MY PAWMARKS .......................

Shiv's Ki puchde ho haal fakiraan da...

2011-10-14T10:28:00.005+05:30

Ki puchdiyun ho haal fakeeraan da,
Saada nadiyun vichade neeraan da.
Saada hanjh di june aayeen da,
Saada dil jaliyaan dilgeeraan da!

Eh jaandeyan kujh shokh jahe
Rangaan da na hi tasveeraan hai,
Jad had gaye aseen ishke di,
Mul kar baithe tasveeraan da!

Sanu lakhaan da tan labh gaya,
Par ik da man vi na miliya.
Kya likhiya kise mukahdar si
Hathaan diyan chaar lakeeraan da!

Takdeer da aapni saukan si,
Tadbeeraan saathon na hoiyaan.
Na jhang Chutaya na kan paate
Chund lang gaya injh heeraan da.

Mere geet vi lok suneende ne,
Naale kaafar aakh sadeende ne,
MaeN darad nu kaaba keh baitha
Rahb naaN rakh baithe peeraan da.

Main daanashvaran suneendiyaan sang,
Kai vaari uhchi bol piya,
Kujh maan si sanu ishke da,
Kujh daava vi si peeraan da!

Toon khud nu aakal kahihda hain,
Main khud nu aashik dasda haan,
Ih lokaan te Chad daeeye,
Kihnu maan ne dinde peeraan da!

Translation....

Why ask about the condition of fakirs like us?
We are water, separated from its river,
Emerged from a tear,
Melancholy, distressed.

Of course I knew that a painting is just
A whimsy of colors-
But when I entered the emporium of love,
I paid a price.

Countless bodies did I find,
But not one mind did I meet.
This was written in my fate,
In the four lines of my palm.

My destiny was my rival.
I could never find a way to escape it.
I did not leave Jhang, I did not pierce my ears,
And a crowd of Heers crossed my path.

People listen to my songs,
But call me a heretic,
Because I named pain my kaaba,
And sorrow, my god.

On occasion, in gatherings of great people
I have spoken sharply.
Perhaps I was arrogant about my love,
Perhaps I felt I had a claim upon pain.

You call yourself a wise man,
I say I am a lover.
Let us leave it to the people to decide
To whom they will give the esteem of a pir.

Shiv's Asan Ta Joban Rute Marna

2008-08-14T13:13:00.005+05:30

I have been looking for this poem for sometime. I wanted to read it but used to stop myself cause it reminds me the truth in my life. As much as i wish to run from it the truth always finds me...
Today i come back to this beautiful composition

Shiv Batalvi's Asan taan Joban Rute Marna

asaN taaN joban rutte marna
muRh jaana asaN bharey bharai
hijar tere di kar parkarma
asaN te joban rutte marna
joban rutte jo vi marda,
phull banney yaN tara.
joban rutte ashiq marda yaN koi karma wala.
yaN oh marn ke jehna likhai hijar dhuroN vich karma
hijar tuhada asaN mubarik naal bahishtiN khaRna.

sajjan ji,bhala kis lai jeena,
saadey jiha nikarma,
sootak(birth) rutt toN joban rutt takk
jehna handaiyaN sharmaN
jamnoN pehla audh(ummer) handaiye
phair handaiyee sharmaN
mar ke kariye ikk doojey di mitti di parkarma.

Par je mitti vi mar javey taaN jio ke ki karna.

Shiv's Mainu tera shabab

2008-08-14T02:13:00.002+05:30

Hmmmm...... This ghazal reminds me of bygone times... i used to listen to this long long time ago...i still feel a little pain when ever i hear to this ghazal...

Shiv Kumar Batalvi's 'Mainu Tera Shabab'

Mainu tera shabab lai baitha
Rang gora gulab lai baitha
Vehel jad vi mili hai farzon taun
Vehel jad vi mili hai farzon taun
Tere mukh di kitab lai baitha

Mainu tera shabab lai baitha

Mainu Jad vi tussi ho yaad aaye
Mainu Jad vi tussi ho yaad aaye
Din dihare sharab lai baitha

Kinni beeti te kinni baki ae
Kinni beeti te kinni baki ae
Mainu eho hisab lai baitha

Mainu tera shabab lai baitha

Shiv nu ek gam te hi bharosa si
Gam to kora jawaab lai baitha

Mainu tera shabab lai baitha
Rang gora gulab lai baitha.

