Ladies Playing Cards by B Prabha and The Female of the Species by Gauri Deshpande

This week in Daak:

1. Ladies Playing Cards by B Prabha

2. The Female of the Species by Gauri Deshpande

3. Poetic Reminders

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1. Ladies Playing Cards by B Prabha, 1985

Although B Prabha’s art primarily dealt with the “trauma and tragedy of women” (in her own words), this is a rare painting which deals with the lighter aspects of womanhood — the easy camaraderie of female friendships, shared confidences, the joy of play, and much more. For some reason, we often share this painting around Diwali. For us, this image of a group of women dressed in beautiful shades of blue and playing cards always evokes a sense of celebration.

2. The Female of the Species by Gauri Deshpande

Sometimes you want to talk
about love and despair
and the ungratefulness of children.
A man is no use whatever then.
You want then your mother
or sister
or the girl with whom you
went through school,
and your first love, and her
first child – a girl –
and your second.
You sit with them and talk.
She sews and you sit and sip
and speak of the rate of rice
and the price of tea
and the scarcity of kerosene.
You know both that you’ve spoken
of love and despair and ungrateful
children.

Speaking of shared confidences amongst women, this poem by Gauri Deshpande, among her most well-known creations, is another reminder of the absolute necessity of female friendships. For all the ridiculous tropes of toxic female friendships, any woman with who shares a strong bond with her sisters, cousins or female friends will attest to the mutual strength and support these relationships provide. Without even sharing their particular sorrows, women intuitively know how to extend comfort and acceptance to other women.

3. Poetic Reminders

If, like us, you like to surround yourself with poetic inspiration, check out these new fridge magnets with our most well-loved poems.