Seven Vows Chapter 71page 145 - Page 92

Chapter 61- The Speech

Sreedhar took his mother's blessings before going to school. The programme was at evening 3'o clock. Renuka did the aarti and Vindhya gave him dahi shakkar. Suman gave a hand painted card which said " All the best ". Sreedhar knew there will be as usual hidden message in the card. He thought of reading it in the car as anyways the chauffeur was driving it. Rajasekhar had instructed him to use the chauffeur to ensure in such a function family's pride is kept. Else Sreedhar preferred to drive mostly.

He entered the car and as it passed the Varma mansion he began to check for hidden message in the card. He found the note and opened it.

" Sreedhar remember when I wrote the first letter to you, I had told I didn't want to lie to you. I didn't know where truth will take us, but still I will tell you the truth that I love you. Today I see in our truth a hope for many others. Yes I wore this white dress. You wanted to liberate me from this white dress. I also wanted to get liberated from this white dress and wanted to live my life with you. Our battle was personal. To get united against the odds the society has given us. Once again I don't know which all path our love story will take. But know one thing for sure. The path will bring light in many other lives. I feel happy once again for having told you the truth. [Love you Suman ]

Sreedhar read the letter multiple times each time feeling the love she has for him. He felt confident as he once again went through what he was planning to tell the students. He kept the card, but shred the note as he got out from the car and faced the students who were standing to welcome him.

Sreedhar was given a warm welcome by the students led by Poornima. He talked to the principal and some other teachers as they led him to the dias. The programme started with a Prayer. Then Poornima gave a welcome speech inviting everyone to the programme. Then Vaishnav talked about the " Colors" programme where he told the plans they have made, which included house to house visit by the Colors volunteers during weekends and in the evenings educating people on the need to treat the widows with dignity. Then the petition box where students could put the papers signed by their parents and elders in house supporting the Colors programme. And the plan of Colors volunteers to take the petition to the community leaders to allow Widows light a lamp in the mandir on New Year day thus allowing them to lead a life of dignity.

Then Poornima invited the Chief Guest of the programme Sreedhar Varma to share his thoughts on the subject.

When Sreedhar took the mike there was a big applause as if the students knew him. He smiled.

" Before I start my speech I want to know how many students do not have their mother's but have their father's . Could you please raise the hands" . Quite a few students raised their hands.

" I want to ask them after their mother's death, was their any negative change in their father's lives "?

" My father goes everywhere" told one student. " My father remarried and my new mother doesn't care for me" told another. " No change to my father's life. He is the same as before " came another voice.

" So when your mother was there and in her absence the society doesn't put any bindings on your father. He can move around. If he wants he can remarry. In every way he can lead a normal life the way it was before your mother's death. Am I right" asked Sreedhar. The children first gave a feeble yes. He said he cant hear. So then a louder yes came.

" Now I want to ask how many students have mother's but not their father's " a lot of hands came up on this one.

" Is their life same as it was before your father passed away" asked Sreedhar.

" No my mother is shut in a room. Even I am not allowed to meet her" told one.

" My mother always has to wear white saree, her head is shaved" told another

" She cannot attend any functions. People call her inauspicious " came a third voice

" We are at the mercy of many other family members, as my mother cannot work, she cannot go out and treated like a slave to do all the chores in the house " told the 4^th child

" So in a way once your father died your mothers were made prisoners by the society " asked Sreedhar

" Yes " a loud voice came.

" Children who created this rules. We are taught in front of God all of us are same. Then why a widower can come to the temple post his wife's death, while a widow cannot do the same. Why a widower is not seen an evil omen, but a widow is. If we see a woman is responsible for her husband's death and deny basic dignity to her, why a man is not held responsible when his wife dies , why he is allowed to marry second time risking another woman's life too. Why do we have double standards for men and woman"

" Uncle our tradition says men are superior to woman" told one child

" Dear if a man is superior to a woman how can a woman cause a man's death" asked Sreedhar. The child looked confused.

" Uncle my father says woman has to serve man because Lakshmi serves Vishnu. It is because her service is inadequate she becomes a widow" told another child

Sreedhar smiled. He asked " What is your name" . " Sanjiv" told the boy

" Sanjiv do you know with whom my name relates to " " Lord Vishnu" told the boy

" You know the meaning of my name "

" Yes of course. Sreedhar means Sree ko dharan karne wala one who wears Sree, or one who wears Lakshmi " told the boy proudly

" Yes Sanjiv Vishnu is called Sreedhar. One who wears Lakshmi. What does that means. How can Vishnu wear Lakshmi. If he wears Lakshmi, Lakshmi is part of him. Who is he mistreating if he mistreats Lakshmi. Isnt he mistreating himself. When he wears Lakshmi, isn't Lakshmi protecting him and he suffers because he sees Lakshmi different from him and mistreats her. Because when he mistreats her she is no longer part of him and no longer can provide him protection. So isn't a man himself responsible for his death as he doesn't treat his better half properly so that she gives her love as the shield for protecting him always."

Students were listening in rapt attention now. " Children a woman is a mother, a sister, a wife, a daughter. Their love and trust is the biggest power a man can get on this earth. Our epics which are basis of our tradition highlights this aspect. Mata Gowri came on this earth along with Lord Krishna as Maya his sister to protect him. It was the trust Sita Maiyya placed on Shri Ram that enabled him to build the bridge across the ocean, reach Lanka and kill Ravan. Devaki suffered through the death of her 6 sons and separation from her 8^th born to give this world a Lord Krishna. Irrespective of having a son King Drupad is always known by the name of his daughter Draupadi or Panchali.

The pain a woman suffers to bring a baby on this earth can a man even imagine that. Don't you think our mother's deserve better. We call them Goddess and pray, while the woman in our houses are treated badly in the name of tradition. This young children are demanding a better lives for those unfortunate woman who have lost their husbands for no fault of theirs, just like a man loses a wife for no fault of his. A woman is pained when she loses her spouse. Do we need to add more burden and restrictions to her in the name of tradition. Do we need to call her names like Chudayil, evil and all while men also lose their wives and are not given any names. It is time for you to think over the traditions that discriminate humans in the name of gender. Support this noble cause of bringing light to a poor widow's life and educate your parents also to support this cause."

Children were clapping and the claps continued well after Sreedhar was seated. After that prizes were distributed to winners of various children's day competition and finally a student told the Thank you speech.

When Sreedhar came out of the dias several students came up to meet him. " Uncle we never thought about such discrimination in tradition. We will surely support the cause "

" Uncle thank you for supporting this cause. When I told my mother we in school was planning this, for the first time after years I saw her smile with a new hope" told a girl.

The Principal thanked him for coming and he reached the car Poornima and Vaishnav came. They both took his hand.

" Thank you uncle for making this effort. We are indebted to you for giving such a nice speech. Already we could see quite a favourable response for our cause"

Sreedhar looked at them " You are the ones who are doing the great job. If you need any more support let me know. I will be there" the students smiled , thanked him and walked towards the school. As they were walking Sreedhar thought in mind "Children I cannot tell how much I am indebted to you for running this, for opening a door towards a normal life to my Sumi"