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Definitely an important message for any of our young viewers or older viewers that are going through the academic process. As these demonstrators show us, it is important to focus on issues you care about and allow new information to grow you as a person.
L - Here with us today is the granddaughter of Thataka and daughter of Maricha, Pan. Thank you so much for joining us on Good Morning India today as we tackle the long-disputed topic of Rakshasi oppression.
P - Ha. Ha. Yes. Disputed by some, while most of us have the common decency to value life.
L - Oh. Yes, I misspoke. My apologies.
P - *sighs*
L - I wanted to discuss with you how you got involved in this movement and how you see humans in the journey to Rakshasi equality. But first, would you mind telling our viewers a little about your life story and who inspired you to do all of this?
P - So if you already don't know, which I imagine the majority of you do, my grandmother and father are featured in many iterations of the Ramayana. My grandmother lived in a jungle a little ways away from here and had the misfortune of crossing paths with Rama and his brother Lakshmana. The way you humans have probably heard it is Rama slayed the terrible beast of a woman and the world was better for it. Like. Even when my father's story is told, he is depicted as a coward. Do you seriously think Rama killed his mother and he just ran away to live in solace? No. He was plotting his revenge. He wanted to hurt Rama like he had been hurt. Though there were no witnesses, I know it must have been a great battle and it hurts to know I couldn't have been at his side. Not only do these humans misrepresent my grandmother and father in the stories, but artists have also insulted us. I have seen this one painting of her where she is depicted wearing human skulls around her neck. Like. SERIOUSLY?!
Did my grandmother eat humans? Yes. Am I saying that's okay? No. That was a different time and we have learned how to adapt our diets. What I'm saying is she for sure did not wear human skulls as jewelry or have your blood smeared across her face. I never got to meet her, but I have heard plenty of stories and she was wonderful.
I...
I need a break.
L - Of course. Of course. Alright, we'll take a little break and then maybe when she's ready we'll continue with the interview. So. We'll take it back to you, Sarah, for the time being.
S - I just can't imagine what that young woman has been through. With her grandmother being killed before she could even meet her, and her dad being killed right after? Not only does she have to live with the loss, but they have both been painted as such criminals and low-lifes. As a human, I'll admit I don't know much about Rakshasis or what they go through on a daily basis. We all truly live inside our own little bubbles. Anyways. Let's take it to Dan with the Delhi weather forecast.
S - We've just gotten word from our On the Street team that Lindsay and Pan are ready to get back to the interview!
L - Yes, we're here! I'm so sorry for having upset you, Pan. I'm glad you agreed to continue the interview.
P - I know my grandmother would have wanted me to do this. I need to share what it is like for us. What it's like to live and eat and work while humans barely know we exist beyond the fairy tales. My grandmother was killed, and you call her murderer a hero?? And then my father tries to seek justice for his mother and is just a body in the war-path of Rama?
You asked how I got into this movement? Why I put up with humans on a daily basis? To seek justice. Countless Rakshasi women are abused and murdered every day. These go unnoticed because my kind have stayed in the shadows too long. We have allowed our pride and our hate of humans to keep us from utilizing the advantages you can help us achieve.
L - How do humans help you achieve these things?
P - Did you know that less than ten years ago, Rakshasi women were not allowed to get divorced? They weren't even allowed to seek legal counsel. Human women were a big influence in getting those laws revoked and putting new legislation in place to empower Rakshasis. Beyond the courthouse, they help us feel safe. If I were to march just with my friends and family today, who knows what might happen. The police might come gun us down and even that wouldn't make your little news broadcast. But when some human women show up and start carrying signs, people listen. People see us as more than a monster in their nightmares.
L - Thank you so much, Pan, for your interview today! I know you need to get back and I just want you to know that, from the whole team at Good Morning India, we stand beside you.
P - Thank you. And if you want to support our next march we have an Instagram @Women4Rakshsasis and a GoFundMe to support displaced Rakshasi women.
L - Next we will be meeting with Sita, once the demonstration is over, to cover her journey and the movement from a human perspective.
. . .
Author's Note
I actually had a lot of fun writing this story and picking the ad to go with it. It was a little problematic finding an ad that was in English and didn't have too many references I didn't get. I fell in love with this one because I'm a teacher and it's a very true lesson to learn. Also, it sets the tone of seriousness and insightfulness that I feel the story needs. The one issue I ran into was I knew I wanted Pan to end the interview, but then come back. I was unsure of what to put as a filler, so I put the weather. Although I like this and it keeps the idea of a newscast, it feels awkward to me. I kind of want to move the ad there but I worry some people might think that's the end and move on. Beyond that, I had a fun time writing the story and trying to convey her pain and desire to right all the wrongs. I took a lot from the Missing and Murdered Indigenous movement of which I am well acquainted.
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Ad Courtesy of ~ Epic World
Banner Image Courtesy of ~ Rosemary Ketchum
Weather Image Courtesty of ~ Weather.com
Story Information Courtesy of ~
PDE Ramayana - Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913)
Thataka - Wikipedia
Maricha - Wikipedia
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