A CRY OF A GIRL
BY FAROOQ AHMAD BAKLOO FROM ANANTNAG, KASHMIR
I was born with a purposeThen it was a self-designed social norm chain that locked my purpose.
I was born with courageThen it was the fear of family honor that massacred my courage.
I was born with potentialThen what will people say attitude that rusted my potential?
I was born with talentThen the perception you are a girl, so you are for the kitchen this slaughtered my talent.
I was born with wings to flyThen it was the society that made them numb.
I was born as other humans are bornThen it was a gender-biased society that felt frozen on my birth.I was born with intelligenceThen it was the long remaining disease of patriarchy that questions my intelligence.I was born with aspirationsThen being a girl I was forced to bury these aspirations at every level.I was born with the acumens of leadership, and then it was because of my gender I was discriminated against.I was born beautifulThen it was the set of beauty norms by which I was loved or got rejected.
