Woman, her charm and pride

by Siripathy Jayamaha

Human beings can never speak of women without bowing their heads in gratitude to three of the most greatest of women who walked on mother earth. They, as mothers gave to the world three sons whose words on Karuna, Meththa, Forgiveness, Submission, Love and Peace lifted the minds of mankind to do ‘good.’

Woman is nature's or God's most consummate of creations. She is always with us. She brings us into being. We are cradled in her arms. She guards us with devotion. We may look plain, but she sees beauty in us. Yes! To the mother of the scary looking Tasmanian monster her offspring are the prettiest. A woman will sacrifice comfort, sleep, food-actually her life to serve us.

Woman has been a part of the world, with the human race from the beginning of time. She is by no means a man's source of recreation. But the sagacious citadel of procreation. A woman's constant and unwearied ministry is that makes the world ‘Home’ the sweetest in the world. She is our guardian from cradle to grave. A woman carries a quiver full of love and peace laced arrows.

Smiling matron

We walk back with time. A smiling matron carries a babe. It a girl she cooes, while placing it in the pink laced cot. All in raptures. A woman began to be suckled by another woman. Another addition to feminine gender with the famous 64 of you know what. She grows up in a cosy cauldron of gossip where “with every world a reputation falls,” make up, fashion and dolls. A mischievous little alfin.

From an unforgettable childhood to the vivacious adulthood she likes to imitate the mother. Also the ‘real star’ artistes appearing in the large and small screens. Pampered by a doting ‘thaththa’, whose dreams are shared with ‘Amma.’ Beautiful dreams about the future of their angel.

Then education become happy memories. Trophies for achievements in class and in the sports field. Begins to think of the future.

A proposal or a sweet love affair ends with the wedding. A lovely white saree, exquisite jewellery, a heavenly bouquet of white flowers, she walks with her spouse, clad in stylishly tailored dark suit. A slight digression- “Thaththa why do brides always wear white?” “Because duwa, white signifies purity.” “Thanks.”

“Amma, then why do bridegrooms wear black?” Amma was silent. A women will fly away from the home of her parents to build a new home or nest amidst embraces, tears, confetti and waves. We remember with nostalgia the song of Mignnone Fernando “Kadallay....” and Pro Carlo Fonseka's “Raththaran Duwe....”. Then these woman's thoughts on the words of Leon Uris in his masterpiece ‘The Egyptian’ quote: “The greatest gift a woman can give to a man is her innocence, which she can give only once.”

The woman goes to live with another woman. The husband's mother. The duel of the in-laws is common the world over. Truly if a woman can remember that once she was a daughter-in-law and the other will one be a mother-in-law, then surely that abnoxious word ‘in-law’ could be deleted from the dictionary.

The woman as a sister become a symbol of care for her younger members of the family. Along with an understanding spouse, she helps them in no mean measure. A woman as a sister becomes a mother, to others under her wings. Now history repeats itself.

Pain and joy

The woman is in labour. Pain mingles with joy. How true ‘Le kiri karala.’ The family grows. The woman takes over. She keeps the home fires burning. In short she becomes the “home central bank.” She washes her wedding ring thrice a day – morning, noon and night in dish water to keep the family in good health. The woman as a mother is ever alert to the needs of the family.

Who keeps – awake to take the temperature and administer antibiotics? The woman, attends to the laundry work, in keeping the house clean and in keeping the children under her watchful and affectionate care. At times, running around with soot and tear filled eyes brandishing the ‘Pol katu handha’ (coconut shell ladle). Most important of all, the woman as mother is there to take the family upto the altar of the beautiful teachers in whom they believe. Prayers and thanks for all the sweet favours received.

A woman as a professional and heroine. We cannot forget Countess Cinchona who showed that a bark of a tree could yield quinine, the bitter medicine for the malaria infested world of yester year. Madam

Curie gave us Radium, Florence Nightingale became an institution when her caring for the afflicted in war, armed with a lamp ushered in the world, caring angels in caps.

The indispensable nursing sisters yes she helped the woman medical specialist. Grau Darling helps her father by waving a lantern, guiding the ships to sea when the light house lamp fails to give light Maria montessori gave the toddlers an unique system of understanding ABC and 1,2,3.

Immortal authors

Immortal authors, whose works have been translated to many languages. Daphne du Mauriers. The Birds Rebecca, Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice, Margaret Mitchells, Gone with the wind Rachel Carsons ‘Cry my beloved country’ and Henrywoods ‘East Lynne – made into film in Tamil in “Thaai Ullam”, can we forget these women of greatness.

Now, we remember and salute one of the noblest of women. Queen Viharamahadevi who bequeathed to us a noble and brave king who, from his heroic and meritorious deeds showed his righteousness by decreeing that all who pass the tomb of a very just king whom he had slain in battle should pay their to his royal apparent. A wonderful son of an outstanding woman and mother of stature.

Our women in this little gem of an Isle were given the honour of using their franchise.

They could vote. This was in the 1930's long before many other countries thought it fit that there women who keep them and all mortal beings in the cosy confines of their water bags for nearly 264 days, were eligible to vote.

We astounded the world. A Guinness Record which made Madam Tusseuds wax works in London to erect a model. The model of the first ever elected woman Prime Minister of the world. Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike of then Ceylon.

We created a precedent. Some say “woman thou art frailty”. A fallacy. She will be there ad-infinitum. The hand that rocks the cradle shall rule the world in her own in imitable way.