Post on 24-Mar-2020
I AM
WOMEN OF INDIA FROM VEDIC TIMES TO TODAY
A PHOTO EXHIBITION 19 NOVEMBER 2008
INDIRA GANDHI BIRTH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION
INDIRA GANDHI MEMORIAL TRUST 1 AKBAR ROAD, NEW DELHI
RESEARCH, PHOTO SELECTION, TEXTS AND DESIGN OF EXHIBITION BY SURYAKANTHI TRIPATHI NASADIYA ARTS
(Only some of the photos and text panels from the exhibition are being shown on this web page)
PORTRAIT OF A WOMAN
THEY ASKEDIS THERE ANYTHING STRONGER THAN A ROCK?
YES, IRON, BECAUSE IT CAN CLEAVE ROCK.IS THERE ANYTHING STRONGER THAN IRON?
YES, FIRE, BECAUSE IT CAN MELT IRON.IS THERE ANYTHING STRONGER THAN FIRE?YES, WATER, BECAUSE IT CAN PUT OUT FIRE.
IS THERE ANYTHING STRONGER THAN WATER?YES, WIND, BECAUSE IT CAN SCATTER WATER.IS THERE ANYTHING STRONGER THAN WIND?
YES, WAS THE ANSWERA WOMAN
FOR THE WIND WAITS FOR A WOMAN’S WHISPER KNOWING IT IS WOMAN
THAT GIVES THE BREATH OF LIFE.
I AM SHE, I AM MEI AM
THE VEDIC WOMAN
I AM LOPAMUDRA, GARGI AND MAITREYII AM APALA, GHOSHA, LILAVATI, SO MANY OTHERS
I, GARGI THE BRAHMAVADINI, I ASKTHE LAYER ABOVE THE SKY AND BELOW THE EARTH DESCRIBED AS BETWEEN THE EARTH AND THE SKY
SAID TO BE SYMBOL OF PAST, PRESENT AND FUTUREWHERE IS THAT SITUATED?
ACROSS WHAT IS THAT WOVEN, WARP AND WOOF?"
I AM MAITREYI, I ASKWHAT SHOULD I DO WITH THAT
WHICH DOES NOT MAKE ME IMMORTAL?
MY FATHER, BHASKARA ASKS ME, LILAVATI“MATHEMATICIAN, SKILLED IN THE NET OF NUMBERS
QUICKLY, HOW MANY NUMBERS ARE THERE WITH THE NUMBERS 2, 2, 1 AND 1, WHAT IS THEIR SUM?
AND SIMILARLY, MY LOVELY LILAVATI, WITH 4, 8, 5, 5 AND 5.”
I AM THE WOMAN OF THE VEDASI ASK THE QUESTION, I DERIVE THE ANSWER
I AM STUDENT, SCHOLAR, SEEKER OF KNOWLEDGE
I AM SHE, I AM MEI AM
ON THE ROAD TO FREEDOM
WE MARCHED, WE RODEWE WERE IMPRISONED, WE DIED
WE WORKED, WE NURSED, WE SACRIFICEDWE MURMUR IN THE NARRATIONS OF THE PAST
AND IN THE LIBERTY YOU INHALE IN THIS PRESENT
I SEE HERRANI CHENNAMMA OF KITTUR
THIRTY THREE YEARS BEFORE 1857OF THE FIRST TO RISE FOR FREEDOM
A FIGURE OF COURAGE AND OF A WOMAN’S PRIDE
I GLIMPSE HERRANI LAXMIBAI, RANI OF JHANSI, A WHIRWIND
STORMING THROUGH ENEMY BARRICADESI HEAR HER
MI MAJHI JHANSI NAAHI DENAARI SENSE HER
THE WARRIOR QUEEN, THE BRAVEST AND THE BESTTHE ICON OF AN INDIA FREE