Separation... Birha Tu Sultaan

2008-04-07T20:17:00.004+05:30

When you are faraway from your loved ones; the loneliness eats up your innards it tugs at your heart and makes you wish tis moment should never return but this is one feeling which brings you more firmly in touch with your inner feelings and wants ... your real wants ... above the materialistic world ... wants for which you can sacrifice everything...

Birha Tu Sultaan
Birha birha aakhiye,
Birha tu sultaan,
Jis tan birha na upje
So tan jaan masaan.

Asin sabhe birha ghar jammde,
Asin birha di santaan,
Birha khaaeyee birha paaeyee,
Birha aaye handaan.

Asin sab birhaan de mandarein,
Dhukde doof masaan,
Bin birha umar sugandheeyaan
Sabhe binsa jaan.

Birha seti upajiya,
Eh dharti te asmaan,
Birha seti sooraj jamman,
Dihoon paye gere khaan.

Mein vadbhaagi tera birha
Lar lahg mere aan,
Bin birha theen di theekari
Kise ujare kabristaan.

Aj sabe dhartiyaan meriyaan,
Te sabhe hi asmaan,
Aj sabhe rang hi nmaendree
Mere vihre jhummar paan.

Tu hi runne man meriya,
Kyun loche vasal handhaan,
Je disha dishaavaan aapaseen,
Milan kade na jaan.

Asaan joon handhaani mahik di,
Sanu birha da vardaan,
Saade is birha de naam taun
Kot janam kurbaan.

Birha birha aakhiye,
Birha tu sultaan,
Jis tan birha na upje,
So tan jaan masaan.

The english Translation is ...................

Let us speak of separation,
Separation is king.
A body that does not feel separation,
Is dead body.

We are all born in the house of separation,
We are children of separation,
We receive it, we swallow it,
We are on this earth to bear it.

In the temple of separation each one of us
Burns like incense,
Without separation every odor of life
Would perish.

From separation emerges
This earth, this sky.
From separation originates the sun
And the days revolve.

I was supremely fortunate that this separation from you,
Attached itself to me.
Without it I would have been just a piece of clay
In an empty graveyard.

Today all the world is mine
And all the skies.
Today every color sways
In my courtyard.

Why, my soul, like a woman,
Do you long for union?
Do different directions
Ever meet?

I must extract the very essence of fragrance,
For I have been given the gift of separation,
For the sake of this separation
I would give up a hundred births.

Let us speak of separation,
Separation is king.
A body that does not feel separation,
Is dead body.

I have felt separation for long enough...... now i want my loved ones .....forever n ever n ever...

Shiv Batalvi's Jee Chahe panchi ho jaavan

2008-04-07T17:47:00.003+05:30

Someone requested the lyrics of Shiv Batalvi's poem Jee Chahe Panchi ho jaavaan... I revisited this poem after a very long time today and it resonated with the free bird within me which wants to be free and scale the heights of the ever expanding horizons..

There is something in Shiv's poetry which tugs at the invisible chords of emotion and makes you think and rethink about what you really want..

Panchi ho Jaavaan

Jee chaahe panchi ho jaavaan,
Ud daa jaavaan, gaunda jaavaan,
Anchuhe sikharaan nu Choo paavaan,
Is duniya deeyaan raahvaan bhul ke
Pher kade na vaapas aavaan.

Ja ishnaan karaan vich jam-jam
La Deekaan peeyaan daan da paani.
Maan-sarovar de beh kande
Tutta jiha ik geet maen gaavaan.
Ja baethaan vich khireeyaan royeean
Phakaar pauna itar-sajoeeyaan.
Him-Teesiyaan moiyaan moiyaan
Yugaan yugaan taun kakkar hoiyaan
Ghut kaleje maen garmaavaan.
Jee chaahe panchi ho jaavaan.

