Musings

As I sit and think about
The people who are dead and gone
I think of their possessions scattered
I think of their sons gone away
I ask them in my mind
Where are the castles that you built
Where are your talks and your plans
Where are your triumphs and failures
Your good deeds remain behind you
In somebody's memories today
But if you left behind only evil
Nobody remembers you today
Your sons have gone to live away
Your spouses may have remarried
The world doesn't stop for anyone
And everyone is replaceable
And then I think of the futility
How much this world is a waste
It charms us with its glamour
But one day it will fade away
If I leave behind a good deed
It may benefit me in hereafter
Other than that whatever I do
Will be blotted out forever
If I save my soul with some goodness
I may think of some salvation
But this world is just a trial
To get out of it as safe as I can

End FGM

A young 17 year old has lost her life due to excessive bleeding during an illegal female circumcision in Egypt. While Egypt has made female circumcision illegal way back in 2007, such practices continue illegally even today. Female circumcision is a cultural practice in Africa and some parts of Asia to ensure fidelity of a woman. In some parts it is mandatory before marriage. This cultural practice has forced itself into religion in African countries and is now treated as a religious practice. Female genital mutilation is not a religious practice and has no benefit to any person. It is a tribal practice to keep women under male dominance. Along with the breast pressing practices of Africa, it comes as a false way of dominating a woman and restricting her choices. Female genital mutilation prevents a woman from leading her life to her full potential, adding pain, suffering and increased chances of infections. Though a number of women and activists are coming forward against such barbaric practice, the instant case clearly shows that the law against it is ineffective and it requires greater efforts in preventing it. Even though the particular hospital has been closed, it makes apparent the fact that there might be many other hospitals during illegal procedures. There is a need for greater scrutiny of hospitals and healthcare professionals, of educating young women about their rights and of easy access to law enforcement agencies for preventing such activities. Female genital mutilation is an evil that needs to be curbed by a combined domestic as well as international effort.