Feast for Thought

I am no women's lib advocate or activist, neither am I a fanatic feminist. I simply believe that in matters of home and house the husband (father) and the wife (mother) can and should seamlessly ease into the one another's role whenever the need arises. So I read with interest a very well-written piece in Deccan Herald "The Story so Far" , which was forwarded to me by several persons - a banking professional cousin, a mother of two, a dutiful daughter-in-law, an understanding daughter, and a patiently tolerant wife - all rolled into one, (of course!). The story depicts, very precisely, the typical urban household where the lady pursues a career and manages the home, with nil / half-hearted / reluctant / whole-hearted participation from her life partner (The degree of participation being directly proportional to her good luck). I quote this line from the article: "It will take time, possibly a few more generations, for the equation to get balanced". Here is t...

Sisters and daughters fly away; So do sons and brothers, Like cousins and friends All grow wings and leave the nest. Nurtured feathers grow up under care, The time comes when they mature And wish to see and hear things new, Tread fresh paths and find one’s way. No chain, no fetters, can hold them back, Not of iron, or the heart strings, When the time comes, the cocoon yields, After all, baby butterflies should be seen. Some stay back, others come back, Because the string stretched a little, To roost the night or grow new roots, Or to use new wealth for the good of all. When you clip your wings to stay put, You may think…so why not? For the love of the land, the dust of birth, Is more than good enough for a great living. Home is where the heart is, it’s said, Break not a heart, break not a home, But do go where the heart leads, You are sure to find a home away from home.