“Congratulations, it’s a baby girl! Goddess Lakshmi is born today,”
the young nurse’s voice reverberates
through the bustling hospital corridors.
The father’s eyes brim with tears
as he etches this new life into his heart forever,
yet society whispers with disdain,
“The firstborn should have been a boy.”
Her glistening eyes, innocent face, and warm smile
spark joy in her grandparents' lives.
Yet society’s shadows darken this light, saying,
“Her skin tone defies the norm.”
Her parents open her world with books and dreams,
yet society narrows them down, asking,
“Where are your dolls? The kitchen set?”
As her body blooms with new curves,
her parents teach her to embrace them with pride.
Yet, as she bleeds, society shrouds it in shame,
warning, “Stay away from the sacred; you’re ‘impure.’”
“May I go to my friend’s party tonight?” she asks.
“Yes, but be home on time,” society throttles her freedom,
saying, “Good girls don’t stay out past dusk.”
As she excels in martial arts, her parents cheer for her,
Yet society’s gaze weighs her down, insisting,
“Avoid the sun; why not dance and sing instead?”
Brilliant in her studies, she dreams of cities far and wide,
but the world crushes her hopes, suggesting,
“Stay close; local colleges will suffice.”
“Maa, I am not ready for marriage yet,” she pleads.
“Age will soon be against you, and don’t forget,
men like voluptuous girls and their might,” society retorts.
“I want to work now, not bear children,” she asserts.
The world scorns, “Don’t be selfish; career can pause,
but your body clock won’t reverse.”
“Wear all hats—daughter, wife, mother, daughter-in-law—and excel in every role,”
society commands.
“You’re a woman; bring no disgrace,” it warns.
Her parents remind her,
“It’s okay to falter, break free from every shackle.
Rise and chase your dreams with no restraint.”


To all the girls with dreams untamed:

Soar high and rise above the shadows.
In the world’s cacophony, remember—honour yourself, not because you are named Durga or Lakshmi, but simply because you are uniquely you!