Bharatnatyam and Patriarchy.

Shishir always had a liking towards Bharatnatyam and had left his CA studies for the same.He came from a very orthodox family and decision was not much appreciated in his family.Apart from all the odds,he thought to himself he would not give up upon the artform.

He wanted to move out from Gwalior,a much smaller city in comparison with the metropolitan city.

He decided to open a dance academy of his own,short on investment he found a place that was originality the old garage of his house which was of no use since ages.People,friends,neighbours and family everybody would mock at his idea of belief.However,Shishir was very adamant in what he wanted from life.

He sold of his scooty in order to have a fund for his classes and pamphlets of the same.

On the days that followed,he would stand outside schools and distribute the pamphlets to them,some would take them others would not even look at him.

Sometimes he did it outside parks,the mall and gardens too.

One day,he was called for a lucky strike when a group of 5 students actually enrolled themselves in his class.

They were the students who wanted to perform at the annual function of their school but were very rudely said a no.

The dance teacher looked at them with the doubtful eyes as people used to look at Shishir.The guru shishya had something in common!

Shishir started to train them and though he was an expert in bharatnatyam he had his bet on many other dance forms too.

Bharatnatyam was an inheritance of his grandmother,he wore her ghungroos once;aged 7;and never took them off!

Coming to the present,students learnt a lot more from him than just dance,how he never gave up on himself and the courage he had to persue his passion when everybody was against.

Few days later,the students went upto their dance teacher in the school and requested her to spare a second chance for the annual day.

The teacher gave heartiest laugh but then maybe she was free,so she agreed.

The song was put and they began to take there positions.Soon after,the room was filled with students clapping and applauding for them.The teacher though had a sadistic face upon realising that she had been defeated by her thoughts,not much to say she just had to select them and it was decided that of all the performances there has to be one of it by the students.

On the day of the function,Shishir Sir sat on the chair 13 K with hands put across the handles of the chair and eyes glued on the stage,watching his students perform in happiness!

On that day,his students got a prize and he his classes were enrolled with new names.

Then more,and more and more students!

Now he had 50+ students and very determined ones.

He would shower his much learned moves,experience and knowledge to his students with great honesty.

His parents who were completely against the idea of his dancing feet were now proud of what their son was.

But as you gain popularity,people have better,best,bad,ugly,good,bad and worst to say and discuss about you.

And Shishir was no differently treated,first for his supposedly stupid of decision of carrying out dance classes and then his masculinity.

Shishir was a man,but a man with grace,poise,someone who was soft spoken than many of his girl students,an admirer and filled with emotions to an extent that he cry without giving a single thought about who is surrounding him at that time.

But this is good right?what if he is a man who is crying?what if he is a MAN who has poise?

Everything is right in his eyes but not in people’s.

Talks started to happen about how “unmanly” he was.How he used to walk,talk and dress.Not much much time ahead and people would talk about how he breathes!

He was labelled “other” just because he teaches dance.

Even though he was happy,successful and passion driven person people had doubts about his sexuality and none of the above mattered to them,some of his students were under the same category too.

Not everyone who behaves softly is a gay,is he?

Or not every gay is “soft”,is he?

So to behave and replicate which is completely normal humane,men have to be “abnormal”?Really?

Men certainly have more issues than women!

Today,in these times we talk about equality between men and women,how women should be provided with opportunity to prove themselves,how they should not be put under certain barriers but what about men?

There are much says about how men should be,the patriarchy doesn’t only bother the opposite sex but also men to live,behave and let live in a certain prescribed way!

And if they behave differently about how they feel they are in radar for their identity?

Modern India is providing voice to women.,platform to be what they want to be,but what about Men?

They say it to be a Male dominated society but has anyone given credits to a man who cries?who doesn’t smoke or drink?They aren’t just allowed to be simple,humble and behave what they feel like,and are judged upon by their own gender the most.

The equality issues are as deep on both the sides,the language must be different but the chapters of the book of life are the same.

The pressure of Feminism,Man dominancy and Patriarchy is not just confined to women but also men.The country would stand hands in hands on the day the barriers are broken for all the genders nationally!

As for Shishir Sir,he did find a girl of his choice and much to the society’s surprise,got married.

Today,he has a family and huge bank balance by doing what he loved and still do!

People however,continue to judge him like they used to do years ago,he was still a dance teacher and he still is one,a popular one.https://www.bustle.com/articles/124983-6-ways-the-patriarchy-is-harmful-to-men-because-feminism-isnt-just-for-women