Hoe aahlana vich shatootaan,
Jaan vich jand, kareer, sarootaan,
Aaun poorere de seet faraate,
Lachkaare iyun laen Daaliyaan
JyuN koi Doli kheDe jaReeyaan
Vaal khalaari lae lae jhootaan.
Ik din aisa jhakkarh jhulle
Ud pud jaavan sab hi teelee
Be-ghar be-dar main ho jaavaan.
Saari umar peeyaan ras gham da
Aise nashe vich jind handaavaan,
Jee chaahe panchi ho jaavaan.

The english translation is as follows:

I wish that I could be a bird
That I could fly, that I could sing,
That I could touch untouchable peaks,
That I could forget the roads of the world,
And never return.

I would bath luxuriously
Drinking long sips of water.
By the shore of a great lake,
I would sing a halting song.
I would go into a flowering wilderness
Gulp the perfume laden winds.
I would warm in a tight embrace,
The peaks of mountains,
Deadened by centuries of freezing cold.
I wish that I could be a bird.

My nest would be among the mulberry trees,
On in the caper, the mesquite or the cypress.
When the cold east wind blew
The jewelled branches would bend
As if playing, swaying
With their hair flying in the wind.
One day there would be a storm
And all the twigs would all scatter.
Nestless, homeless, I would become,
For the rest of my life I would drink the nectar of sorrow
And live my life in its intoxication.
I wish that I could be a bird.

2007-07-08T22:57:00.000+05:30

Was just listening to these two compositons of Shiv Batalvi.....They touch heart so deeply that the pain grows with time within you every time you repeat the lines..

Piran da Paraga

Bhatthi waliye Chambe di daliye
Piran da paraga bhun de bhatthi waliye

Ho gaya kuwela mainu
Dhal gayaen chawaan ni
Melean taun mud aayean
Majhian te gawaan ni

Paya chirian ne cheekh chihara
Paya chirian ne cheekh chihara
Piran da paraga bhun de bhatthi waliye
Bhatthi waliye Chambe di daliye
Ho Piran da paraga bhun de bhatthi waliye

Cheti cheti kari main
Jana bari door ni
Jithe mere haanein da tur gaya poor ni

Us pind da sunida rah mada

Us pind da sunida rah mada
Dukha da paraga
bhun de bhatthi waliye
Bhatthi waliye Chambe di daliye
Piran da paraga bhun de bhatthi waliye

Veri wari bhathian di pand sili ho gaye
Miti di karahi teri kahun sili ho gaye
Tere sek nu ki wajeya kuhada
Piran da paraga bhun de bhatthi waliye
Tenu dean hanjuan da bhada
Piran da paraga bhun de bhatthi waliye
Ho ni bhatthi waliye
Haye ni bhatthi waliye

Raat Gayee Kar Tara Tara....

Raat gayi kar tara tara
Hoyea dil da dard agahara
Aakhan hoyean hanju hanju
Dil da seesha para para
Raat gayi kar tara tara
Hoyea dil da dard agahara
Raat gayi kar tara tara

Hun ta mere do hi saathi
Hun ta mere do hi saathi
Ek hoka ek hanju bhara
Hoyea dil da dard agahara
Raat gayi kar tara tara

Marna chaheya maut na ayi
Marna chaheya maut na ayi
Maut vi mainu de gaye lara
Hoyea dil da dard agahara
Raat gayi kar tara tara

Rabbi's rendition of Shiv Batalvi's "Ek geet hijar da"

2005-01-10T23:13:00.001+05:30

Rabbi's album "Bulla ki jaana" has another of Shiv Batalvi's well known poem "Ek geet Hijar da"

The lyrics in punjabi as sung in album are: "Ek geet hijar da"

Aaj aasan ve bolna
Aaj kise na tokna
Lekh ve jindri da
Aaj aasan ve bhogna
Na rooveen meet moeyan te
Mere na paaveen vaein moeyan te
Tu gaveen geet ek geet

Kad jo beet gaya
Na beeteya uh jo beet gaya
Phool mere sene wairi khob gaya
Kitee main sab chare sare upa hare
Ehda ilaj bas ek geet
Ek geet hijar da – 4

