The birth of a girl child ‘Jethi’ was not a happy moment for the family. Her grandparents and father were very disappointed by her birth and they absolutely hated her because they were expecting a boy. Only her mother loved her because she had seen the same things in her childhood. She made every possible attempt to take time for her daughter and feed her. But, her mother-in-law made her busier in her work so that she could not make time for Jethi. Even if Jethi was crying, no one made any attempt to see what she required and why was she crying. It was only after her mother had completed her work that she could feed her and gave her time.
This excessive love given to Jethi was not bearable for her father and she would beat her mother without any reason. So, the life of Jethi’s mother is a highlight of the life of a woman in the 19th century. As she grew up and became about 3 years old, she started running about and also talks a bit in her childish manner. Whenever his father would play with her brother, she would run to her father to express her love for him, but he would scold her instead and tell her to go away. Her grandmother would push her back whenever Jethi even came closer to her.
Jethi would feel extremely hurt and cry for a very long time without receiving any sort of consolation from anyone. The small child, even after receiving such an improper behaviour from had a lot of love and respect for her family. By, the age of 7, Jethi was forced to help her mother around in the family chores and learn how to cook food, clean the house and serve the members of the family as it would help her to adjust to the needs of her in-laws after her marriage. She had to get up at 5am in the morning, complete all the tiring works and go to bed at about 12 AM at night.
She was not allowed to sleep in between the daytime. She was made to work very hard and when she questioned her parents on this, they would tell her that she would lead a tougher life after marriage, which would install a fear into her minds regarding marriage. At the age of 12, Jethi was married to a 33 year old man who was a father of 3 and whose wife had passed away. She was not aware of what was happening in her life. All the while she had to cover her face. She had to follow the religious customs and traditions that were prevalent during marriage. She didn’t even see the face of the person with whom she was married.
Since, her parents were poor and had the burden of her 6 brothers and sisters, they married her to the person because of which they didn’t have to pay dowry. Suddenly from a 12 year old little girl, she became the mother of 3 children. After marriage, her life had become worse than before. She had to work hard alone in performing the household works. Get up early, work hard to fulfil the demands of her in-laws, have food after everyone has, take care of 3 children, and sleep late at night after everyone in the house has slept; this was the daily life of a tender age of 12 years.
As time passed by, she turned 18. But, time had become worse and worse. She was already the mother of 3 and now she was the mother of 3 more. She had to face the criticism of giving birth to two daughters out of 3 children; she had no option but to keep quiet. She had the same love and affection for all the three children but she had to keep to the differences present in the society between boys and girls. In her house, the boys were given more rights than the girls and she had to quietly watch everything going on. Life had planned many more challenges for her.
Her husband expired when she was only 20. At this small age, she was made a widow. A widow is considered to be the most impure thing in Hindu culture. She has to wear just a white saree without any jewellery and ornaments. She was not supposed to attend any sort of cultural or religious or any sort of function. She has to sleep on the floor on a mat, things that she eats is also restricted to very little, she has to depend on someone else for her children’s needs, she had to compromise on everything because she was dependent on someone else.
She could not fulfil her own needs. Jethi had to face the similar consequences. Her life had become very miserable. Jethi’s parents were unwilling to accept her back as they thought that she will bring her bad fate to their house also. Jethi very often thought of committing suicide but she had the responsibility of 6 children. After many years, when her children were getting married, she could not attend the functions or perform any sort of task.
