sinaf-e-nazak if it is used in lighter sense it is okay but if it is used in its physical formation is wrong. The hakameyat or governance does not mean women rule and authority - Women century means that there will be acceptance of equality at wider range than of today. West or East is no different if you see in various issues of excesses on women. The educated and enlightened ladies were never ever have faced brutal side of abuses as they are involved in sex trade and get women from far eastern and other poor countries. In west the flesh market has worst stories of excesses and abuses. In less developed countries, women are being brutalized. The article can not cover every aspect so things are being generalized. Anyway, I respect your viewpoint.
Shoba Srinivasan comments : I found your article to be contemplative, as if, searching for answers for yourself for the many puzzles which accompany the MAN-WOMAN issues. You have given voice to many such similar thoughts which pass through both men & women's minds, and for that, thank you for the article. I, however, would have preferred reading the Urdu version, but alas, I do not read the poetic language!
There is a sense of inferiority which comes about when any "species" is persistently subjugated, and generalizations do not, I'm afraid work. Many of my "sisters" earn a living and have "independence", but I would not dare say it's ALL of them. I do know of many men who suffer the same fates as their subjugated female counter parts...but who is to say who is worse of, and debate on the ratios...?
The world is a fast changing place where barriers are coming down faster between men and women. The strength of a woman lies in her ability to make herself heard without losing her grace; and the strength of a man lies in his chivalry to treat his woman with respect...
All okay if the world was an ideal place, I guess...
Best Regards, Shoba
Zahra comments : MTM Jee: I would rather say, " perception contributes to any vision :)"
Divya comments : MTM ji, However so typically male in your references to women as "physically weak" and generalizations of an acute case of the "inferiority complex", it can hardly be argued that men are born stronger and that is one of the principal gaps that can be terribly hard to bridge. But please, save the sympathies on "the plight of the poor damsels in distress." Our psyches are not as badly scarred and weighed down with an "inferiority complex" as you so give us credit for:)
And Ms. Shobha, Although your views of wherein lies a woman's and a man's strenght sound noble, I must argue their Victorian idealism.
Grace and Chivalry are not Victorian in anyway. We exhibit these qualities even to this day...It's a real pity that we have misplaced our inborn natures and values- be it cultivated or otherwise....
The article does not, in anyway write about damsels in distress nor was it chauvinistic...but then, readers have their own rights towards perceptions. Let us stick to that and be glad that we have such varied ways of looking at things :)!
Best Regards, Shoba
Moizullah Tariq Malik comments : Shoba Ji: in Ghalib's words: dekhna taqrer ki lazzat kay jo us nay kaha maiN nai yeah jana kay goya yeah bhi meray dil maiN hay .............there could be wrong choices of words but intention of writing this article was not in any way and shape NEGATIVE ... Thanks
Shoba Srinivasan comments : MTM Ji, I didnt have any problem understanding your article nor did it project to me as gender biased. I had only appreciative things to say about your article.
The discussions here drew my attention to your article which i had overlooked assuming that it was in urdu script which i cant read.
What I liked about the article is the prophetic ending with rays of hope for women. I too would like to believe that the future holds better things for women. However, your analysis is rather simplistic (not that i dont agree with it). There are several other things that need to happen to be able to take full advantage of the level playing field that technology has created. For example - legal system that ensures dignity and justice for women, social awareness about the values of education for women etc. Technology alone cannot undo something that is a doing of humans and their attitude.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and provoking these discussions.
MM
Moizullah Tariq Malik comments : Shoba Ji: I thank you through ghalib's verses - the second part was Not at all written for you but Just an explanation for others.My regards
MM Ji: The other good thing is democratic norms - women are growing in numbers too and that i consider a silent revolution which i believe will bring an overall change. Thanks for nice and wise words
Divya comments : True, grace and chivalry are not at all solely Victorian attirbutes, neither would I like to believe that Chivalry is dead (well not entirely) and Grace is obsolete. However, I guess the way I think is that as long as a woman is pursuing her goals and voicing her beliefs, whatever way she might render appropriate, well then more power to her! To me what is graceful is not following the social system but rather finding ways of not letting it hold you back from fulfiling a dream.:))
I am a little confused here. As I read it, this is an article by Sahar Syed and translated by Moizullah Tariq Malik. Am I wrong?
In any case, I think you ladies are being needlessly defensive here. In my opinion the article, though not comprehensive, is right on target. I have heard again and again women readily accepting male superiority. Inferiority or superiority does not have to be real. It is the perception and the inculcation that have been prevalent through out the ages with very few exceptions here and there. Had you read the Urdu version you'd know the author places the genesis of male supiriority in stone age when men had to hunt for food.
Take heart ladies we are marching toward equality/equity at a great speed in our century!
Cheers!
razia
Moizullah Tariq Malik comments : Razia Jee It is written in Urdu by me and translated in English by Sahar Jee for which I have all my regards for her. But i have my special thanks to Anita Jee for all what she had done to have it included in webzine. .....and I thank all the visitors, readers and those who took time to put their comments. God bless you all...........
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