Sabla | From Silence to Strength

When Maithili Sharan Gupta, a famous Hindi poet, wrote years ago:

“Abla Jeevan Hai Teri Yehi Kahani, Aanchal mein hai doodh aur aankhon mein paani”

(What is the life of a helpless woman — tears in her eyes and a suckling child in her lap),

he had portrayed a rather helpless image of women. That was many, many years ago.

While women have since emerged stronger and achieved everything a man could, atrocities against them have not ended — they have only changed shapes. Society is going through turbulent times where the new woman is breaking barriers, questioning the patriarchal mindset, and evolving into a stronger pillar of society — a change that perhaps makes the chauvinist Indian male insecure.

“Offence is the best form of defense” — this may explain why insecure men commit crimes against women.

This Women’s Day, let’s pledge to celebrate every woman who has found her voice and believes that in a healthy social system she must be respected and regarded as an equal, nothing less, nothing more.

Let’s also pledge to give hope and support to every woman who has been victimized because she refused to compromise her values.

A woman is not “Abla” (helpless), but “Sabla” — one with courage and conviction, strong enough to bring about positive change in society.

चीख़ने, चिल्लाने और रोने से क्या होगा .. ये दाग़ पक्का है इसे धोने से क्या होगा ..

खुल कर बता दो इन्सानी भेड़ियों को .. तेरे होने से क्या होगा, न होने से क्या होगा | – मृदुल प्रभा

धरती पे आ गई है असुरों की फ़ौज़  .. मुझे कई हाथ दे कर दुर्गा तो बना दे  .. मेरी ख़ामोशी को कोई रज़ामंदी न समझे  .. लफ़्ज़ मुझको ऐसे कोई तो सिखा दे | – मृदुल प्रभा

मैं पिंजरे में क़ैद सही, मेरे ख़यालात फिर भी आज़ाद हैं  .. इन पर उसका ज़ोर नहीं, परेशान मेरा सैयाद है | – मृदुल प्रभा

मेरा तन ही तो जला है .. मन अब भी उजला है  .. जीने की चाह भी बाकी .. मंज़िल की राह भी बाकी 

ज़िन्दगी जीने का कहाँ फ़ैसला बदला है। – मृदुल प्रभा

तुम हर बार जीतते रहे गंदी घिनौनी चालों से .. मुठियों को भींच कर, मैं बरसों दर्द सहती रही

पर अब मैं पासा पलट दूँगी .. यह खेल ही बदल दूँगी । – मृदुल प्रभा

❖━━━ ✦ SABLA ✦ ━━━❖

Through 5 Visuals, Sabla Speaks … A Journey from Anguish to Empowerment.

It is our jung … our little something for society.

Thanks to all of you for making “Sabla” possible:

• Ajita Kulkarni – for being the face of Sabla.
• Mridul Prabha – for bringing out the anguish, pain, and determination of Sabla through her powerful writing.
• Jignasa Jadwani – for the idea and for creating the Sabla watermark.
• Pradeep Pednekar Dada – for the impactful make-up.
• Shabirali Patel Bhai – for the generous cooperation during the shoot.
• Prachi More & Swapnil Angre – for their valuable assistance.
• Concept & Photography by Humayunn Niaz Ahmed Peerzaada