Travelling back from work after a tiring day, I am desperately trying to juggle my shoulder bag, tiffin bag in one hand and hold on the bar with the other in the local train.
A tap on the shoulder, I turn around, a young 30-year old lady asks “Do you have cancer?”
I am flabbergasted. Now where did this come from?
She is a complete stranger.
“Why?” I ask.
“You look like you are undergoing chemotherapy….. your hair….”
You see I am a woman living in Bombay & yes I have short hair but that does that mean I have cancer!
If I am wearing western clothes and board the ladies compartment in the local train, a crude reminder “This is a ladies compartment why don’t ypu travel in the gents?”
I have been called all sorts of names, my femininity questioned.
My crime – short hair. The length of my hair doesn’t confirm to the Indian standard.
On what basis do we call ourselves educated? I am sure we are living in the 17th century, forget what the calendar says.