Awakening

When I watched the movie “Ladybird”, I was expecting to relate myself to the rebellious teenager of the movie. Strangely though, I was left feeling exasperated when I related more to the mother of the protagonist. After watching this movie, I realised that parents rarely admit their mistakes. It’s very very rare that they even have an insight into how their upbringing, their actions, their gestures, their haughtiness, their words might have a negative impact on their children. Of course no parents deliberately try to hurt their kids but lack of admittance, lack of open communication and lack of insight into the effect they have on their kids can very much instigate silent rebellion in their children. Sometimes their relationship becomes irrevocably sour, often times, it remains indifferent or neutral.  I felt utterly sorry for the teenager for feeling the way most teenagers do. Desperate to get her mothers approval, made to feel ungrateful, struggling to fit in, figh...

This is just scratching the surface and it was absolutely vital that someone started a conversation regarding this. I’ve heard, seen, witnessed and first-hand experienced an unthinkable wrath from Nepali people in Australia towards people who simply choose to end a relationship. Divorce involves two people and therefore it should invariably be their choice and decision, and it should be an amicable procedure just like marriage is (unless there’s abuse and violence involved). But Nepali society, regardless of where they are (be it Australia or Nepal) have traditionally only pointed fingers at women divorcees, thus making it a taint that lasts a lifetime. Divorcees of Nepali decent have been spat on, abandoned and shamed by the intertwined circle of friends and family. Unless and until Nepali people consider the issue of divorce as a normal course of life for couples who deem it irrevocable, question of remarrying cannot be addressed. A society that doesn’t see divorce as a pro...