Dharavi - A different world inside

 

Dharavi – A Different World Inside

Mumbai is a city where anyone can survive. A rich man can enjoy all the luxuries life has to offer, while a poor man can still find a place to live and a simple meal of vada pav to fill his stomach.

That is the magic of Mumbai.

My recent visit to Dharavi made me think deeply about life. I believe this is a place everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. It is more than just a place. It is a school of life.

It quietly teaches us how blessed many of us are—to have a loving family, a roof over our heads, food on our table, and people who care for us.

From the outside, Dharavi looks like just another crowded chawl, something that has always been a part of Mumbai. But the moment you step into its narrow lanes, you enter a completely different world.

Many of the tiny houses, hardly a few hundred square feet in size, are home to large families. To make space, they have built two or even three floors, one above the other. Looking at them, I could not stop wondering how they were still standing. They looked fragile and unsafe, yet they held the dreams of thousands of families.

For many newcomers to Mumbai, Dharavi is the first place they call home. It offers the cheapest way to survive in an expensive city. People arrive with little more than hope and find a place to stay among thousands of others who have come chasing the same dream—a better life.

Some lanes were so narrow that only one person could walk through at a time. In many places, even the afternoon sun could not reach the ground. Electric wires hung everywhere. Open drains ran beside the houses. During the monsoon, sewage often entered the homes on the ground floor. Water pipes passed through these drains, making me wonder how safe the drinking water really was.

The public toilets, shared by hundreds of people every day, were difficult even for a visitor to enter.

And yet...

Life went on as if nothing was wrong.

Children laughed and played in the same narrow lanes. Women chatted with their neighbours. Vegetable sellers called out to customers. Fish vendors and meat sellers carried on with their daily business. People left for work in the morning and returned home in the evening. Life never stopped.

There were shops, restaurants, and small hotels just like anywhere else. Roadside vendors sold everything from snacks to daily essentials, and the narrow lanes were always full of people buying, selling, and going about their everyday lives. It felt busy, lively, and full of energy. But this is not what stayed with me. What touched my heart was something no camera can fully capture.

Dharavi is not just a slum. It is a city within a city.

Dharavi is made up of many small communities. People from different states, speaking different languages and following different cultures, have made this place their home. Each community has its own history, traditions, and skills that have been carefully preserved and passed on from one generation to the next.

There were schools nearby, but many families in Dharavi could not afford to send their children to school. For them, every earning hand mattered. Instead of studying, many children started working at a young age to help support their families.

To bring hope into their lives, social workers came up with a beautiful idea. They converted old buses into small classrooms where these children could learn. Along with basic education, they were taught useful skills, good values, and confidence. These classrooms became a place where they could dream of a better future, even if life had given them very few opportunities.

One thing surprised me the most—we could hardly find any beggars in Dharavi.

The locals explained why. Almost everyone has some kind of work. There is a job for nearly every person, according to their ability. A college degree is not always needed here, but skills are. The more skilled a person becomes, the more they can earn. Even those doing the simplest jobs earn enough to survive with dignity, without having to beg.

That is what makes Dharavi so special. People here do not wait for life to change. No matter how difficult their circumstances are, they live with dignity and keep moving forward.

Every member of the family contributes in some way. Almost every house has a sewing machine, pottery wheel, or materials for work that can be done from home. Women work whenever they can, and even children help after school.

Dharavi is believed to cover around 520 acres of land. It is divided into several different areas, each with its own community, culture, and type of work. Together, these neighbourhoods make up one of the most unique and densely populated places in the world.

 

·       Koliwada – The Fishing Community

As we entered Koliwada, the smell of fish filled the air. Fresh fish were being sold in the market, while rows of fish lay drying under the sun. The colourful houses, fishing boats, and busy fish market gave the place a unique charm and reminded me of Mumbai's rich coastal heritage.

