Khap Panchayats and Rapes

Recently , rapes have become a frequent phenomenon in Haryana.A matter of great shame.Such incidents make the persons, who matter in society , to think over.In Haryana  Khaps always try to dominate the social setup and are often  in the news for their wrong backward viewpoints. Yesterday, I read the viewpoints of the khaps regarding rapes taking place in Haryana which reflect their sick mindset. The suggestion that the girls should be married early  is shocking.The very suggestion seems anti national and anti constitutional . Again today I read the views of a  spokesperson of Khap Mahapanchayat that girls should be married at the age of 16 so that they have their husbands for their sexual needs and they don't need to go elsewhere.
I was shocked and felt humiliated  to read their viewpoint. It is an insult to womanhood. The question is of rape and not of a girl who elopes with a boy .Whenever there is a rape, it is never a girl's fault Why don't the Khaps issue a warning that a rapist shall be thrashed publically, excommunicated and even shunted out of the village.
Instead of suggesting some remedial measures,they suggest to curb the independence of women.Why don't theypledge to track the rapists and give them an examplary punishment?Why don't they pass resolutions against such acts?Why don't they demand fast track courts to punish the guilty?Why don't they suggest that the girls should be taught martial arts  and various other methods to save themselves from such assaults?

LIVING IN LIMBO

Why men and women are not equal in India?The article took me back to the memory lane. The year was 2003. My daughter got married. After two or three months, on her visit to chandigarh she commented--people say the girls get two houses after marriage. but Ma Alas! the girl loses the house she had--not to talk of getting a second one. She is a guest at her parents house and an outsider for her inlaws who try not to share family matters with her. Even now when I think of her , I am saddened to think of all our girls--daughters, sisters--facing the same fate. Let me admit to myself today that I was not happy when my granddaughter was born because I had some doubt  that my daughter was not that happy as a mother wanted her to be.Doubt because she did not share her feelings.
What can women do?Inspite of all the claims that women in India are quite independent, the fact is that we are just living double standards. Women have all the rights till their husbands agree for that.I fear if women dare to actively pursue their rights, the peace of many a houses would be shattered.My daughter often questioned why a girl has to leave her parental home but the boy needn't.Ihad no answers to her questions. I had imagined a lot of emancipation, but only imagined.There may be many reasons or these are all lame excuses. Men and women should be equal but how --- in this male dominated society?Men try to rule over women even in their professional life. Awomen is governed by her father and brother before marriage, and then by husband  and later by son also. During my career I met a Sarpanch who was so shy that she could not take snacks or tea while facing me. Her husband was the real Sarpanch.The post of the Sarpanch was reserved for a women I fear it may be the case at higher levels also. In our society , women are independent  when they agree to what their husbands say and in exchange get that independence  or SAY in various matters.
We are rebellious when we are girls and wait for marriage to get all the independence we have dreamt of  and lose even the house where we got unquestioned love.When will all this change?

Kitchen Tips----1

1---If you want to preserve lemon juice ,put half a teaspoon sugar  in a bowl,sqeeze lemon juice in it , put in an ice tray and  freeze. When frozen , take out from the tray, put  in a bottle or zipper bag and keep in freezer. Use these lemon pearls as per requirement.
2---To preserve  tomatoes, cut each tomato into two,put in a tray , put tray in a freezer.Take out the tray after 6 hours,put the tomatoes in a zipper bag and put the bag in the freezer. Before using, take out the required quantity,leave it for 10 minutes, peel and use.
3---you need to preserve strawberrys--wash them, put in a tray at a distance of 1/2 an inch each and put in the freezer. take them out after 5 hours . Put in a zipper bag and put it back in the freezer.
4---Make a paste of ginger and garlic, put in the icetray and place in the freezer.When frozen, take them out , put in a zipper bag and place the bag back in the freezer.