Page 246 - Communication Processes Volume 3 Communication Culture and Confrontation

From Grindmill Songs to Cultural Action 221

now I am convinced that your animation work is useful to the village.
You were using our tradition.’ We told her, ‘It is not your fault. You
have never been exposed to any other type of gathering and any other
type of thought process. That is why you objected. If you are convinced
yourself, you can join us and start attending our meetings and gather-
ings.’ Since some months now, she regularly attends our meetings.
In yet another village a women’s meeting was going on. Some
adolescent girls peeped in and slowly entered the room. Immediately,
the elder women scolded the girls and wanted to drive them out. We
remembered one grindmill song:

Born a girl, you are too effervescent,
The earth implores pity: ‘Step lightly, my child.’

We quoted this song and commented upon how, ’We are taught to
repress girls. In our meeting, we have to think of the reasons behind
it.’ We continued on the subject and women participated.

Childhood is a kingdom, the best kingdom among all kingdoms
Let youthfulness be burnt! Youthfulness stands guilty.

Talking openly of girls’ socio-cultural repression goes against prevail-
ing normative culture, but the women liked the discussions and as
a result remained in contact with us since then. It appears that they
appreciated the method that we followed as well as the content of the
meeting.
When we use grindmill songs, the women participants go on singing.
We then try to make use of those songs that may help us put forward
some analytical or critical points. For example, we use the following
songs:

What fool decided that a woman’s life should be?
At her parents’ or at her in-laws’ she labours for life like a bullock.

A woman’s life! If I’d known, I wouldn’t have been born,
I’d have become a plant of sacred basil at god’s door.

We continue asking questions: Why do we regret our own birth?
What, then, about our existence? How does society ask us to work like