Feminism needs courage

I finished watching a movie on Mukhtasar mai...and then just gazed up my room in awe... something just struck me baddd....thinking hard ..how??? How does a woman who can't read or write, who have been taught and tamed to be suppressed for centuries, who is born into an illiterate society dreadful of changes, a society that treats women as animals- animals that are supposed to safe keep your dignity. How does a woman from that social background come out and fight her battle? Where did she learn to find that courage and fearlessness and yes the - perseverance.

She is been named in Times magazine the 100 most influential people. And i am truly in awe of her and INSPIRED.

I am a woman from a very lucky side of the world. I was given proper education, it was never a question or consideration,it was just a basic right. I have opinion about everything around me and yet sometimes i see myself following norms that maybe are not so much of my believes but are those of my family or the society. Well none of them are drastic but still i think i follow them coz i don't have the courage to break free and say i will decide and use my own reasoning and make my own believes.

Another things about Mukhtasar Mai that really touched me was her selflessness, when she was given an award for 500,000(her currency) for her bravery for standing up against men who gang raped her - she used it to open a school for girls. She wanted to fight injustice with Education. And she is still fighting.

Well if i think about what i would have done with the money...flee probably.., i feel ashamed and really small in spirit. Is it that my education with giving me empowerment has made me selfish and i am drowning in the pool of my own materialistic wants??

And today when i am thinking so hard to change and improve myself as a human being, I ask myself again -is it because i want to help someone or just uplift myself in my own eyes??
Well, wathever be the reason i am glad that i have the realisation. As Eckhart tolle says- realisation is the major step to enlightenment. I take it that i came across this story for a reason and purpose - the purpose to stare inside my spirit- deep inside and try and trace a spirit that is fearless, a spirit that is non-judgmental of others, a spirit that gives me courage to love and live and perseverance and for once to break free of norms and use my education for soul searching for myself and to find courage that i was born with.

Also it is a daunting to feel that being a woman is so much more responsibility and obviously opportunity to uplift oneself.

It is just not about being in race with yourself for shiny shoes, dresses, make up and hair although it can't be denied it feel materialistically greatttttttttttt.. but really with it to polish what is inside - the soul , to someday shop for inner strength.
I think it will be a new dawn for me if i can wake up and see the greatness in every woman around me and awaken myself and them to learn about each other. And tell them to be fearless and passionate about doing whatever they are and break social norms to do what they believe is right- That takes courage...& it take courage to acknowledge that yes one is judgmental and selfish...but is trying hard to change it with compassion, wisdom and insight within oneself.
Being a woman is great gift. Woman have so much unknown strength and courage that they can really change their society, this world and yes themselves.

When we call ourselves feminists- with that comes great responsibility that of not being judgmental towards other women, that of seeing yourself in everyone and yes aspiring each other to go through whichever phase of their life they are in with passion, worthiness and fearlessness. I learned something from Mukhtasar mai yesterday which i will not forget for a long time. And if i can imbibe just a part of her in me, i would truly claim hard to be a feminist and a Woman like her.