GIRLS is a short story written by ”Mrinal Pandey”. It was first published in Hindi weekly “Dharmyug” in 1983 and it was translated to English in “Manushi” in the same year. She was an Indian television personality, journalist, author and until 2009 chief editor of hindi daily hindustan. The story illustrates the scenario of a male dominating world and how female gender is supressed.

About the narrator:

                  The story is narrated by an 8 year old girl, who wrote the poem. she is the second daughter of a middle class family in an Indian society and she is the central character. she was so active, mischievious and notorious as she keeps on asking questions to her family against their culture , myths and often hatred by her mother.

Discrimination: 

                      The girl’s mother was pregnant as 3 girl children and followed by the 4th pregnancy. she hopes that atleast this time she gives birth to a baby boy ,so that she can get rid of the nuisance going through pregnancy. On those days girl child  were not a boon the Indian families.They wanted only a boy.This was so discriminating and a big pressure that every women faced those days.

Women’s were supressed:

                          The girl along with her family goes to their nani’s house for the last months of preganancy. when they reached their nani’s house ,the girl was asked to bend down and touch nani’s feet.The girl tries to do it,but someone says,”Not like that,bend properly.You are born as a girl and you will have to bend for the rest of ur life”.This line clearly explainsthe weird thought that girl childs are born only to serve their family instead going out bravely and achieving their goals .

Nuisance: 

           The girl was always a nuisance to her mom. Whenever she raises questions against the elders ,her mother stops her by scolding.Her mother say’s “She was born only to plague my life” and complains that the girl always turned up at the wrong time and at the wrong place.

Oppression of women by the women:

         This story explains that how women were badly betrayed by the other oner or by the elders.Like ,being a women the narrator’s nani doesn’t want a girl child.when the girl screamed without putting tika on forehead,her maasi said ,”being a girl how she can shout like this”. Those days , even women didn’t understand their same gender’s problems.

Hypocrites:

       On the occasion of CHAITYA SHUKLA ASHTAMI,young girls were worshipped as living incarnations of lord Devi. A tikka of red powder is put on girl’s forehead and nani offered halwa-puris and some money to the participating women.But the little girl totally lost intrest and replied,”When you people don’t love girls ,why do you pretend to worship them”.This shows the attitude of the girl against their families behaviour on womens.

The girl’s thought:

                     The girl’s father had used to say that ,if she worked hard ,she would become anything and the girl wanted to become  a star as dhruva.But she said “but I can’t become a boy,can i?”.this surprised her father and he replied  not to argue with elders.while sitting outside the house watching the birds flying and wishing to be a bird.”Do mother birds too think their girl birds are inferior”.Though she lives in a sorrounding that discriminates girls ,this girl wanted to be bold and live her life independent.

                    The little girl’s cry and anguish at the end of the story gives voice of all the girls in Indian society.it shows the pain of being discriminated. this story expains the inferiority of being a women .

Thanks for reading !! 💙