Oh Nari Tu Narayani!

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

Alas, it was but found to be sinking. 

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

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

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

It meant, that the men holding life-taking guns would go down with the Titanic and into the ice cold water graves below, and the unarmed women would live on.

This was not the decision of an individual but that of an entire group of men. It was not out of helplessness, there was a choice. It was not sudden, there was time to change the mind. 

And yet, it was executed as planned, and most men did die.

Till the very end, the chaos, in the face of certain and soon approaching death, had still been way below the 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, was a Japanese guy called Masabumi Hosono. 

He had somehow escaped, dressed as a lady. 

Hosono was employed by the government of Japan. When they found out, they fired him for taking away a potential lady's seat in the lifeboat thus bringing death to some unknown lady that may have been left behind, and therefore disgrace to Japan. 

That was not all, his name reached the school textbooks and children were taught on how not to be like him. 

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" that makes her special. 

A man is more, in fact is a gentleman, putting on his best manners in the presence of women.

Unless the men are fighting each other over her (tongue firmly in cheek), everywhere, quarrelling men at once feel a wee bit embarrassed and get tamed, if a lady shows up on the scene.

The man's principled duty is to protect her.

Why?

Because she is the first nurturer and so, the presumed guardian of the society.

And the man?

He is always wanting to expand his territory. 

What feeds his state of wellbeing vis-a-vis other men, is either his 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 source for his wisdom, strength and wealth are the Goddesses Saraswati, Shakti, and Lakshmi, respectively.

That the high and mighty men, bow to these feminine deities with no hesitation whatsoever, is Indianness at its core.

Anyone who says that men and women are equal, haven't understood women. He's the mighty sinksable Titanic. She's his mariner's compass showing him his North.

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

Oh, woman oh, woman, you are a labyrinth of complexities, an intriguing tapestry, a mystery. 

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

A feminist must celebrate her feminity to the fullest. A woman that has become him in every way and manner, is a subjugated one. 

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 !