Ek geet hijar da
Ek geet sabar da
Ek geet karam da
Ek geet raham da
Ek geet milan da
Ek geet balan da
Ek geet gunah da
Ek geet panah da
Ek geet ek geet ek geet

Hun na kujh disda
Hun na kuch sujhda
Jehar naseeban da
Aaj aasan jo pita
Saate tara karin
Na lekha mera mangi
Ve tu suni eh mera geet

Vekhin zara na hoae kharab
Buhe tere hanjoo mera
Ho jave tere dar te manzoor
Mere hazoor

Eh geet hijar da - 4
Eh geet hijar da
Eh geet sabar da
Eh geet karam da
Eh geet raham da
Eh geet milan da
Eh geet balan da
Eh geet gunah da
Eh geet panah da
Eh geet hijar da
Eh geet sabar da
Eh geet karam da
Eh geet raham da
Eh geet eh geet eh geet

Shiv Batalvi's "Ek kudi jihda naam mohabbat"

2005-01-10T18:41:00.000+05:30

Shiv batalvi's poem "Ek kudi jihda naam mohabbat " has been sung by Rabbi Shergill in his maiden Album"Bulla ki Jaana". This particular song is titled "Ishtehar".

Lyrics (sung by Rabbi)

Ek kudi jihda naam mohabbat
Ghum hai ghum hai ghum hai

Saadh muradi sohni phahat
Ek kudi jihda naam mohabbat
Saadh muradi sohni phabat
Ghum hai ghum hai ghum hai
Ghum hai ghum hai

Soorat osdi paariyan wargi
Seerat di uh mariam lagdi
Hasdi hai taan phul ne charde
Turdi hai taan ghazal hai lagdi
Lam-salaami saroon kad di
Umar aaje hai markeaag di
Par nainaan di gal samajhdi

Ek kudi jihda naam mohabbat
Saadh muradi sohni phabat

Ghumya janam janam hun hoye
Lagda hai aeyun jyun kal di gal hai
Aeyun lagda-ae jyun aaj di gal hai
Aeyun lagda-ae jyun hunn di gal hai
Hunne taan mere kol khadi si
Hunne taan mere kol nahin hai
Eh keha chal ke hi bhatkan
Soch meri hairaan badi hai
Oas kudi nu toll rahi hai

Ek kudi jihda naam mohabbat
Saadh muradi sohni phabat
Ek kudi sohni phabat

Oas kudi nu meri saunh hai
Oas kudi nu aapni saunh hai
Oas kudi nu meri saunh hai
Oas kudi nu aapni saunh hai
Oas kudi nu sabdi saunh hai
Oas kudi nu rab di saunh hai
Je kite pardi sunndi howe
Jaeundi yan uh mar rahi howe
Ek vari aa ke mil jawe
Wafa meri nu daag na lawe
Nahin taan maethon jiya na jaanda
Geet koi likheya na jaanda
Nahin taan maethon jiya na jaanda
Geet koi likheya na jaanda
Nahin taan maethon jiya na jaanda

Ek kudi jihda naam mohabbat
Saadh muradi sohni phabat
Ghum hai ghum hai ghum hai
Ghum hai ghum hai
Ek kudi sohni phabat

The original poem by Shiv Kumar Batalvi is posted below:

ISHTEHAAR
Ik kuddi jida naa muhabbat,
Goum hai.
Saad muraadi, soni phabbat,
Goum hai.

Soorat ousdi pariyaan vargi
Seerat di o mariam lagdiHasdi hai taa phul jhaddade ne
Turdi hai taa gazal hai lagdi.
Lamm-salammi, saru de kad di
Umar aje hai marke agg di,
Par naina di gal samajhdi.
Goummeyaan janam janam han hoye
Par lagda jyon kal di gal hai.
Yun lagda jyon ajj di gal hai,
Yun lagda jyon hun di gal hai.

Huney taan mere kol khaddi si
Huney taan mere kol nahi hai
Eh ki chhal hai, eh ki phatkan
Soch meri hairan baddi hai.
Nazar meri har aande jaande
Chehre da rang phol rahi hai,
Ous kuddi nu tol rahi hai.

