Monika Suri

Soon after I started blogging , I came to know about Ebooks and I could find many bloggers who had self published their Ebooks . Although I was a newbie but imagining my name on the cover of a book excited me and the thought  made a mark in my subconscious mind . The  desire   of publishing an Ebook was getting intensified and I was getting more and more curious about the what and how of  self publishing an Ebook . Then came the BlogchatterA2Z carnival where every blogger was supposed to write daily in the month of April , starting with the alphabet of the day . A on 1st April , B on 2nd April and so on .Daily blogging was a challenge but  I love when something challenges me ,because  that is the best time to know your limits , push yourself to bring out the best out of you .I decided to go for it and registered for it. But till that time , I didn’t  have any idea what would I blog about .  I explored  a lot of websites to get an idea about the theme  on which I could blog daily ....

Z stands for  Zulmat . It is an urdu word , meaning darkness or obscurity . The dark attitude towards a girl starts from her birth itself . Born is not a girl, born is just a child , but she is transformed into a girl by instilling many hard facts and fears in her mind .  Girls speak slowly , girls must  learn cooking , good girls don’t go outside the home at night , good girls dress up properly , girls have to make compromises in their lives after marriage , so all such things are instilled and a child is transformed into a girl and then starts the dark attitude of the surroundings .  Every woman faces many biases and obscurities in her life and is still asked to remain quiet as if it’s part of her beauty package . I have written about many of the obscurities faced by women – Abuse / Bride Burning / Violence / Sexual assault / Foeticide and many others . The question is why a woman of 21st century is still caged in these obscurities ? When will the clouds of Zulmat ...

                                                                        BE YOURSELF O WOMAN ! Woman – whom God has given the role of a creator , makes the first definition of beauty. The womb where a seed finds its place to settle, grow and get nourished , is beauty . The placenta which develops to provide oxygen and other nutrients to the baby inside , is beauty . The umbilical cord which connects your and your baby’s soul , is beauty . Yes you are the creator O Woman ! Nobody else has been given the power as beautiful  to form a  baby from a tiny  seed . You are beautiful as you are O Woman ! And please never ever doubt this , even when some others do . Be Yourself . Talk to yourself daily in the mirror ” Yes ! I am beautiful as I am “ As a woman , you play many roles in your life and live greater number of responsibilities than men . But still sometimes you feel low , the reason may be the daily household stress or some harsh  pointers  thrown at  you being a ...

X stands for X-Factor X- Factor is a noteworthy special talent or quality , It’s an attribute beyond description , something which makes a person unique . A piece of fiction on “X-Factor” At the age of 62 , Today when I was being awarded with “Pratibha Puraskar ” by the district social club , I overheard someone saying ” That lady has an X-factor in her which makes her so special” . The term X-factor took me in my past . The only rosy part in my married life was that I got blessed with two beautiful daughters . To live with their father always was a task that tested my patience and quietude . I never knew my Art College degree would be wasted in such artistic roles like dusting , washing or just  cooking . I was happily playing all the roles of a maid and was sometimes  even being  treated   like the one , although my  official tag was that I was a Home Maker. One day one of my friends Ravita happened to call me after a gap of many years , As s...

W stands for Weakness A piece of fiction –“A woman” as described by her husband She was a kind heart . She always loved me and  my  family . She never boasted of her doctorate although married to just a graduate .From day one of marriage she supported me in my business both physically and financially . She was a kind heart . She stood by me  in the bad times too when my business suffered huge losses . She proved herself to be my better half from all aspects even while my own family denied to support me . She  took care of all the family expenditures , never with a burden . Many times she acted ignorant of my stealing from her purse  for my drinks . She always praised me in front of others , even in front of her parents whom I often criticized . She was a kind heart . She maintained the family peace even when I made the business losses as an excuse for drinking . She didn’t want any bad effect on our infant . She remained calm even on that day when I dared to rais...

V stands for Victim Story of Laxmi from India Laxmi became a victim of acid attack in 2005  when she was just 15  ,  the reason was that she had rejected a 30 year old man’s love proposal.  The incident occured when she was busy shopping in the market . she was rescued by a taxi driver who took him to the hospital. Laxmi underwent 9 major surgeries . Her will power helped and she survived . No doubt the scars would last with her for lifetime but she is making her scars  motivate other acid attack victims .  She has taken the  challenge to fight . She collected 27000 signatures and filed  in the supreme court to curb acid sales in the market .  Laxmi now also runs an NGO  which is dedicated for the acid attack victims.  Laxmi also received International Women of Courage award in 2014 by Michelle Obama . In 2014 she fell in love with Alok Dixit whom she met while working for a campaign . Alok was impresssed with Laxmi’s spirit and the duo decided to be together .  Now the coup...

