Prasoon Joshi shames the patriarchal society, honours girl child in his hard-hitting verse

Joshi’s poem is a wake-up call to a society that’s guilty of holding its women back. (Source: Facebook- @JoshiPrasoonOfficial)

India finished at the Rio Olympics with only a two-medal tally. And, ironically, in a society that frowns upon the very birth of a girl child, it was women who upheld the honour of the country at the international stage, their performances being the only saving grace in an otherwise disappointing result. Quite rightly, asking of questions is in order. And this is precisely what renowned lyricist and poet Prasoon Joshi does in his poem.

“Are you ashamed now?” being the refrain in the poem, it pricks the conscience of fathers who were reluctant to celebrate their daughter’s birth, shames the society for clipping the wings and fencing their freedom. The poem also condemns the objectification of women’s bodies and severely criticises the shackles of traditions that have prevented women back from realising their true potential. Towards the end, the verse takes on an even more scathing tone for the perpetrators of injustices against women and with refrain now changing to “They deserve to be ashamed”. Joshi ends it with a heart-felt tribute to the girl child, who, against all odds, brought about a new dawn, perhaps a reference to the dawn of female sports in India heralded by the likes of Sakshi Malik, PV Sindhu and Dipa Karmakar.

Joshi’s poem is a wake-up call to a society that’s guilty of holding its women back, with a clear message that it will be the daughters of the country who will take it forward.

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The poem, posted on the poet’s Facebook page, has struck a chord with many and has gone viral.

Check out the poem here.

The poem gave us goosebumps. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.