Saanjh dhale baazaaran de jad,
Moddaan te khushbu ugdi hai.
Vehal, thakaavat, bechaini jad,
Chau raaheyaan te aa juddadi hai.
Rauley lippi tanhai vich
Os kuddi di thudd khaandi hai.
Os kuddi di thudd disdi hai.
Har chhin mennu inyon lagda hai,
Har din mennu inyon lagda hai.
Judde jashan ne bheeddaan vichon,
Juddi mahak de jhurmat vichon,
O mennu aawaaz davegi,
Men ohnu pehchaan lavaanga
O mennu pehchaan lavegi.
Par es raule de hadd vichon
Koi mennu aawaaz na denda
Koi vi mere vall na vehnda.

Par khaure kyun tapala lagda,
Par khaure kyun jhaulla painda,
Har din har ik bheedd juddi chon,
But ohda jyun langh ke jaanda.
Par mennu hi nazar na aunda.
Goum gaya maen os kuddi de
Chehre de vich goummeya rehnda,
Os de gham vich ghullda rehnda,
Os de gham vich khurda jaanda!
Os kuddi nu meri saun hai,
Os kuddi nu apni saun hai,

Os kuddi nu sab di saun hai.
Os kuddi nu jag di saun hai,
Os kuddi nu rab di saun hai,
Je kithe paddhdi sundi hove,
Jyundi ya o mar rahi hove
Ik vaari aa ke mil jaave
Vafa meri nu daag na laave
Nahin taan methon jiya na jaanda
Geet koi likheya na janda!

Ik kudi jida naa muhabat.
Goum hai.
Saad muradi sohni phabbat
Goum hai.

Remembering a Friend......

2005-01-10T04:12:00.000+05:30

5 days ago , on Jan 5 I received the saddening news of death of one of juniors whom I know from my architecture college. The pain was not only because of her untimely departure , it was frustrating because she was the victim of a dowry death. Yet another well- educated & financially independent girl was sacrificed at the altar of age- old, outdated & spun out of context social practices of our so called value- based Indian society. Are these our values? I am at a loss even after streching my imagination to limits but I am unable to find a single example in any Veda, Upnishad, Guru Granth Sahib or any religious, pious text which would support such barbarism and cruelty towards a fellow human being.

A perfectly happy, charming & "with twinkle in her eyes" girl who made you smile is lost . Is this "India Shining". Of what use is the economic development and the rising forex reserves and FII's if we still want to live a dual live and hang on to our wrapped principles and social practices.

Is life of a woman so worthless that it is allowed to be lost so easily just because she could not satisfy her in-laws greed. Why do people marry? Is it only a financial transaction, a riskless way of acquiring the consumer goods , money and investments in form of gold ? Have we lost the apathy as human beings? What good has education done to us, to our society? We all have read & written essays umpteem number of times since our school days on dowry, social status of women, child marriage , other social issues , our great Indian society and problems plaguing it. Why do we forget all that we learnt as good students and model responsible citizens when it comes to our daily life.

Does the news of such deaths don't even tug for a second at our consciousness as failed , crippled members of such a system? Why can't we get rid of this monstrous practice which brings only pain, dissatisfaction , causes rifts in families and belittle us as human beings.

No words are enough to console the grieving parents who not only have to bear the loss of their daughter but would also have to run from pillar to post to rightly prove the death of their beloved one as dowry death and fight to prevent the case from being closed as a suicide case.How ironic the victim has to fight to prove he was a victim and the culprit roams scot-free till proven with damning evidence of their crime.

DOES IT LEAVE YOUR SELFWORTH AS AN HUMAN BEING AND INDIAN INTACT ?

TO MY FRIEND........ May your soul rest in peace.

May God give the strength to her family and near &dear ones to face the trying times and bear the loss of their loved one.

Rabbi Shergill & Shiv Batalvi

2005-01-10T03:02:00.000+05:30

Listening to Rabbi's music suddenly seems like a breath of fresh air. Its nice to hear good punjabi music with a very fresh approach. Lately the punjabi music was set in a mould of party/ jazzy music just to liven up the atmosphere and get people on the dance floors rather than meaningful hummable numbers. Rabbi's music lingers for a long time after you have heard it. Punjabi music needs more of this kind of experimentation. The fusion by Rabbi is a good start . hope it continues and is not just a spark in the night.