Koliwada is the oldest part of Dharavi and home to the Koli community, the original fishermen of Mumbai. Long before Mumbai became a bustling city, the Kolis lived along the Mahim Creek and depended on fishing for their livelihood. Even today, the community continues to own a small stretch of land along the Mithi River.

Though surrounded by the crowded lanes of Dharavi, Koliwada has carefully preserved its traditions, culture, and close-knit community for generations

·       Kumbharwada – The Potters' Colony

Kumbharwada was one place that truly surprised me. There were many visitors like us, including foreigners, watching the potters at work with childlike wonder.

The sound of the spinning potter's wheel filled the air. Skilled artisans gently shaped a lump of clay into beautiful pots within minutes. Everywhere I looked, I could see pottery at different stages. Some pots were still wet, some were drying in the sun, while others were inside the hot brick kilns waiting to be baked.

Kumbharwada is the famous potters' colony of Dharavi, where generations of potters have been keeping this beautiful craft alive for more than a hundred years. Most of the families came from Saurashtra in Gujarat, bringing with them the traditional art of pottery.

Every home is also a workshop. During the day, it is filled with clay, potter's wheels, and kilns. At night, the same space becomes a place for the workers to sleep. The whole family works together to make clay pots, diyas, cups, and water pots that are sold across Mumbai.

Kumbharwada is a beautiful reminder that with patience, hard work, and skills passed from one generation to the next, a simple lump of clay can become a work of art.

·       Tholwadi – The Leather Community

Tholwadi is the leather-making area of Dharavi. The name comes from the Tamil word Tholu, meaning skin, and the Marathi word Wadi, meaning village. Years ago, this area was allotted to Tamil migrants for tanning animal hides, as it was a dirty, smelly, and highly polluting job. As the city grew and environmental rules became stricter, most of the tanneries were shifted outside Mumbai. Today, Tholwadi is known for leather manufacturing rather than tanning.

As we walked through the narrow lanes, we saw every stage of leather work. Pieces of leather were being cut, stitched, polished, and turned into beautiful bags, wallets, belts, jackets, and shoes. It was amazing to think that some of these products would eventually reach shops across India and even overseas, where people might proudly buy them without ever knowing they were made in Dharavi.

A few small shops displayed the finished products, each one reflecting the skill and patience of the craftsmen.

Like the other parts of Dharavi, every workshop had many purposes. During the day, it was a factory. Meals were cooked in one corner, and at night the same space became a bedroom for the workers.

·       The Garment Area – Where Fabric Becomes Fashion

The garment area of Dharavi is always full of activity. Almost every family is involved in some kind of garment work. Everywhere I looked, there were piles of fabric, people cutting cloth, sewing on machines, doing beautiful hand embroidery, fixing buttons and zippers, ironing finished garments, and packing them for delivery.

Most of the workers are migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, who have brought their stitching and embroidery skills to Mumbai. Every house seemed to have a sewing machine or an embroidery machine. Some specialized in machine stitching, while others created beautiful Aari work, hand embroidery, and bead designs.

One thing that surprised me the most was the level of specialization. No one tried to do everything. Each person focused only on the work they knew best. One person only cut the fabric or leather, another only stitched, while someone else specialized in embroidery, finishing, or artwork.

This division of work made them faster, more efficient, and produced better-quality products. It reminded me that true mastery comes from doing one thing well and doing it again and again.

These tiny workshops are family-run businesses where everyone contributes. The clothes made here are supplied to shops and wholesalers across Mumbai and many other parts of India.

Walking through these lanes, I realized that behind every beautiful dress we wear, there are countless hardworking hands quietly bringing it to life.

·       The Recycling Lanes – Giving Waste a New Life

This was the place I was most curious to see. I had often seen rag pickers collecting used plastic bottles and other waste from the streets of Mumbai, but I had never imagined where all of it finally went.

The answer was Dharavi.

Thousands of rag pickers collect plastic, metal, paper, glass, and other discarded materials from across the city. All of it eventually reaches the recycling lanes of Dharavi, where a whole new journey begins.

