Oh Nari Tu Hi Narayani !

Once upon a time in a different era, there waz a so called 'unsinkable' ship called the Titanic.

Alas, it waz but found to be sinking. 

To make matters worse, there were too many people on the ship & too few escape boats. 

The men in charge pulled out their gun and screamed out an order: "Women and children only" !

That order was not about flirting, holding doors or pulling chairs - it waz about who lives & who dies. 

It meant that men, including those with the gun, would go down with the Titanic and into the ice cold water grave below.

Their worst fears eventually came true and most men did die.

What is important, is that there waz time to change the mind.

Yet, till the very end, the expected chaos, in the face of certain & soon approaching death, waz still way below expectation and most men remained disciplined in death.

You may already know all of this.

What you may not know, is that among the men on the Titanic, waz a Japanese guy called Masabumi Hosono. 

He had somehow escaped, dressed as a lady. 

Hosono was employed by the government of Japan and when they found out, they fired him for taking away a potential lady's seat in the life boat and thus bringing death to some unknown lady. 

That waz not all, his name reached the school textbooks and children were taught on how not to bring disgrace to Japan. 

He had betrayed the Samurai ethos.

Such culture of 'Ladies first waz almost everywhere, but is fast diminishing. 

In most cultures across the geographies, women (and children) were typically kept away from the harm’s way. 

Not necessarily because she is physically weak, but to borrow the movie caption: "There's something about Mary"!

In the western culture, a man was more, in fact is a gentleman, when he is putting on hiz best manners especially in the presence of ladies.

Unless the men were fighting each other over her (my tongue firmly in cheek); everywhere, quarrelling men would at once feel a wee bit embarrassed & got tamed, if a lady showed up on the scene.

The man's principled duty waz to protect her.

Why?

Because she waz, the assumed guardian of the entire society.

And the man?

He is perpetually aspirational always wanting to expand his territory. 

What feeds hiz state of wellbeing vis-a-vis other men, is either hiz higher Wisdom, Strength or Wealth. 

These are the three key parameters by which he compares & competes with fellow men.

In the Hindu-centric culture in India, the sources for his Wisdom, Strength & Wealth are - Saraswati, Shakti & Lakshmi respectively.

The high and mighty men, bow to these feminine deities with no hesitation whatsoever, is all but Indian-ness at its core.

Oh woman o woman, you are such a mystery !

Anyone who says that men & women are equal, haven't understood women. He's the mighty sinksable Titanic. She's hiz mariner's compas showing him hiz North!

A lady is not just a non male. She is distinctly unique. 

And if she becomes him, what uniqueness does she then have?

How I lament the gender-blender, the equality narrative of the day.

Oh lady, know that your reverence is in your intangible soft power.

Under what wisdom do you want to equal him? Why are you so keen to abandon your higher position and match his?

Be forewarned, for if you do - you might be thrown off the Titanic.

I hope you remain your unique self, just as the great Goddess in her infinite wisdom intended you to be, when she created you !