I SEE HER TOOSHE OF GREAT ENERGY AND ABILITY
RAJMATA BEGUM HAZRAT MAHAL OF AWADHSEIZING LUCKNOW, MAKING HISTORY
SO MANY WOMEN, RISING AND UPRISINGI SEE THEM ALL, FOR I AM SHE OF KITTUR
OF JHANSI, OF AWADH, OF DELHI, OF BHARATI AM
EARTH COLOURS
THE STROKE OF THE BRUSHTHAT CHANGES FROM CRIMSON TO OCHRE
EACH OF THOSE A COLOUR YOU HAVE MIXEDBY GRINDING EXUBERANCEWITH A LITTLE OF YOURSELF
IN THE HOLLOW OF THE MORTAR
AMRITA SHERGILLWITH HER VERSES ON WOMEN
IS NONE OTHER THAN JAMUNA DEVI MAKING PORTRAITS OF THE GODS YOU ARE EVERY ARTIST OF WORLI
OF ALL MY VILLAGES AND OF MADHUBANIEVERY ARTIST IS AMRITA SHERGILL
IS ME
I PAINT A WALL OF MY HOMEI PAINT A CANVAS
THAT HANGS ON YOUR WALL I PAINT MY DOORSTEP, MY THRESHOLD
GIVE LIFE ITS SO MANY HUES
ALL THESE COLOURSTONES OF THE EARTH
TRANSMUTED BY THE BRUSH OF WOMEN WHO DEPICT
AN EPIC AS SPLENDIDLY AS AN ORDINARY LIFEALL OF THEM, ME
I AM
THE FREEDOM MOVEMENT
I AM BA, INDEPENDENT IN THOUGHTA WOMAN OF CONVICTION, A FRIEND OF EFFORT
I, KASTRURBAI, TURNED TO KASTURBAAS SATYAGRAHA TOOK SHAPE,
AS A NATION TOOK SHAPE I BECAME BA
DETERMINED NEVER TO RELEASE STRUGGLE TILL IT DELIVERED FREEDOM
I AM SAROJINII AM, IN ME, MANY
EACH ONE OF ME SOAKED IN INDIAFIGHTING FOR HER FREEDOM
SPEAKING TO MAKE HER PEOPLE FEARLESSWRITING TO MAKE HER CHILDREN PROUD
I AM SINCERITY OF MOTIVE, COURAGE IN SPEECH, EARNESTNESS IN ACTION.
THEY CALL ME A FORCE NAMED DURGABAII AM MY SISTERS WITH MANY NAMES
I AM REACHING THEM, TEACHING THEM, FOR WE ARE ALL SATYAGRAHIS
AHEAD OF US, NOTHING BUT OUR FLAG
WE ARE SATYAGRAHISMARCHING TO MAKE OUR OWN SALT
WE ARE ME, I AM USI AM
YOU WRITE FOR ME TO KNOW MYSELF
SO MUCH TO WRITESO MUCH TO NARRATE
SO MANY TO CHALLENGESO MANY TO AWAKEN
BY EACH OF USYOU HAVE SHOWN ME HOW
TILL I AM CONFIDENTI AM THE WRITER
I AM
YOU ARE ASHAPOORNA DEVIAND WRITE
ABOUT SO MANY OF ME, EACH DIFFERENT FROM MEYOU ARE MAHADEVI VERMA
YOU WRITEABOUT SO MANY OF ME, EACH INSPIRED BY ME
YOU ARE ISMAT CHUGHTAIAND WRITE
ABOUT SO MANY OF ME, EACH DIVIDED FROM ME
I READ YOU AND I KNOW MYSELFAND ALL THOSE WHO ARE ME
SO MUCH YOU WRITESO MUCH YOU NARRATE
BECAUSE EVERY WOMAN IS A STORYTELLEREVERY WOMAN IS A STORY MAKER
EVERY WOMAN IS MEI AM
YOU OPEN YOUR VEIN
WITH THE PENUNMASKING PREJUDICE AND INIQUITY