Inside the small workshops, the waste is carefully sorted, cleaned, washed, crushed, and converted into tiny plastic granules. These granules are mixed with colours, melted, and turned into raw material for making new products. Sometimes, the coloured granules themselves are packed and sold to factories. Every step requires skill, patience, and hard work. Every lane has a purpose.

Every community has its own story.

Hundreds of small industries run through these narrow lanes, giving work to lakhs of people. Everywhere I looked, someone was busy. Some stitched clothes. Some made leather goods. Others shaped clay, recycled plastic, printed, or created something with their own hands.

Very few people sat idle. Almost everyone earned a living. Men and women worked side by side, and even older children helped their families after school.

Life here is not easy, but people work with dignity, skill, and determination. Many earn enough to support their families, educate their children, and even send money back to their villages.

Their homes may be small, but their dreams are big.

Standing there, I realized something important. From the outside, many people see only poverty.

But when you walk through its lanes, you discover something much bigger—hard work, skill, resilience, and hope.

Dharavi is not built on concrete alone. It is built on millions of hardworking hands that refuse to give up.

That is the Dharavi I will always remember.

Siji

Marayur – A Trip to Remember

I grew up in the High Ranges of Kerala, so I’ve always loved mountains, meadows, and greenery. Even after moving out of Kerala, our trips back home often ended in Munnar, a beautiful hill station with tea plantations. Munnar always gave us peace—it felt like nature's clinic, healing both body and mind.

 Munnar is beautiful in every way. The valleys, the green tea plantations, and the colorful flowers by the roadsides make you forget all your worries. But we didn’t realize Munnar had so many beautiful places nearby—Marayur, Devikulam, Aanakkulam, and more—all within 100 km. You need at least a week to explore everything properly.

 This year, we decided to visit Marayur. It’s known for its sandalwood forests, sugarcane farms, and lovely scenery. It’s not very commercial yet, with only a few homestays and Airbnbs. We stayed at Vana Jyotsna Resort, and it turned out to be one of our best holidays ever!

 The resort is in the middle of a sandalwood forest and is built carefully without harming nature. It’s a beautiful bungalow-style house, neat and well-kept. It has two floors, three bedrooms, two sitting areas, and a kitchen.  The place has lot of space to accommodate people in groups. The best part? The fireplace—our favorite place to relax, chat, and play cards in the evening.

 We were greeted by friendly monkeys, which made the children really happy. They fed the monkeys, and the monkeys happily played around us.

 We instantly fell in love with the place. The resort was built with a lot of care. It had clean goats, hens, turkeys, and even a fish pond with big fish. The kids loved fishing there with the help of Bobychan, the kind caretaker.

 Our favorite spot for tea was the tree house, always surrounded by monkeys. It even had a small room with a bed—my dream place to write. I was amazed to know that no trees were harmed to build it!

 We were lucky to spot some animals too—Giant Malabar Squirrels, a group of deer, and even a few elephants near the property.

 Another interesting place in the resort was a bamboo hall, perfect for yoga, meditation, or small gatherings.

 Bobychan made sure we enjoyed every bit of our holiday. He told us about many adventure activities we could try nearby. One evening, we went for a short trek and had a refreshing bath in a forest waterfall. The cold, fresh stream water was so soothing.

 The resort also had a washing machine, which made it easy to wash and dry our wet clothes. After our bath, the fireplace was already lit. We spent the evening there playing cards, and soon, home-cooked food from a nearby local was delivered. We could order anything we liked and enjoy the local flavors.

 The next morning was even better. We took a walk in the fresh morning air and visited the local church, which had an amazing view of Marayur. After breakfast, we tried rock climbing and went to some nearby viewpoints. Some of us climbed, some couldn’t—but we all had fun trying.

 Bobychan wanted to take us on a long forest trek organized by the forest department, but we didn’t have enough time. Instead, we visited one or two more waterfalls and then drove to Kanthalloor, a nearby village known as the Kashmir of Kerala because of its cool weather. It’s the only place in Kerala with apple farms and rare berries. Their garlic is also very famous!

