Striking a chord with Meera...

Life is a pack of choices. Straight choices that we make each day. No doubt. And I totally agree with Meera.

KR Meera all of five feet or a little more I guess. Warm and bubbly with a fabulous flow of thoughts in her avalanche of well chosen words. It was one nice opportunity meeting her on a day like International Women's Day. Being a member of the Women in Public Sector, a national forum, I cherish the privilege of having spending an hour and half with Meera. We had invited her to address the women of Kochi Refinery as part of the Women's Day centenary celebrations.

I was looking forward to meeting a flamboyant soul. Instead I found one, all of simplicity and poise. With credentials like the Kerala Sahitya Academy Award, Ankanam Award, Lalithambika Antharjanam Award and Chovvara Parameshwaran Award that came to her in quick succession, she seemed happy with the responsibility she had chosen, of writing. Not for the tinkle of the awards, but for the fulfilment of her desire. To write, to crystalise thoughts, to be read, to be able to serve unconditionally, to be a change leader, to evolve, to shout, bleed, laugh and cry through her pages.

Nothing much to hype about her style or delivery as a speaker. The description stands complete in two words Simple and Clear. Very straightforward views driven by a balanced notion of the sexes. While telling us the story of how she transformed into a writer, overnight, how she chose to quit her challenging profession as a journalist, she was actually opening out a list of choices we could make to define the success that we would like to be.

 

"We may be rich or poor, content or discontent. We may have a peaceful life or not so peaceful one. The point is when and how do we make way for ourselves in the peaceful rhythm of domestic bliss that we strive to achieve each day," Meera shared in her beautiful Malayalam.

 

"And at the end of time, when all is done and life has ripened around us and we wait to be a part of oblivion, what exactly would we have wanted to do? What is it that we want to own, achieve or leave behind? " Meera defines personal success as the answers to these questions.

"Life is neither a battle of the sexes nor can they be termed as compromises," she says. "Its a miracle when we make the right choices and stand up for it. Not as a lone crusader, but as a compelling part of a wholesome family." The challenge therefore is in carving out your own personal space with dignity and fortitude.

And does that call for total sacrifice for the husband and the children? Is it give all and take less?  Is it just prioritising top down, with our needs somwhere at the bottom of the list? Does it call for a blind eye at the unfathomable pressures as claimed by new-gen youngsters? Yes or No, what are the consequences? Can social networking serve as virtual stress busters just as real friendship-circles do? ....

Probing further into the bitter truths of abuse and torture unto women from the neo-natal stage to post retirement, Meera raises few very logical questions... Isn't it time we appreciated that marriage is more about finding a partner that suits our heart than our wallet ? Isn't it time we also protected our sons just as we protect our daughters with sensible lessons of self-discipline? Isn't it time enough we gave a facelift to the Malayalee psyche? Isn't it about time we really worried about Life, love and sex, and whether our children are losing out on the beautiful connect among these three?....

 

Million dollar questions from a million dollar writer. I am yet to read her collection of short stories Ave Maria. I would love to do that very soon. For some reason I know I will strike a chord with this sensible thinker....