Now that a Latur woman took the place,
Of a dead bull in her field to plough.
Mehboob Khan’s Mother India’s face,
Is seen with sweat on her brow.
Hindi films stereotyped women,
Who embraced prostitution in extreme poverty.
Adalat, Mamta, Pakeezah, Umrao Jaan, a few I pen,
Had similar stories and no novelty.
With popular songs and ghazals of dejection,
Filmmakers laughed their way to the bank.
It appeared women had no choice in rejection,
But, with courtesans, to close their rank.
Fortunately, Mother India had a tale to tell,
Of Indian women’s resolve and grit.
Whilst in films, they continued in flesh trade to dwell,
In reality, they overcame their stomachs’ pit.
After my father’s death, my mother, too,
Fought against her sad and poor situation.
Pitted against hostility from quite a few,
She displayed courage and determination.
With only me at her side and no other,
She went about fighting against all odds.
No wonder I am so proud of my mother,
More worshipped by me than gods.
With the abiding resolve of my mom and dad,
I would readily do what the Latur woman displayed.
No circumstances can make us dejected and sad,
If we refuse to have our resolve frayed.
Hats off to Indian women, our backbone,
Teaching us there is always a way.
One will never be depressed and alone,
If a never-give-up attitude one would display.