 We stopped at a farm, bought fresh fruits and vegetables, and visited the Dolmens (Muniaras)—ancient tombs that are over 3,000 years old. On the way back, it started raining heavily, but we still managed to shop a bit in Marayur town.

 It was hard to say goodbye to this beautiful place and Bobychan. But we left with hearts full of memories—and a wish to come back again soon!

 

The Stream That Restarted everyday

The Stream That Restarted everyday 

One of the happiest memories of my childhood is my first visit to my uncle's home in the high ranges of Kerala. 

His house was still under construction. Until it was ready, my uncle and aunt lived in a tiny one-bedroom house with a simple asbestos sheet roof. Life there was not easy. Even water had to be carried from a well a few minutes away. 

They also had a dog named Bruno. 

The first time we met, Bruno barked at me for almost an hour. I thought he would never accept me. But children and dogs become friends very quickly. Within a few days, he became my best friend. In that lonely place, he was my only friend. 

The house was much smaller than anything I had seen before, and for a little while I wondered how anyone could live there. But children don't take long to forget such things. 

Soon I stopped looking at the house and started looking at the world around it. 

There were trees everywhere. Guavas, chikoos, oranges, and many fruits whose names I didn't even know. Every tree invited me to climb it. Every day felt like a new adventure. 

Then one day, I found the greatest treasure of all.

Just about fifty metres from the house was a tiny stream. The water was so clear that people compared it to tears. I had never seen anything so beautiful. I ran back and excitedly showed it to my aunt.

Deep inside, I wished nobody else would find it.

I wanted that little stream to be mine alone.

But my aunt smiled. 

She saw something different. She said it was the perfect place to wash clothes. Together we removed the weeds, cleaned the mud, and made the place beautiful. Soon she started washing clothes there. The water was so pure that she bathed there and even washed the vessels. 

My secret place had become part of our daily life.

Yet I loved it even more. 

From that day, my mornings began beside that stream, and my evenings ended there. Bruno was always with me. I would sit quietly for hours, watching the water flow as if it had nowhere to hurry. 

Every night, before going to sleep, I made the same plan. 

"Tomorrow I will empty the stream." 

Before anyone else woke up, I would run there with a small plastic cup. 

The stream always welcomed me the same way.

Full. Fresh. Alive. 

Sometimes one or two tiny fish would be swimming in the clear water. I tied a bath towel around my neck like a fisherman and tried to catch them. If I caught one, I kept it safely in a bottle for a while. On happy days, I gently released it back into the stream. 

Then my real battle began. 

Cup after cup... Hour after hour... 

I threw the water out with all the strength my little hands had. 

By evening, I would be tired. But the stream never gave up. 

The next morning, it was full again. As if nothing had happened. 

Every single day, it started all over again. 

I could never understand where all that water came from. 

I never defeated the stream. 

When I was twelve, my uncle moved to another place, and I never saw my little stream again. 

Even today, I often dream about removing water from that stream and i wonder whether it is still flowing through those hills. 

As I grew older, I realised that the little stream had been teaching me something I was too young to understand. 

Life will empty us. People will disappoint us.

Failures will drain us. But nature never gives up. 

Every morning, that little stream quietly did one thing. It started again. 

Perhaps that is the greatest lesson of life. 

No matter how much yesterday took away from us, every sunrise gives us one more chance to refill our hearts.....and begin again. 

Siji Thomas

Trekking

The Tulian Lake Trek Experience 

My decision to go for trekking was to do more with proving to myself and fulfilling my bucket list of climbing a mountain before I enter into my 50s,  which I doubted due to my health issues ( diabetics and BP).

It wasn't a random decision to go for the trek , rather a well planned one. My better half ,who is a fitness freak, kept pushing me by advises / instructions / and threats to gear up and prepare myself to run / exercise to be fit enough for the trek. However being brought up in a High Range of Kerala I was over confident that the trek would be a cake walk for me. 