ANGUISH AND SOLITUDEWRITING THE UNWRITTEN BOOK
AS PAYMENT TO LIBERTY
MAHASWETA DEVIYOUR EACH BOOK A LIBRARY
CARRYING THE TORMENT OF THE UNHEARDQURRATULAIN HYDER
VOICE OF EVERY CENTURYTHAT CROSSES A RIVER OF FIRE
INDIRA GOSWAMIMINING THE EXTRAORDINARY
IN THE ANECDOTE OF THE USUALYOU ALL CREATE WORDS
FOR ME TO LIVE INSAYING WHAT I AM UNABLE TO SAY
YOU GIVE ME SO MANY HOMESSO MANY LIVES
SO MANY JOURNEYS WITH YOU
EVERY PAGE YOU WRITEI SEE YOU OPEN YOUR VEIN
THAT RED, IT PULLS MEI AM WITH YOU
I AM
WEAVERS OF THE SUN
YOU HAVE MADE FOR MEA RICH FABRIC OF INSPIRATION
EVERY THREAD AND EACH COLOUR MAKING THE TEXTURE WHOLE
AND I GAZE AT THIS FABRIC GLORIOUS IN ITS DESIGN
WOVEN BY THE WOMEN WHO ARE ME
YOU PLANT A TREETAKE A PHOTO, FEED A CALF
ROUSE A NATIONYOU ASK, YOU ANSWER
PLANT A SONG IN MY HEARTSUMMON DIVINITY
UNFURL A FLAG, GO TO JAILYOU WRITE, PAINT, RACE
GIVE LIFE, GIVE UP YOUR OWN
I SEE YOU ALLWEAVERS OF AIR AND WATER
WEAVERS OF EARTH
WEAVERS OF THE SUNBEARERS OF THE INFINITE
IN THE LIGHT YOU POUR ON MEI SEE MY PATH BRIGHT
I WILL BECOMEI AM
THE WINGS OF A WOMAN
I SPREAD MY WINGS AND SOARED IN THE SKIESAND GLIMPSED THE VASTNESS EVEN BEYOND
IT IS FOR YOU AS IT IS FOR ME YOU JUST HAVE TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE WINGS
AND THAT IF YOU WANT TO FLY, YOU DO
I AM KALPANATHE DREAM THAT FREEDOM ASPIRES TO
DARING AND DETERMINATIONDRAWN FROM THE SOIL OF INDIA
CARRIED ME INTO SPACEAND IN THE RETINA OF MY EYE
THE WHOLE EARTH AND THE SKY WERE REFLECTED.
I RAN THE MARATHON IN SPACEAS I CIRCLED EARTH
I AM SUNITA BORDERS DO NOT DETERMINE MY LIFEBECAUSE I AM WHAT MY FATHER SAID
THE PROUD DAUGHTER OF INDIAWHO SAW THE COLOURS OF THIS LAND
SO SPECATAULAR FROM UP HIGH
I AM ALSO DURGA, AND I AM HARITAI AM THE ONE WHO HAS FLOWN
EVEN BEFORE I ENTERED THE COCKPIT
BECAUSETO HAVE FAITH IN ONESELF IS TO HAVE WINGS
I AM THE FAITH, I AM WOMAN, I AM
RICH IN MUSIC
YOU ARE MS, KUNJAMMA, THE JEWEL OF INDIAA VOICE OF PRIMEVAL RESONANCE
A LIFE OF TIMELESS FAITH AND INNER PEACEYOU, WHO SANG RAMDHUN FOR GANDHIJI
YOU, HAILED AS "SUSWARALAKSHMI SUBBULAKSHMI,"BY BADE GHULAM ALI KHAN
A KAARANAPIRAVI, BORN FOR A PURPOSEYOU SING YES, BUT MORE, YOU MAKE DIVINITY MANIFEST
YOU ARE FOREVER AND IN YOU, I AM.
