Mounika
1140 Words
The Activity Room was filled with girls – First, Second and Final year girls – they were there for the AV show and lecture by Mounika. They were all eager to see what she had to show them. Mounika set up the system and the projector and then came to the middle of the room facing the girls. The class fell silent waiting for Mounika to speak.
“Who is a woman?”
“A woman is a human being, ma’am!”
“A lady ma’am!”
“A girl ma’am!”
“A woman is not a man ma’am!”
“A mom ma’am!”
“A wife ma’am!”
“Grand ma, ma’am!”
“Tutor ma’am!”
“Sub-staff ma’am!”
“Man’s servant ma’am!”
“Well, girls, a woman is much more than that! What I am going to show you today will tell you what a woman is. I am going to start with some ladies who have been trend setters. The first is Rani Rudrama Devi. I want you to observe what she faced, what she did and how she did it.” Mounika said in a serious tone. No one had ever seen her smile. Her face had a kind of hardness that gave off a kind of no nonsense aura that intimidated yet endeared her to the girls. This was one woman they could trust blindly. She was young, only 23 yrs, but her face seemed to contain a sadness that the girls could only guess at. She had not smiled even once after joining. The girls wanted to see her smile like Mrs. Sarayu, but no one had the courage to try and make her smile. There was something in her expression that stopped them from playing pranks on her.
The girls watched Rudrama Devi, the documentary on Queen Rudrama Devi, one of the best scions of the Kakatiya dynasty. The girls watched with rapt attention as the documentary spoke about the life of the legendary Queen. There was silence for the next forty minutes as the girls watched and took notes. Finally, the show ended and Mounika paused the video speaking loudly.
“I want you to think on these questions; One – Why did Rudrama Devi grow up a Rudra Deva? Why Couldn’t she be Rudrama Devi? Was it justifiable?
Two – Why did the people reject Rudrama Devi when her true identity was revealed? Why did they feel males could rule better? What do you learn from this?
Three – How did Rudrama Devi prove everyone wrong? How did she achieve it? Was she alone in her endeavors? Who helped her and why do you think they helped her? Was this a case of hero saving the lady? Why or why not?
Four – if you were Rudrama Devi, what would you have done? What problems would you face and how would you solve them?
Five – do you see any similarity between the situation in the present day and the situation in the days of Rudrama Devi? What are they? What would you do to try and change that?
I want you to think about these questions carefully and come up with answers of your own. You can do this in a group or on your own. You have one week to ponder on these questions and submit your answers. We will discuss the answers in the next AV class.
Now, you can go to your class.” She dismissed the class as she began switching off the system and locking the equipment away. A tear threatened to escape from her eyes as she thought of her mother. She had been proud of her mother. She had looked up to her as she struggled to provide for her, fighting to protect her, guiding and helping those in need. She was held in such high regard that everyone had pampered her – Mounika – like a princess.
Yet, when her mother died, she had been alone. No one had dared to help her. Her mother’s body had been taken away and cremated like an orphan by the municipality workers. That had hurt her the most. The lack of empathy – the fear – the unwillingness to help a fellow woman in distress.
She had decided then that she would not wilt under the sorrow. That she would start her life afresh. Find a job somewhere else working as a novice. Goddess Durga had then sent the opportunity to work here. The Principal had been a true gentleman – a man worth emulating. He had been very understanding, sympathetic, respectful. That had surprised her.
When the world around her was falling apart, when those men who had received help from her mother had also chosen to turn their backs on her, this man Mr. Parasuram, had chosen to be respectful towards her. He had listened to her story and never once uttered a sexist remark. What had shocked her even more was the behaviour of the staff. None of the male staff had that condescending tone towards her. It was as if they her considered her their equal – maybe superior to them even.
Was it even possible? Were all men not chauvinist pigs ready to pounce on a female and devour her like hungry lions? It was something she had thought was not possible in this strange land that was so against men. Well, Mr. Parasuram was from her country Bharat and had moved here on Promotion. So, it made sense that he was so upright. But, the fact that other male teachers were also well behaved had confused her.
When she had been through the most horrifying time of her life, she had lost all hope of finding a good male. She had started hating the male species with her whole heart. She had started dreaming of a world exclusively for women and run by women. Males would be used only for mating and producing children. Young males would be sent off to this god forsaken land and the female children would be brought up away from a***e.
But, when she had been rescued by the Royal Shakteya Trust and appointed as a teacher here, she had been forced to look at things from a new perspective. All her hatred had vanished and she felt a strange kind of peace. Her wounds would probably never heal but her mind was not consumed by her hatred and a desire for revenge.
She had decided that she would do her bit in bringing a change in the society. She may not be able to take part in it directly since she had certain restrictions as a citizen of Bharat. But she didn't see why she couldn't play an indirect role in the revolution that was going to come.
- Writer