There were many obstacles and uncertainties before we started the trekking.  Our initial plan to do the Tarser Marsar trek had to be cancelled, the subsequent plan to do the Bodhpatri trek also unfortunately had to be called off due to unrest in the valley. By this time only 8 out of the initial 18 trekkers decided to stay back and check for other options .   Finally, the 8 of us along with our trek leader Mr. Dhanjay (DJ) decided to do the Tulian Lake trek by joining  a team of 22.  We thus became a team of 30 trekkers, which included a few families, a few group of friends and a few young lone trekkers, starting the journey together. 

I soon realized that my childhood experience of living in the hills had no relevance of application here .The heights were more steep and there were huge boulders to navigate along . My aging body wasn't finding it easy as I thought it would.  I literally struggled to keep up with the others.  There were people giving advices and suggestions,  however,  my body demanded a rest after about every 100 mtrs. 

I was now miles away from my comfort zone ! I had to deal with frequent urination in the night (due to diabetics) with a more nightmarish experience ,which included coming out of my cozy sleeping bag and using the Bio toilet outside, in this bone chilling cold weather.......a very dreadful experience indeed. Other discomforts viz. sleeping in a Tent, food availability, cold weather didn't help me, and I ended up with  over exertion and air sickness.  To add my misery, I had severe stomach upset which is common due to altitude gaining.   

For the initial two days I couldn't sleep,  however somehow in mornings I would feel charged up and  would decide to trek to our next camp site.  DJ was always helping and encouraging me to do at my own pace. I could feel my sugar going low many times and I had to take sugar to keep things going. There was a strong support from Navin who would always be my side giving the me lots of encouragement & confidence & also with supplies of water & trail snacks . There were a lot of times that I felt I would not be able to see the end product ' Tulian Lake' !

But I finally conquered all my fears and troubles.  The pain I took was worth a million ! Sitting by the Tulian lake I felt proud of myself for choosing to trek.....the feeling was priceless !!!!

My learnings / observations from the trek :

# Family bonding : Many people chose to trek with their family to bond more, I was very impressed with this father son duo who chose to trek when his son came down for a holiday from US ! They both were sick but they took care of each other and completed the trek.

# Friendly atmosphere : People from different age groups and paths of life meet, help and  encourage each other to reach the beautiful destination.  Needless to say the obstacles and fears and worries all shared and dealt with like a family !

# Pushing self : The paths were difficult,  there were valleys , so were the heights, boulders, rivers  with chill glacier water,  steep climbing, narrow paths.  Many places you felt tired, but pushed ourself to the destination.  Nobody could do walk for others !

# Adjusting / accommodating : We had lots of doubts about living in a tent, using a bio toilet etc.  Irrespective of their age, profession and status of life no one had any complaints ! All used the same toilet, all washed their plates and ate the same food which was cooked and served ! A true family feeling.

# The Beautiful Destination : There was beauty everywhere but all had a common destination / Target in mind, 'The Tulian Lake'.  The reach to destination, boosted our confidence and energy level, its like you can now conquer  all the hurdles of life that may come across!

# No fear of judging : No make up, no bath  nor changing of cloths but nobody bothers, nobody judges !

# Socialising :  Many of us were interacting with each other freely, completely unknown to each other made it easy for introverts to share there experiences and views to each other.  We met as strangers but at the end everyone left as friends !

# Counting the stars : There was no electricity, no network, complete disconnection with the rest of the world.  One could count the clear sky full of stars!   Many realization happens , many finds their direction, every little thing now made sense. 

# To be prepared : We all made it to the end.  But people who were fit and fine could enjoy much more unlike ones like me , who were constantly thinking of just reaching the next base camp.  By the time I would reach the  rest point  the fit trekkers were already ready to move and I did not get proper resting while trekking.  Trekking is not a joke, one need to be physically and mentally  fit enough to face the realities.  Most of the trekkers prepared their body to take the pressure by strength training and running excercises  for months.