TO YET ANOTHER GEM OF INDIA YOUR VOICE HEARD IN EVERY CORNER OF THIS LAND
EYES FILLED UP WHEN YOU SANG AYE MERE WATAN KE LOGON, ZARA AANKH ME BHAR LO PANI
YOU ARE LATA OF MATCHLESS RANGE AND TALENTAND IN MY TRIBUTE TO YOU
IN THE CHERISHING OF YOUR LIFE’S SONGI AM
YOUR MUSIC HAS MADE THE BEAUTIFUL MORE ALIVE
IT HAS PEOPLED UNITYI AM THE MILLIONS OF OUR MUSICIANS
SINGING THE SOUL OF THIS LANDHENCE I AM IN YOU, IN A TRIBUTE TO ALL OF YOU
I AM
THE SAINT, THE MYSTIC, THE SEEKER
OH, THESE WOMEN OF INDIA PEASANT, PRINCESS, WIFE OR DAUGHTER
COMMON WOMAN OF UNCOMMON LIGHTA MYSTIC, A SEEKER OF THE DIVINE
GOD‐ENGROSSED POET, SINGER, AND SAINTIN GRAND VENERATION OF THAT, THE ULTIMATE
I NAME A FEW, I REVER YOU ALLAVVAIYAR, ANDAL, MEERA BAI, AKKA MAHADEVI, LALDED
SARADA DEVI, MUKTABAI, SANGHAMITRA, SAINT ALPHONSAMOTHER TERESA
AVVAIYAR, YOU ARE SAYINGWHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED IS A MERE HANDFUL
WHAT YOU HAVEN’T IS THE SIZE OF THE WORLD.MEERA BAI, I HEAR YOU SAY
I SIMPLY FOLLOW MY INCOMPREHENSIBLE ROAD.A RAZOR‐THIN PATH, BUT YOU MEET SOME GOOD PEOPLE,
A TERRIBLE PATH, BUT YOU HEAR A TRUE WORD.AND YOU, LALDED, SAY
IF I CAN HEAR ONE CLEAR TRUTH, I'LL BE FORTUNATE.
YOU ARE THE WORLD OF COMPASSIONYOU ARE THE WOMAN IN PRAYER
YOU ARE THE PRAYERYOU ARE THE WISH FULFILLED
I AM YOU, I AM MEI AM THE SAINT, THE MYSTIC, IN ME IS THE DIVINE POWER
I AM
INDUSTRY AND COMMITMENT
I AM MILLIONS IN INDIASELLING FLOWERS IN FRONT OF TEMPLES
CARRYING VEGETABLES IN HEADLOADS FROM HOUSE TO HOUSEWEAVING, SPINNING,
DISCOVERING NEW DRUGS, DESIGNING CHIPS
I AM OF THESE MILLIONSAN INDRA NOOYI WHO STROVE
FOR THE WORLD TO HEAR MY VOICEWHO AIMED HIGH AND PUT MY HEART INTO IT.
I PUT MY HAND UP SAYING, ABLE BODY, READY TO WORKI CAN SCRUB FLOORS AND ADDRESS BIG ISSUES
I AM OF THESE MILLIONSPROUD TO BE SELF‐MADE, A KIRAN MAZUMDAR‐SHAW
THERE IS SO MUCH LEARNING ALWAYS TO BE DONEFOR I WANT MOST TO BE AN INNOVATORSO THAT THROUGH THE SCIENCE OF LIFE
I CAN SAVE LIFE THAT IS THE EXCITEMENT, THAT THE CHALLENGE.
