Jokes about women’s bodily functions are not funny. Period.
She could eat to her
heart’s content, but step in to the kitchen, she shouldn’t, they said.
She was banned.
Banned from entering
the kitchen.
Banned from entering
the temple.
Banned, for she was
impure.
Banned, for she was
unhygienic.
Banned, for she was
unclean.
Banned, lest she
contaminates the pickle.
[Voices of Ancestors]
Bury your clothes
lest evil spirits take over them!
No curd for you,
No tamarind for
you,
No pickle for you.
Summers playing gully cricket,
Laggori and hide-and-seek too.
One day it stopped;
Abruptly, stopped.
She was free one
day, tied down the next.
[Voices of Ancestors]
Suffer the
bloating!
Suffer the cramps!
You shall stay in
one corner of the house;
Suffer the misdeeds
of your past!
No exercises for
you.
No walks in the
park.
No. No. No.
Laggori and hide-and-seek too
She could now see
through her window;
She was free one
day, tied down the next.
Running wild...
wearing shorts and shirt; and a stick in hand.
[Voices of Ancestors]
And no… no bathing
for you.
You shall remain…
Unclean. Impure.
Unhygienic. A contamination.
She could now see
through her window;
Children laughing
aloud for every joke cracked,
Running wild...
wearing shorts and shirt; and a stick in hand;
And suddenly they
said, be lady-like.
[Voices of Ancestors]
You are cursed.
You will remain
cursed.
Don’t you touch the
holy cow.
Lest you make her
barren
With your cursed
touch…
Unclean. Impure.
Unhygienic. A contamination.
Children laughing
aloud for every joke cracked,
Jokes about women’s
bodily functions are not funny. Period.
And suddenly they
said, be lady-like.
It all started with
a single red dot.
What about school?
[Voices of Ancestors]
No. Never.
Those days are
over.
No school. No. No.
No.
She was adorned with
jewelry, flowers and fine clothes;
Paraded in front of
neighbours and relatives alike.
[Voices of Ancestors]
Take this old piece
of cloth
Treasure it. You
will only get one.
Wash it. Sun dry it.
When it is as hard
as leather
Use it to soak up
your impurity.
Paraded in front of
neighbours and relatives alike.
Beautiful as a bride
behind a beatific child’s face;
Rest is a must, on
these days every month, they said.
She was soon easily
bored.
But it hurts… it
burns…
[Voices of Ancestors]
Suffer the misdeeds
of your past!
Your soul remains…
Unclean. Impure.
Unhygienic. A contamination.
But, is she not a
part of you?
How then can she be
impure?
Are you also impure?
Unclean? Unhygienic?
A contamination?
[Voices of Ancestors]
Ha! We are not you
We are the maker of
rules.
We had ‘us’ too
Telling us what to
do.
Your soul remains…
Unclean. Impure.
Unhygienic. A contamination.
It all started with
a single red dot.
The hatred of being
born a woman
Flowed, but
naturally.
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