Sunday, May 5, 2013

RULE OF NATURE

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 39; the thirty-ninth edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. The theme for the month is "Break"


It was a thatched roof, a mud house with cow dung cakes on its wall. This could be the best possible method to beat the heat! Rama knew this village tactic well. She was a school drop-out but she believed nature offered its lessons to those who want to learn from it.

Rama knew the value of education well. She was therefore forthcoming to support her two younger brothers. She did the household chores and made them lunch for school.

Rama was a charming girl of only 16. She took life as it came and was always happy, in spite of the fact that her mother died in the village arson. They had an absentee father whose only purpose was to drink and never cared for his children. She had meager earnings from selling firewood in the local village mandi.

One bright day, she was returning from the market. She came across a pottery maker. He made potteries of all sizes. Later he painted it with bright colors making beautiful patterns. Rama was mesmerized by the artistic beauty; she stood still and watched. Afterwards she was confident that given a chance she could improvise. She went and asked if he would keep her assistant and explained that in this way they could make double the number of potteries and sell them to get a bigger share of profit.

The kind man agreed but asked for a demonstration. He was stupefied by the magic in her hands and the efficiency and exuberance she displayed while making them. He didn’t hesitate and he gave her an extra set of pottery wheel and paints.

Soon their collaboration reached great heights. The man was all praise for her due to this unexpected turnaround in his fortunes. Soon her skill in pottery making was well known even in the nearby villages. She was approached by an NGO which helped her market products. Her artistic potteries could serve as a home décor and this would fetch her good price in the international markets.

Rama meanwhile enrolled her brothers in a private school and was glad that they never felt the void of their mother. She was content!

                                                                    ***

There was heat and suffocating smoke all around. The thatched room was burning inferno. Her brothers pulled her out. She was devastated by the scene she witnessed while covered in black soot from top to toe, her clothes tattered and charred. Her siblings were heaving. Other huts stood intact and everyone had rushed out.

She saw men on horses with blazing torch in their hands. She knew they were upper caste men from the inner core of the village. She understood the reason for her mother’s death.
It was clear that she was suffering the brunt of being born in a lowly caste. Her brothers’ education at the private school was loathed by these people. Segregation was the rule and violation was punished in this manner. The success of a lower caste was not tolerated.

They rode away mocking her. Other mute spectators went inside their huts. As the roof fell, the pottery consignment of about 100 potteries broke. She had a heartbreak and was completely shattered.

She fell down on the ground sobbing. Both her brother lifted her up, and at that instant decided to leave the village for good. They had to help their sister mend her broken dreams in a land where rule of nature prevailed and not of brute men!

But does such land exist?!



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36 comments:

  1. Hey Kislaya, that was such a poignant and heart touching tale based on the most evil disease plaguing our country, that is, casteism. The way you have concluded the story asks a very potent question, whether a caste free land exists or not. I would like to believe that it will, someday. And inter-caste marriage is the sole solution for this demeaning sickness. You have raised a very relevant issue in very relevant times. Lets stand up and uproot this evil together...

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    1. Yes casteism it is. And I am an optimist like you in believing that it will be uprooted someday...progress is slow but it is there.
      And as you have suggested, I too believe inter-caste marriages will go a long way in uprooting this evil. Apart from that better moral education and blief in humanity will go a long way in seeing ouselves as one! After all we are children of God... isn't it?

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  2. Wow...this was thought provoking indeed. Its like many parts of the land are still submerged in the dark ages...but i am positive that change will happen..it is happening as we speak, albeit slowly, but steadily. Lovely piece.

    All the best for BATOM.

    Shreyasi

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    Replies
    1. Yes we have to be positive that change will happen, then only we can take a step towards it.

      Thanx and Welcome to my blog!!!

      Delete
  3. This a very moving story.The narrative is unparallel. I loved to read it. All the best for the contest.

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    Replies
    1. Thanx so much for appreciating!1

      All the best to you too. :)

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  4. it is sad but true...why only villages, the treatment that people mete out to their own maids in cities is so pathetic...

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    Replies
    1. You are very right in pointing that out.
      I have just highlighted one aspect of what is so rampant.

      Thanx and Welcome to my Blog! :)

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  5. such people do live but knowing the girl she would pick up the strands soon!

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    Replies
    1. Yes definitely that will be, but the question is how many have the strength to carry on against such oppressive system?

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  6. Ah, such a heartbreaking story...very well written, Kislaya. For centuries, caste-system has been one of the biggest maladies in India's hierarchical social order. Your story proved it once again. Engrossing tale...love it!
    ATB for BAT!

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    Replies
    1. Yes it is, things are changing at a slow pace, but condition remains the same in many of our remote villages and there is no whiff of change, thats a pity!

      Thanx and ATB to you too.

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  7. strong message passed on Caste System through your writing ... its upto us .. how seriously we work to throw these useless systems out of present generation for a better future .. or keep burning the farms of lower castes or run away leaving our own land just coz we are lower castes ... choice is ours belonging to any of these unwanted classifications !! Nice Read !

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    Replies
    1. Choice is ours but in how many such cases do we have a choice?
      The caste is so complex and gripping that it is sometimes difficult to free oneself from it!
      In the rural areas women bear the brunt of being born in a low caste and also the brunt of being a female.
      I really hope things change for good, soon!

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  8. Nice, touching story.The world has all-men's-land and there is no women's-land.

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  9. That is very well thought and made an interesting story!! But it is so terrible to learn that in reality such prejudices and atrocities still exists in this very land where Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi existed and preached their doctrines!!

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    1. I know it is hard to imagine that such atrocities still exist in this great land of Buddha and Mahatma! But the fact is bitter and until we accept it we cant change it!
      Acceptance is the first step towards working for a change...

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  10. A question u asked there...
    But alas! No one in this World knows answer...
    A beautiful fiction!

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    Replies
    1. We all know the answer Satya, and that is change for betterment. Until we uproot the caste system such discrimination will continue to occur.
      We can begin it at individual level by not following the caste prjudices.
      Better education and inter-caste marriages as suggested by fellow blogger Deepak Kripal can also be some of the steps!

      Thanx.

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    2. But... The mindset we carry...
      That is ver the change shud b seen...

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    3. Yes when I say individual level i am telling about changing our mindset and it can only be removed by our sustained efforts, united action and discussions etc.

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  11. Beautiful touching story. You write well.

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  12. This was so intense, but the sad part is, this is still true in many parts of the world ... shouldn't caste system be abolished for a peaceful and equal existence?

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    Replies
    1. In the constitution caste and untouchability has been abolished but still is practised, sustained effort by all of us is needed!

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  13. quite an intense and moving tale.. very good read.

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  14. Thanx Deepak(magiceye), Arumugam ji and Aliasgar :)

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  15. thought provoking story, the sad part is education has failed to erase the stubborn marks of casteism... Good luck for BAT!!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Yes education is not making that impact that should have ben there.. But changes will come surely and steadily! Things that have persisted for ages cant vanish so easily..!

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  16. it is shameful for all of us that even after 65 years of independence we are still taking about cast system nice portrayal of that situation,praying for change in our thoughts and system.

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    Replies
    1. Yes we not only have to pray but also work for this change!

      Thanx for visiting and welcome to my blog..
      keep visiting..

      Delete
  17. The last question pained me because the answer is unfortunately NO! Not nearby!!

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    1. I know hard to find such land, but we all have to make efforts for a casteless society!

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