She lives in the Netherlands now, but Sangita Khadka is originally from Nepal. ‘A country where menstruation is seen as taboo and ‘chaupadi’ is still practiced in rural areas.’ This, among other things, inspired her to write this beautiful poem: My Red Blood.
– POEM BY SANGITA KHADKA –
Drop by drop
Wrapped in a dignity which signifies me as a woman
Me and my Red blood……………..
Some gave it identity of ‘Untouchable’
Some said it as gross and ‘Unbearable’
But for me it is my proud red blood
It is my Red blood………………….
The first drop of my red blood made my friend ran away
He felt disgusted and I was bullied
Nobody understood my Red blood
A boy was bleeding through a cut of knife
He also had a red blood
I was bleeding through my menstrual cycle
I also had a red blood
But nobody understood my red blood…………….
I had a stomach ache and was dying from a pain
Instead of understanding my menstrual cramps,
They put me in a separate room and told me not to touch anything,
I asked why, and they gave me a reason of God
That time literally, I felt insane
Let me tell you, how proud I am of my red blood
Woman I am today, is all because of my red blood
Hey you! How proud you are to be born as one
Don’t forget you were also born because of the same red blood……………….
It is a life-giving blood, a holy blood
Don’t you dare to say, It is gross
You were screaming, crying and fully wrapped in same red blood when you came out of
the womb during your birth
My red blood is a river of passion,
A light of sun and moon
Drop by drop
It creates both men and women
An equality we talk about today, my red blood helps to create that in form of birth of men
and women
Wrapped with proudness and dignity
Me and my Red blood.
About the author
Sangita Khadka (Nepal/NL) is a social inclusion facilitator, human rights activist, freedom fighter soroptimist and feminist. She was chosen as most inspiring Twente woman in 2020 (Twente is a region in the Netherlands). Sangitha is a volunteer for Kiran Fund, an NGO that supports the poorest childeren in Nepal by providing scholarships and trainings. She’s also a member of Soroptimist International, a global volunteer movement, advocating for human rights and gender equality. ‘I live in The Netherlands now, but I am originally from Nepal. A country where menstruation is seen as taboo and ‘chaupadi’ is still practiced in rural areas. In my own personal experience, I also have gone through taboos and stereotypes from society. That is why I want to make people aware through my writings and by advocating them.’ You can follow Sangita via Twitter and Instagram.
Read also:
More about chaupadi: Meanwhile in Nepal
More about menstrual taboos in Nepal: Pandemic hinders period progress
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