She was the princess of the house. Just a few months old and already everybody doted on her ... everything she did was commented on and exclaimed upon in wonder ....
She grew up a bit ... and then the expectations started "You are a girl .. don't run about so much", "Tell her not to shout so much", "She should sit properly", "Don't let her go in the sun .. she will become dark and then who will marry her ? "
The child was puzzled but being a sweet girl by nature did not rebel ..
She grew up some more ... and then her choice of clothes were scrutinized by every member of the family as well the extended family .... and so it went on .. by the time she reached her late teens it seemed like nothing she did pleased anyone !! What a contrast to how it was when she was born ...
Her freedom was curtailed ... she could not go out easily .... for safety reasons ... In time she compromised on her choice of education as well on working ... since they had found a very good groom for her .. and it was a fantastic match ... !! She had to learn cooking so she could keep her future in-laws and husband happy ...
Eventually she had a daughter ... and .. she tried to make every choice for her baby consciously so her baby would not feel burdened by the myriad expectations on her tiny shoulders .. but she wondered why had not the situation changed so much .. that she was still concerned about ... the same things her mother used to be concerned about ...
- She was perturbed about her child's safety when going out
- A good marriage was still considered more valuable for her girl child than a good job/career
- Her child was the censure of so many eyes
- Her baby's complexion was a source of more anxiety than her activities in school
And so on ....
To add to her melancholy she learnt that her mother had been told the the same thing she heard ..... "Be thankful your in-laws are happy .. even though it is a girl !! "
She wondered - Shouldn't progress be measured in more than just economical terms ?
