Nepal's first female tempo driver

 “Recently I saw a woman taxi driver. Her nature and her attitude were very bold. I saw a reflection of myself in her.”

                                                      - Laxmi Sharma

http://www.globalpressjournal.com/asia/nepal/nepal-s-first-female-tempo-driver-establishes#article-slideshow

Apologies for the silence

There are a million things on my mind

So much to say yet only silence escapes

Thoughts form words and they meander into sentences

Prepared to take off

But I trap them in my mind

Never to be heard

Safely locked, I throw away the key

Never to be found

What prevails is silence

And, I have become my own slave

…

EC

Men in the frontline

Of recent, I have chosen to pursue my spiritual path. This has led me to attend numerous retreats. On one such occasion my aunt accompanied me on a blissful getaway from the city. That weekend I looked forward to some peace and quiet.

On the first day, men and women rushed inside the hall for a good seat. In those chaotic 60 seconds, I got separated from my aunt in the crowd. I found a comfortable seat in the front. After making myself at home, I searched for my aunt. She was seated a good two rows behind me. After exchanging nods, I looked around the room.

Strangely all the men in the room occupied the front seats and women were seated behind them. Did this act reflect our society? Me and another lady were sticking out from the crowd as we sat with the men. Her blond hair and very fair complexion made her stand out in the entire room. Men surrounded us. The man on my left gave me a strange look. I now translate that look as- “You are not supposed to be seated here.”

I frantically looked for a sign like I do when I go to restrooms in restaurants. I found none that said ‘Ladies’ or ‘Gents.’ The spiritual guru walked into the room and began the session. None of his wise words reached me. My mind was occupied in an attempt to analyze why the men were in the front and women behind them. I was determined to have a rational deduction.

Were the men asked to sit in front? NO! Were the women asked to take the back seats? NO! Did the teachings require the opposite sex to sit separately?  Definitely NOT! Why was it that only a foreigner and I chose to sit in the front? The only deduction I could come up with was the fact that we live in a patriarchal society.

On the second day, teachings revolved around equality.  I watched people tear up to stories where sentient beings were treated unequally. Really! Here we were being treated and treating others unequally in this very room. Were they unaware of their actions or did they choose to ignore? Worse, do they see this as normal and expected behavior? I was baffled.

By the third day, I was sitting in the fifth row along with the women. No one asked me to and no one forced me to.  And I do not know why I consciously chose to do so. During the teachings I would look around and imagine the life these people led back home. The old man with the brown muffler must really love his son. While they would have intelligent conversations on the round table, his educated daughter-in-law must be busy in the kitchen. The pretty lady who always asked questions must really love her husband. She must cook amazing meals for him and would do exactly what is asked of her. The lady with streaks of grey hair and a rosary around her neck must be devoted to her family. She must be fond of her grandchildren but she must love her grandson more. And the train of thoughts continued.

I had come to this retreat to get some perception on spirituality. That did not happen. Did men in the frontline distract me or was I just not ready to tread on the spiritual path? Don’t bother answering: it’s a rhetorical question.

…

EC

Words

Leaving now – will the valley weep

And in my heart sweet memories keep

Of the few brief days spent with you

Not really knowing what I should do

To wish a dream, which you surely are

Watching with hope from afar

I will dream and hope you’ll do the same

With memories of my name

When next our paths pass as fate decides

Will then only make me pleased

So dear ….. remember me

For as you do so is reality

Shared by a realist.

...

EC