I think its about time we tell our children different stories. I grew up listening to Goldilocks and the three bears, Cinderella and Snow White and the seven dwarves. These stories had characters and situations that we Indian kids never ever related to- blonde hair, light eyes, fair skin, gowns and tiaras. Maybe it was globalization that got these tales into our bookshelves and text books. But what about stories about us, the brown-skinned, black-haired, dark-eyed lot? Who’s going to tell our stories?

The fairy tales we tell children shapes their perceptions about things before they even experience it. For instance, meekness in those stories was considered one of the most favourable qualities that a young woman should possess to be accepted by the society. If you were to be like that today, you’d see yourself wearing he MTV Bakra hat rather than the halo!

And who the hell even came up with the concept of ‘happily ever after’?? It suprises me that happily ever after is so often equated with finding one’s soulmate and getting hitched. Well, ask your parents and they’ll tell you marriage is not all doves and roses they told you about at the end of a Grimm’s!

When I have kids, I’m not going to tell them these frivolous stories. I’m going to tell them real ones. Where they don’t sit at home by the cinders while the others party. Where they kick ass if a step-mother hit them. Where they share selflessly but also make sure they don’t starve either. Where they take life as a never-ending journey that you constantly work on, and not a destination. All I’m saying is, when you’re making them believe in tooth fairies and Santa Claus, why not teach them to believe in themelves?! Think about it…