A piece of Fiction on “Uterus on Rent “ As he does it once every month  ,  Ajay left early from his office today because his son Sujoy had come along with him and it was a Dad’s promise to his son about one hour games time  at the Centra mall in the evening before they reach back home. ” Bye Sujoy , have fun at the Centra , Love you  ” almost everybody in the office has a friendly bond  with Sujoy   as the 4 year old  steals everybody’s heart by his  smile . At the mall ” O Hi Ajay , What a pleasant surprise ! How come you are here ? ” His colleague Manoj’s   sudden appearance didn’t please Ajay ” Just came for Sujoy to enjoy  the kids rides ”  Ajay replied in a formal voice trying to avoid him ” O I see , but ,  don’t you always take Sujoy to Centra mall , how come  today here at Waves mall ? ” Manoj’s  eyes were turning  around to look for  baby Sujoy when he suddenly  noticed him with a wo...

As I have started writing on #Astitva – A woman’s existence , I notice that  the no. of  social issues raising questions on a woman’s existence are just not coming to an end . I started from A – Abuse and I have reached T – Triple Talaq . Triple Talaq Triple Talaq or Talaq-e-Biddat  is a practice where a Muslim man can divorce his wife just by uttering the word ‘talaq’ three times , either saying face to face or in written or on electronic media .  Once a Muslim man has given such talaq (divorce)  simply by uttering the word thrice , but then feels like he was wrong and wants to marry that woman again , he   cannot remarry the  woman  unless she marries another man , consummating the marriage and then  that new husband divorces her .  This mariage of the same  woman with her new husband is called  Nikah halala . So in a way the divorce occurs twice . And you know what’s the meaning of consummating the marriage ? It means sleeping with her...

S stands for Second Sex . By Second Sex , they mean  Women . Now the question is that why is SHE  addressed as the Second Sex ? Why is SHE considered at the second position ? Why is it always HE at the first position ? Is the woman still seen as a secondary thing , a subordinate to the male society ? Yes She is  , she is still trying to find her real existence ,  she bewails of her thwarted existence . She still feels angry when some factors stand in her way , blocking her path to her real independence , success and happiness . A woman is still   juggling for total liberation  Simone De Beauvoir , the French feminist and philosopher has written at length about a woman . She has made a detailed analysis of a woman’s oppressions , the unjust treatments or the mental pressures she has always been facing . It’s true  that Women have progresed in many fields but this is also not false that there are still constraints on her . It’s true that women have won their freedom...

Rape is the most common and the worst crime against women . In India , the Rape cases are too much on rise with not even a single newspaper ever void of any Rape news . The statistics say that every year around 40000 Rape cases are reported in India , and if we calculate  , it comes out to be 109 rapes every day in India . How shameful ! How can anyone call this country developed or developing where such sexual assault is a daily act . I think the world has started to recognise India as the Rape capital of the world . What a wonderful title ! Shouldn’t every Indian be proud of this title ?  Out of all the Rape cases , 91%  of the cases go unreported as the victims fear back attacks and humiliation . During the last few years , some horrific  Rape incidents got widespread media attention and the result is that now the willingness to report has increased much by most of the victims . Nirbhaya’s Rape Case  The date 16 Dec . is remembered by every Indian woman as it was the day of Nir...

P stands for Prostitution Prostitution is the business or practice of engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment .  There are about 42 million prostitutes in the world .The question is why some women adopt this practice where they are addressed as call girls or white slaves ?   Do the women adopt it on their own wishes ? May be these women are in dire need of money , money for food or clothing or children’s education or mere survival . So financial reasons may become one’s basis for adopting Prostitution  and act  slaves at the feet of men’s sex desire.   May be after some time , their financial problems get vanished but once women have dived into this profession , it becomes difficult for them to take a U-turn .  They  become constrained as their families are also not ready to adopt them again .  So once in this industry ,  the women prefer to   just close their eyes and let themselves sink in the mire of Prostitution . ( as the below picture also speaks ) Th...

  N stands for Nuptial Knot Nuptial Knot relates to marriage when a boy and a girl are united together by a Knot , in the hope that this Knot creates a love bond between them and unites them for lifetime . They share their happiness , sorrows , ups and downs equally . A girl’s marriage story Hi , My name is Priya . I am a single child of my father . I am writing it as only father because God took away my mother when I  was very small . I am thirty five years old now and working as a teacher in a school . I would take you to my past first and then bring you to my present ,  and then would ask you to suggest about my future too . As I told you , I was a single child of my father. I have always been a dark looking girl but my friends said I had a bright intellect . Since childhood , I had love of reading  and writing , writing  short stories was my passion and I still have a diary full of my penned stories . Unlike other girls who start dreaming of tying Nuptial Knot just after ...