I AM MILLIONS IN INDIAGROWING FOOD
WORKING WITH MEDICINE, CLOTH, CHEMICAL,STEEL AND SOFTWARE
MAKING OR SELLING EVERY PRODUCTIN VILLAGES, TOWNS AND CITIESWE ARE THE INDUSTRY OF INDIA
ELEVATING LIFE BY CONSCIOUS ENDEAVOUR BY US ARE THE WOMEN OF INDIA SO GREATLY VISIBLE
WE ARE, I AM
MOTHER INDIA
I AM MOTHER TERESAWITH THE CHILD IN MY ARMS
FOR I HAVE FOUND THE PARADOX THAT IF YOU LOVE UNTIL IT HURTS
THERE CAN BE NO MORE HURTBUT ONLY MORE LOVE
I AM THE MOTHER EXULTING IN THE LOVE OF BEING MOTHER
FOR I’M BORN WITH THE CHILDAND THEN I AM MOTHER
I AM SHE BATHING MY LITTLE BROTHER
I AM SHE ON THE GHAT FEEDING THE GOAT
I AM NARGIS, MADE IMMORTAL IN PORTRAYING MOTHER INDIA
THEY SAY A GRAM OF MOTHER INDIAIS MORE THAN A TON OF OTHER COUNSEL
SINCE SHE SPEAKS OF FREEDOM, OF EQUALITYOF EFFORT, OF GRIT, OF PERSEVERANCE
OF COMPASSION
MOTHER INDIA GIVES ROOTSMOTHER INDIA GIVES WINGS
I AM SHE, MOTHER INDIA, I AM MEI AM
THE LABOUR OF LIFE
I AM NOT A STARTHERE IS NO HALO OVER MY HEAD.
FATE, DOES NOT LIKE THE COLOR OF MY EYES.STRUGGLE AND STRIFE ARE OLD FRIENDS OF MINE
WHO AM I?
I AM SURVIVALI AM GUTS, I AM PRIDE.
THE ODDS ARE STACKED AGAINST MEBUT I KNOW THERE WILL COME A TIMEWHEN I WILL STARE THEM IN THE EYE.
AND SMILE THE SMILE OF THE ONEWHO HAS PULLED IT OFF
I AM SHEI WILL HAVE DEEP LINES ON MY FACE
AND I WILL LOOK GOOD, WHEN I LAUGH SOMEDAYBECAUSE, THAT IS THE DAY I WILL FEAR NO FEAR.
AND TASTE SWEAT THAT IS SWEETLOOK BACK FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME AND SAY…
I DID ITI DID IT MY WAY, THE LONG HARD WAY
I AM SHEI AM
BREAKING STONES
I BREAK STONESAND THEN I CARRY THEM
FROM THE QUARRYTO THE LORRY
WE ALL CARRY STONES
STONES OF THE EARTHOR STONES OF FEAR AND FEELING
STONES OF NEED AND WANTSTONES OF CUSTOM, CLASS AND OF ORTHODOXY
OF INIQUITY AND OF INTOLERANCE
BUT WE BREAK STONESWE ALSO BREAK STONE WALLS
WE ARE STONE BREAKERSI AM THEM, I AM ME
I AM
WHAT I MEAN
I BRING THE FARAWAY HORIZON NEAR
BECAUSE I SUMMON IT I AM PROUD AND ERECT FEET ON THE GROUND
UNAFRAID OF EFFORT AND DISTANCE I AM FREE
I AM HERE FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT A WOMAN MEANS
I AM LAUGHTER, I AM MUSIC I AM YOUTH, I AM EXPERIENCE I AM GRACE, I AM ENDURANCE
I AM THE STRIVING, I AM THE GOAL I AM THE PRAYER, I AM SHAKTI
I AM SHE
FROM LOPAMUDRA TO INDIRA FROM KASTURBA TO TEEJAN BAI
FROM SHE TO SHE FROM CHANDBIBI TO BHIKAJI
FROM STONE‐BREAKER TO STAR‐GAZER I AM SHE, I AM SHE
THE CHILD, THE MOTHER, THE LEADER I AM THE WOMAN OF INDIA FROM ETERNITY TO ETERNITY
I AM HERE
FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT A WOMAN MEANS
I AM FREE, I AM