I am particularly fond of Shiv batalvi's poetry and the way Rabbi has shaped the rendition of "ek kudi jihada naam mohabbat" in his song titled "Ishtihaar" is awesome.

One of the poems of Shiv written expressing his agony and pain over division of Punjab called "dudh da katal" is one of my favorites. "Dudh da Katal" or the murder of milk, which signifies murder of the milk of his mother, the mother Punjab, who was murdered by its division. The english translation of the same is as follows :

I still remember it today
And you must remember it too
When together we murdered our mother
They killed my childhood they killed my mother
And a cold corpse was left at my place to rot.

I have a longing to die young
To go to realm of youth
After my demise.

I sing to conceal my agonies
Under the guise of lyrics
Sweet and serene the curses
Miserable and doleful verses.

I have been occupied
With burning the lamps
Of my own existence , fears
Feeding it with flowing oils
From my own saline tears.

I would love to hear Rabbi's version of its rendition.

The title song of Rabbi's "Bulla ki jaana main kaun " brings alive on of the greatest sufi poets "Bulle Shah" poetry. The song is not only like a sheet of water for ears but Rabbi's voice is enchanting because of its crispness and certain roughness at the same time.

Punjabi version ( as rendered by Bulle Shah)
Bulla ki jaana maen koun ?
Na maen momin vich maseet aan
Na maen vich kufar diyan reet aan
Na maen paakaan vich paleet aan
Na maen moosa na pharaun.

Bulleh! ki jaana maen kaun

Na maen andar ved kitaabaan,
Na vich bhangaan na sharaabaan
Na vich rindaan masat khawaabaan
Na vich jaagan na vich saun.

Bulleh! ki jaana maen kaun.

Na vich shaadi na ghamnaaki
Na maen vich paleeti paaki
Na maen aabi na maen khaki
Na maen aatish na maen paun

Bulleh!, ki jaana maen kaun

Na maen arabi na lahori
Na maen hindi shehar nagauri
Na hindu na turak peshawri
Na maen rehnda vich nadaun

Bulla, ki jaana maen kaun

Na maen bheth mazhab da paaya
Ne maen aadam havva jaaya
Na maen apna naam dharaaya
Na vich baitthan na vich bhaun

Bulleh , ki jaana maen kaun

Avval aakhir aap nu jaana
Na koi dooja hor pehchaana
Maethon hor na koi siyaana
Bulla! ooh khadda hai kaun

Punjabi version : (lyrics as in song by Rabbi)
Bulla ki jaana maen koun ? - 4

Na maen momin vich maseetaan
Na maen vich kufar diyan reetaan
Na maen paakaan vich paleetaan

Na maen andar ved kitaabaan,
Na maen rehanda bhang sharaabaan
Na maen rehdaan masat khawaabaan

Na maen shaadi na ghamnaaki
Na maen vich paleeti paaki
Na maen aabi na maen khaki
Na maen aatish na maen paun

Bulleh! ki jaana maen kaun-4

Na maen arabi na lahori
Na maen hindi shehar nagauri
Na hindu na turak peshawri

Na maen bhaee mazhab da paaya
Ne maen aadam havva jaaya
Na maen apna naam dharaaya

Avval aakhir aap nu jaana
Na koi dooja hor pehchaana
Maethon na koi hor siyaana
Bulla shah khadda hai kaun

bulleh! ki jaana maen kaun? - 4

Na maen moosa na pharaun
Na maen jaagan na vich saun
Na maen aatish na maen paun

Na maen rehnda vich nadaun
Na vich baitthan na vich bhaun
Bulla shah khadda hai kaun

Bulla! ki jaana maen kaun?

