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Patriarchy never allows you to breathe freely and question your character, even when your body and soul would be as pure as the driven snow.
Ever since I heard of Kaliyuga, I had had a burning urge in me to perceive it. And when my mother Earth, from whose womb I had emerged, beckoned me, I couldn’t resist myself from going.
When I landed, the progression of human left me flabbergasted. However, I got to know something that shook me to the core.
One woman reports a rape every fifteen-minute in this sacred land of Bharat. Although the construction of the Ram-Janmabhoomi temple has begun, the Ram Rajya is yet to be entrenched.
Trying to look behind vague clouds of delusion, my every revelation hit me harder than the previous one. What further appalled me was the existence of femicide, female foeticide, and other horrendous brutalities against women, and that too in the 21 st century. Hanuman had burnt the entire Lanka in Sathyuga, now the esteem and dignity of women are being burnt brutally.
Earlier, a woman would be burned at the stake, now she is being torn apart.
Many centuries have gone by after the death of Ravana, but sadly, the atrocious fiend is still present today, even if in different forms. Humans might have exceeded in a plethora of fields, but they have failed miserably in humanity.
My father, a feminist, never craved for an heir but was a delightful father of four daughters. He went beyond the patriarchal parenting and trained us(me and my sisters), with an impartial view, into benevolent ladies who had freedom of decision and expression.
I too underwent countless ordeals and hardships in my journey. Patriarchy never allows you to breathe freely and question your character, even when your body and soul would be as pure as the driven snow. I, at last, prayed to rest upon my mother’s lap forever, but today women have to fight like a vigorous warrior till their last breath.
Author’s note: Have you ever wondered how the visit of Hindu mythology’s divine creatures to our century would be? Will they be happy with our progress or will they get disappointed with our civilization. This piece of writing is a short monologue of divine goddess Sita if she happens to visit India in the 21st century. This work of fiction is just a way to sensitize readers to the various issues a woman faces in her life. It has nothing to do with anyone’s religious sentiments.
Image source: a still from Sita Sings The Blues
Writer on some days, reader on most. read more...
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People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
14 years after her last feature film Dhobi Ghat, storyteller extraordinaire comes up with her new film, Laapataa Ladies, a must watch.
*Some spoilers alert*
Every religion around the world dictates terms to women. The onus is always on women to be ‘modest’ and cover their faces and bodies so men can’t be “tempted”, rather than on men to keep their eyes where they belong and behave like civilized beings. So much so that even rape has been excused on the grounds of women eating chowmein or ‘men will be men’. I think the best Hindi movie retort to this unwanted advice on ‘akeli ladki khuli tijori ki tarah hoti hai’ (an alone woman is like an open jewellery box) came from Geet in Jab We Met – Kya aap gyan dene ke paise lete hain kyonki chillar nahin hain mere paas.
The premise of Laapataa Ladies is beautifully simple – two brides clad in the ghunghat that covers their identity get mixed up on a train. Within this Russian Doll, you get a comedy of errors, a story of getting lost, a commentary on patriarchy’s attitude towards women, a mystery, and a tale of finding oneself, all in one. Done with a mostly light touch that has you laughing and nodding along.
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