# Nature Repairs : We find nature in a pure way, the trees, meadows, water falls, birds  etc.  There was music everywhere as chirping of birds and the sound  of water tpuching our hearts and sooth and cure us physically and mentally.  Breathing pure air repairs your body !

Acknowledgement

Thank you India Hikes for this trekking experience.  Special thanks the trek leader DJ who took  a lot of trouble to make every one of us comfortable and happy.  He entertained us well with his games and jokes and we felt home with him !!

All my team members (original and added), it was nice meeting you all. Lets be in touch ! Lets plan our trip together again !

Siji Thomas 

Onam from my memories !

 
Every year we celebrate onam, we make all those same dishes that we are having from ages but still the memory of onam that we celebrated as little kids pop up when we have to talk about onam! 
I remember getting up early morning to collect flowers for 'athapookalam'  (flowerbed) along with the whole group of children in that area..  somehow we never bothered  to take a plastic bag or vessel like a civilised person but was very happy to collect it in our home wear ...  Somehow I always found the 'kamalapoo ( red and yellow flower with a different shape which wud found only near the river ) the best! 

After the 'Atthapookalam' the group would proceed to have a bath in the river... This is strictly prohibited for me so I would patiently wait watching the others in my comfirtable seat a huge rock near the river ... Somehow the process of washing clothes n bath would end only around 12..

We would convinse Papa about the jula and few days in advance he would make a jula in the close by coffee (indeed it was too small) tree.. After few years it was in a jackfruit tree, as we grew our jula also became bigger.

Before wearing the new dress i would always scan the kitchen to see if all my favourite dishes are in place... The smell of avial some how never allowed me to move without tasting! 

Lunch is usually at our neighbours house but still mom would make aviyal and things so that 'maveli' wont  be disappointed !

Eating in leaf with such a lot of dishes, hoo, its a feeling I can't forget! Them taste of the food which is made by 'chellamma chechi' I still have it in my tonge...

  Then its d  convinsing time to allow us to go  the most awaited programmes  at the nearby house 'aashan' .. Both of them knew well how we wanted to go for the programme but they put conditions ... The agony that we went through ! Ho, we managed it most of the time but few times I remember going without permissions too..

All dressed up so well specially ladies  with  mallu sari with lots of flowers in their hair.. Then entire area, all families would end up joining them..

There would be a very long 'jula' where in we need to be in que.. An amazing experience ... Though it's meant for big people  mani chettan would allow us for few minutes !

One side ladies will have some program, kaikottikali, thumbithullal and lots of fun activities.. One fellow would dress up like  puli (cheetah ) and will have pulikali.. Lots of competitions!

An amazing experience altogether!   Haven't seen onam in Kerala for last 25 yrs may be the things would have changed but somehow my memory reminds same! 

Freedom of speech !

Hats off to Ms. Shreya Singhal! I remember looking at the photo of the young girls (ms. covering their face when they got arrested for commenting on Bal Thakray's death and the subsequent 'bandh' on FB.... I couldn’t justify the act of the young girls  being arrested and making a big news about it.. The police and media pictured them as they have done a murder!

Everyone around knew well that, it was not a crime the girls did, it was indeed a normal comment any other person like you and me did!    The history repeated when the system arrested university professor for forwarding on cartoon of Mamtaji then it was turn of the cartoonist Aseem Trivedi...

All these were normal comments where a normal person can never find fault with... but such incidents creates a very long block in our minds... many times we feel like expressing our opinions in fb or twitter on many of the injustice and malpractices we come across… but we get scared !  We don’t want to be the next victim in any case..

Tasleema Nasreen wrote openly about the life in Bangladesh and her books are being banned in India.. I read the book and I felt the same is done well with facts, but somehow the system says it’s against the law so the books are being banned!

Freedom of speech is something that will  benefit each one of us...  we are free to express our voice against the injustice or any sensational subjects without any block! We all know well that we need d freedom to express.. Many times we know d law need to be amended but we wanted somebody else to fight for our right!

