The silent gender revolution
Mind is a powerful weapon. It can break down barriers, conquer the unconquerable and turn the impossible into possible. History is testimony to how ideas in its nascent stages have had revolutionary impacts. In the small village of Piplantri in Rajasthan, one man, armed with an idea to break gender stereotypes proposed an initiative to plant trees for every girl child born in the village. The then village chief, Shyam Sundar Paliwal, spearheaded this movement, which has now been termed as eco-feminism.
India has progressed in many fields, yet one of the greatest tragedies of a country that prides itself on being the world’s largest democracies is the patriarchal system gushing through the veins of its society. The country has made tremendous progress since its independence, but a large section of the society still hasn’t evolved in their thinking.
The brutality of gender inequality in India is not a new a story being brought to light. The Indian society has been a victim of gender inequalities for centuries. For a nation that claims to have let go of its antediluvian thoughts, the headlines of newspapers narrate a different story. Reports of rape, domestic violence and sexual assault against women often stir up the nation but not much has been done by the Indian government. Every time a gruesome incident is reported, the nation mourns the victim’s death.
They are numbed with grief and shock by the act of unimaginable cruelty in populated urban areas where locals have failed to reach out and help the victims.
Women in India don’t seem to have equal rights as men. While the law doesn’t see a disparity, it is the mindset of the people that is responsible for this growing injustice. Female foeticide is still prevalent in many regions of the country, as girl child is considered to be a burden to the family. But challenging this mindset is the village of Piplantri that is fighting its way through the prejudice against women. The residents of this village are working towards breaking the traditional barriers associated with girls and their place in the society.
This Rajasthani village established a custom in 2006 under the leadership of the then village chief who proposed the idea of planting 111 saplings for every girl child who took birth in their village. In a state where female foeticide is on the rise, the villagers collaborated and pledged to take forward the idea that has now shaped into a tradition that is followed by each villager. Today, the birth of a girl child is celebrated by not only the family but also everyone else who has been working together over the past nine years.
In this silent gender revolution, the villagers not only plant saplings but also undertake the responsibility of nurturing these saplings. To further eradicate the issue of female foeticide, parents and villagers contribute towards a fund that is raised to secure the future of the girl child. A fixed deposit account is opened under the name of the child. Rs. 31,000 is contributed by the panchayat and villagers. And in order to ensure that the money is used for the girl, the fixed deposit matures only after 20 years. But it doesn’t stop there. Parents are asked to sign an affidavit promising that they won’t marry off their daughter before she turns 18, provide her with proper education and take care of the saplings regularly.
In an age when a girl child is still considered to be a burden to the family in many parts of Rajasthan because of the prevailing dowry system, the fixed deposit acts as a safety net for the family and the girl. This unique custom offers a refreshing change in the attitude towards women in a country where violence against women is common, where a girl child is deprived of proper education and where young girls are married before their legal age.
The other side to this practise ensures a greener future for the village. The saplings that have been planted since 2006 have helped the villagers build a sustainable environment. To avoid the attack of termites, seeds of aloevera were sown in the area surrounding the trees, which now act as a source of income for most families.
In an age when human acts are hindering the growth of a sustainable environment, when forests are being cut down to make way for concrete walls, this village sets an exceptional example. Their distinctive efforts have enabled a greener and secure future for the village. When environment protection seems like a lost cause for the rest of the world, this remote village is bringing about a revolutionary change. They stand testament to the fact that it is not about how technologically advanced you are, it is the mindset that needs to undergo a change, especially in a country such as India.
Mind is a powerful weapon. It can break down barriers, conquer the unconquerable and turn the impossible into possible. History is testimony to how ideas in its nascent stages have had revolutionary impacts. In the small village of Piplantri in Rajasthan, one man, armed with an idea to break...
Mind is a powerful weapon. It can break down barriers, conquer the unconquerable and turn the impossible into possible. History is testimony to how ideas in its nascent stages have had revolutionary impacts. In the small village of Piplantri in Rajasthan, one man, armed with an idea to break gender stereotypes proposed an initiative to plant trees for every girl child born in the village. The then village chief, Shyam Sundar Paliwal, spearheaded this movement, which has now been termed as eco-feminism.
India has progressed in many fields, yet one of the greatest tragedies of a country that prides itself on being the world’s largest democracies is the patriarchal system gushing through the veins of its society. The country has made tremendous progress since its independence, but a large section of the society still hasn’t evolved in their thinking.
The brutality of gender inequality in India is not a new a story being brought to light. The Indian society has been a victim of gender inequalities for centuries. For a nation that claims to have let go of its antediluvian thoughts, the headlines of newspapers narrate a different story. Reports of rape, domestic violence and sexual assault against women often stir up the nation but not much has been done by the Indian government. Every time a gruesome incident is reported, the nation mourns the victim’s death.
They are numbed with grief and shock by the act of unimaginable cruelty in populated urban areas where locals have failed to reach out and help the victims.
Women in India don’t seem to have equal rights as men. While the law doesn’t see a disparity, it is the mindset of the people that is responsible for this growing injustice. Female foeticide is still prevalent in many regions of the country, as girl child is considered to be a burden to the family. But challenging this mindset is the village of Piplantri that is fighting its way through the prejudice against women. The residents of this village are working towards breaking the traditional barriers associated with girls and their place in the society.
This Rajasthani village established a custom in 2006 under the leadership of the then village chief who proposed the idea of planting 111 saplings for every girl child who took birth in their village. In a state where female foeticide is on the rise, the villagers collaborated and pledged to take forward the idea that has now shaped into a tradition that is followed by each villager. Today, the birth of a girl child is celebrated by not only the family but also everyone else who has been working together over the past nine years.
In this silent gender revolution, the villagers not only plant saplings but also undertake the responsibility of nurturing these saplings. To further eradicate the issue of female foeticide, parents and villagers contribute towards a fund that is raised to secure the future of the girl child. A fixed deposit account is opened under the name of the child. Rs. 31,000 is contributed by the panchayat and villagers. And in order to ensure that the money is used for the girl, the fixed deposit matures only after 20 years. But it doesn’t stop there. Parents are asked to sign an affidavit promising that they won’t marry off their daughter before she turns 18, provide her with proper education and take care of the saplings regularly.
In an age when a girl child is still considered to be a burden to the family in many parts of Rajasthan because of the prevailing dowry system, the fixed deposit acts as a safety net for the family and the girl. This unique custom offers a refreshing change in the attitude towards women in a country where violence against women is common, where a girl child is deprived of proper education and where young girls are married before their legal age.
The other side to this practise ensures a greener future for the village. The saplings that have been planted since 2006 have helped the villagers build a sustainable environment. To avoid the attack of termites, seeds of aloevera were sown in the area surrounding the trees, which now act as a source of income for most families.
In an age when human acts are hindering the growth of a sustainable environment, when forests are being cut down to make way for concrete walls, this village sets an exceptional example. Their distinctive efforts have enabled a greener and secure future for the village. When environment protection seems like a lost cause for the rest of the world, this remote village is bringing about a revolutionary change. They stand testament to the fact that it is not about how technologically advanced you are, it is the mindset that needs to undergo a change, especially in a country such as India.
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