English version:
Bulleh! to me , I am not Known
Not a believer inside the mosque, am I
Nor a pagan disciple of false rites
Not the pure amongst the impure
Neither Moses, nor the Pharoh

Bulleh! to me, I am not known

Not in the holy Vedas, am I
Nor in opium, neither in wine
Not in the drunkard`s craze
Niether awake, nor in a sleeping daze

Bulleh! to me, I am not known

In happiness nor in sorrow, am I
Neither clean, nor a filthy mire
Not from water, nor from earth
Neither fire, nor from air, is my birth

Bulleh! to me, I am not known

Not an Arab, nor Lahori
Neither Hindi, nor Nagauri
Hindu, Turk (Muslim), nor Peshawari
Nor do I live in Nadaun

Bulleh! to me, I am not known

Secrets of religion, I have not known
From Adam and Eve, I am not born
I am not the name I assume
Not in stillness, nor on the move

Bulleh! to me, I am not known

I am the first, I am the last
None other, have I ever known
I am the wisest of them all
Bulleh! do I stand alone?

Bulleh! to me, I am not known.

Hope this string of experimentation continues and we get to hear good music.

Conflict between Gender roles and Leadership roles

2004-11-24T03:06:00.000+05:30

One topic that can create heated debates every time it comes up is the differences between the two sexes. One question people have been trying to settle down for centuries is that who is better out of the two sexes. My concern is not who is better. Both are human beings and there is no scale developed to compare human beings on each and every dimension and give a decision which would not be debated?

If we go through the studies on leadership , it is statistically proven that there is a difference between the leadership styles employed by men and women. Women are to a greater degree favor transformational leadership than men. The women using other styles of leadership are not very successful. The main reason is that from the societal theory point of view the way society has evolved and distributed the work to its members has set the stage for non- acceptance of women leadership styles other than transformational. The society has saddled the women with the work of raising a family and being a submissive person in the process. They are assumed to be physically weaker sex, non- confrontational in nature and showing more communal behavior. This is the gender role for women defined by society. When a women tries to break away from that role and tries to create a space and identity for herself she is deterred at each and every point. Not all of these actions are conscious but many occur at unconscious level . The reason is the inherent bias which will remain and nobody can expect it too vanish in thin air . So a women showing agentic leadership behavior is a direct threat to the men and they will try to restrict her progress through any means available to them at that time. The best instrument that is used by men is the old boys network so to say. So , why is transformational leadership helpful? It is just because in this there are no commands necessary. It is a mutual effort , it is more subtle and a non- threatening stance than other leadership styles.

A working women has to put in more effort at whatever she does whether she is at home or at office. She has one territory to protect and other territory to earmark a place for herself. The double standards are used to judge her. It is sometimes like a dead end. She has more to loose in every case. If she slips somewhere at homefront she is judged more severely than a housewife just because she is a working and is blamed for not fulfilling her assigned role ( but who assigned that role in the first place and why is something nobody questions). If she slips in her work it is a sitter for men to prove that women are worthless. If a man networks it is admired and if a women networks she is called names.

One of the classic arguments against women is that " The worst enemy of a women is a women only". But that is also a product of social conditioning. The only resource and power base available to women has been the home. It has been her territory. Any new member in that territory will be opposed and the only new members (outside members) in a family are women that enter a new- household after marriage. It is gain power play at work. No one will give power till the weaker party builds its own power base and shifts the pendulum in their favor. This is as common as the way every new challenger or new member in the power game anywhere is responded to. If in doubt just try to look at the examples in reverse conditions . Many men live with their wife's families. There as well the man is not accepted readily. He also has to gain his position for which the power game is used.

The only possible situation for women to win the situation is to change the criteria of judgment. I admit it is not an easy Job. But we have to accept the fact that there is an inherent bias against women and it is also true that you can never win a game against the person who sets the rules. Then only option left is to change the rules of the game that is what a transformational leader does. You change the criteria according to which decisions are to be taken or how things are to be looked at - Reframe the context. That is the only way available to successfully solve the dilemma of the conflict between gender roles and leadership styles.

Some studies
1. The relationship between
gender role stereotypes and requisite military leadership characteristics - Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, Oct, 2003
by Lisa A. Boyce, Ann M. Herd
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2294/is_7-8_49/ai_109355380
2. For women, the glass
ceiling persists - employment discrimination against minority women executives -
Brief Article
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1365/is_1_32/ai_76698214
3. Gender discrimination and
the workplace: an examination of rational bias theory Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, Jan, 1998
by Susan Trentham, Laurie Larwood
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2294/is_n1-2_v38/ai_20816289