I should say Ms. Shrya took the  courage to file a complaint against the system.. may be the subject she is learning 'law' give her the knowledge and support... but d question is how many have already learned  and passed  out this law... why only Shreya responded ?  Am sure there would have been obstacles on her way  but the girl was determined to fight against the injustice.. The question of courage comes herein.. There is no doubt Shrya is going to be one if the best lawyer coming up ! One person who would fight for justice!

Again there is going to be flows on d amended law..  bad people who would misuse the subject.. but let’s hope for the best...

***

The world of woman !!!

Lot has written about woman.... her happy side.. her sad life, there is nothing that left to write !

My question here is 'r u happy to be a woman?? I ask this question often to myself..n my answer varies each time as per d mood.. when i am low in my spirit i just don't like my life... i only look at d negative side of it...  but at d same time when i am happy i just love to be a woman..

What makes an woman happy ??  The number of forward messages indicates its difficult to please a woman... but to be frank every little thing that you do or the efforts that you put from d heart is enough to make her smile...

Her role is quite big.. being a daughter is d most precious days of a lady.. though she realizes it much later..  whatever the circumstance at home she is being well taken care of (90 percent of d households)..  she is her fathers favorite all the time..  she has her group of friends who support her days of thick and thin..

She has this imagination Marriage is the happiest moment of her life... but soon she realizes  there is lots of responsibilities attached to  her marital life!  She tries to please everyone around sacrificing  her likes n dislikes..

She ignore d discrimination... she learns to accept that though they come from office together... tired.. she is supposed to serve  water and tea for her husband and she does it obediently..

This is d story of a middle class woman.. though she  manages all her responsibilities well she never get d appreciation she is due for...

Though my life is easy  and  am lucky to have a husband who appreciate me ignoring my short comings.. i come across with woman who really take the pain to meet the ends.. she works like a servant to please her in-laws and husband but always end up hurting..  the more efficient she tries to be the more responsibilities she gets and d most hurting part is a mom inlaw who was also a daughter inlaw  once has to do lot with this desperation ! 

Her daughter gets a helping hand from her husband 'she got a very good husband' at the same time her son tries to support her daughter in law 'i never allowed him any such thing... look at her how she is treating my son" Can  d daughter inlaw be happy being a woman ??

most of the cases the daughter inlaw gets to return what she got on a later date and we see in families the daughter inlaw - mom inlaw fight and few of the times the elder lady is thrown out to old age home? who is responsible for all these??? a woman herself ! 

i know one lady who is harassed by her boss but  not able to stop his dirty comments and unwanted  talks... she is scared to complain fearing for her job .... if at all try try to make an objection or complaint expecting her female friends to help her out,  most of d time ladies (including her trust worthy friends) turns and bitch about her and she ends up hurting herself.. do you expect her to be happy  here ?

 
I know many woman who was misused by  trust worthy boyfriends .. and still get scared to hitch in life... dead scared to fall in love again...

The woman gives her soul to put her family together.... children and her husband means her world.. in the process she never have time for herself... she doesn't have time / or don't care to worry about her looks...  she turns fat and ugly... and today, we really see d family tearing apart with an extra marital affair of her husband... Are these woman supposed to believe in love  again ?? are they supposed to love their life ??

We celebrate woman's day once in a year... talk about all equality but even at home a  woman is not given d 

required respect... most of d places though they prove that they are noting less than the men around the preference is always being given to the men..

Without a woman a family is incomplete... her role is too big.. daughter.. sister.. wife.. daughter inlaw..  mother.. mother inlaw.. grand mother.. all depends on 'her'..

The only thing she ask is bit of respect in d family.. in d office.. a bit of appreciation about what she does... she has her limitations.. accept it or ignore it...

Love and  help the woman around yourself rather than bitching their short comings... we  woman can make a difference to woman around... lets work on that ! Let us support each other !