  M stands for Menstruation Why is Menstruation still a Taboo ? Why this topic is restricted by social customs ? My Menstruation story My 9th class result was declared and there was a holiday break of 4-5 days before the next class was to begin . And the early morning of my first holiday came with a shocking RED Spot . Although I did have some idea about this RED  because of a girls special counselling session in the school , but not much . Seeing that RED in my underwear , I was all in cries and ran to my mumma. Tension was gripping me harder  as some  guests were expected that day , my uncle, aunty and cousins  . My mumma hugged me first trying to console me and then gave me a cotton pad to use . I placed it but it couldn’t make me comfortable enough to play some running games with my guest cousins . I made some headache or stomachache excuse and we settled on playing carrom. I was showing off to be  playing but my mind was in my underwear you know . Something sticky was...

L stands for LOVE Motherhood is the greatest form of Love on this earth . The love which is pure and eternal . I think only a mother can feel how it feels to be a mother . God has gifted every woman with this wonderful  bond of Love . Thankyou God for the  gift of Motherhood (I am a Mom to a daughter who is eleven years old now .   Today I want to share  about  what I love about my gift of  Motherhood ) After I got married , I had to undergo abortion even before I celebrated my first anniversary . It was certainly depressing  but after around one year more , I conceived again . Since the day I saw her as a seed in my first ultrasound , I am in Love with my gift of motherhood . From that ultrasound  day to the day I delivered her and till today , I can feel the love rising . Her smiles are so real and hugs so pure that they automatically bring smile on my face , in my heart , in my soul . I love to care for her , even worry for her. You can read the post I wrote on my abortion  When she...

K stands for : Kanyadaan Pic credit : weddingokay.com Kanyadaan – This hefty word has been very  very hard to digest for her mind , since childhood . The word Kanyadaan  has inflamed Rekha’s mind whenever it has been used . She still remembers when a day before her marriage , she had overheard her Papa whispering  tensely to her mother ” The groom’s family wants us to keep atleast 200 gm of gold in Jamai Raja’s hand at the time of Kanyadaan ” And she also has a fresh picture in her mind when her Papa had  actually placed a folded cheque along while placing her hand onto the  the Rajiv’s hand . At that moment , Rekha’s mind had started questioning itself again , as it had been questioning since childhood . Since   childhood  , Rekha   attended many weddings with her parents . At every wedding , she always saw  Pandit G reciting some mantras , asking father of the bride to keep his daughter’s hand in the groom’s hand , and then ...

J  stands for JUDGED .   A piece of fiction on the word  JUDGED Renu was a working girl in her twenties. She had  got married to Vivek   just two years ago .  The family consisted of his parents and his unmarried sister Shweta .  From day one Renu came in this family , she  felt being judged  even at little things . Why are you wearing this ? Why did you get late today ? Who came to drop you home today  ?  Why can’t you leave job and plan your child ? Every such statement or taunt was making  a crack in the relationship , with nobody there  even trying to fill those cracks . Vivek’s late night parties  didn’t hurt anybody else  in the family , except Renu who could smell  .  She was able to  smell his ex marital affair too along with the smell of the intoxicating drinks  from the last many months. Renu set an example of patience , courage , sacrifice , love and she  left no stone unturned . ” Beta Renu , what happened ? Are you going somewhere ? ” Tod...

I stands for : Independent (  What does this  picture tell you ?   To me , it tells that a woman who   has the wings , who  has the ability to fly , who has the power within to glow , still  has been  enslaved in a glass cage .  ) A piece of fiction on the word Independent My excitement got high up to the sky as I read the  mail  about getting  shortlisted  for  an official Dubai trip. The company must have seen some quality in me that I was required to head the team at this five days conference  . My smile , my pride , my ability , all got its wings . I got so eager to share the news with someone at the earliest . And who else would   be  better than My Better Half ?  I quickly picked up phone and dialled . ” O Aadi , I am so  so so happy today , U know what ? I am going to Dubaiiiii ” I was in such a sparky mood What to say of happy or sparky , the voice just didn’t come from the other side . “Aadi , Hello ! Are you there ? Did you listen ?  Are you able to hea...

If we start with the definitions of health , See what I read The above information credit is to https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov I think out of these three definitions, the second and third  define health more accurately . Because after all, just being physically fit may not  make one  completely healthy . But if I read the second definition again , it refers only about coping with the demands of daily life . The second definition just doesn’t mention anything about one’s inner health , I mean one’s own emotional health . And that is something very important . The third definition defines health as a state of balance , the equilibrium within one’s own self and the surroundings. I liked this definition .  I liked the word equilibrium . You know what’s equilibrium? In my science class , I explain it as the condition   when  net effect of all the forces  on an object is zero . If we are able to have equilibrium in our life ,  wouldn’t it be perfect ?  No ef...