Check out 16 Return-To-Work Programs In India For Ambitious Women Like You!
This festive period is all about invoking the female divine power, and celebrating their fierce win over the evil. But why is it not the reality?
It’s the season of festivities— of happiness, joy, and celebration.
Celebration of the victory of good over evil, of a son’s return from exile, of the love between siblings, and most importantly, of what we know as narishakti— women empowerment.
The whole nation, and Indians abroad, invoke the Supreme Mother, the saviour of the universe. We remember her story, her legend, and try to pass it on to our next generation.
Along with the tales, the folklores, the rituals, we also never fail to mention to our daughters to have fun throughout the day, but return to the safe walls of the house before it’s too late.
Just a few days back it was Kali Puja and Diwali. We celebrate these days in honour of the goddess. Kali Maa as we love to address her in Bangala — the enraged Goddess, whose uncontrollable wrath created havoc in the entire cosmos; the Goddess of destruction, and death.
So on this auspicious day, I was invited over to my friend’s house to attend the puja. It’s a huge household, owing to the fact that my friend hails from a large joint family.
I was supposed to go over to her house early in the evening and be back to my own before it was too late. My plan was to board the last metro train at 9.30pm that would drop me to the station closest to my house by 10.30pm.
Still very late.
But I was adamant enough to do this alone.
However, a certain change of plans prompted me to skip the last metro, and stay a bit longer. Eyebrows were raised in her household, and my friend’s father voiced his concern.
It was at around 10.30pm that I felt exhausted and wanted to go back home.
Of course, I wasn’t allowed to. Everyone started fretting as if I have committed a scandalous crime by wanting to go home. So, instead I had to wait till 2.30am so that a male relative of theirs could drop me home before heading towards his own.
I might be wired up in a manner that it irks me to seek someone’s help, unless it’s a guidance. And I am grateful for the lift-back home by her cousin.
Because the main roads were hauntingly empty, but the lanes and the by-lanes of the city had scattered herds of drunk men tucked away in corners.
And these men do not really have any control over their movements, let alone their actions.
Mind you, judging by the way they dress, they are men hailing from well-to-do families. Pinning the blame on the shelterless people for phantom crimes of future, is just another way to tie stigmatize various communities and their people who have no societal power.
What still disturbs me, and I guess would keep disturbing me for some time now, is the fact how on the day when we specifically worship the Goddess of destruction, we also fear our daughters’ safety the most?
How, specifically in the month when we call on Feminine Divine powers, and celebrate narishakti, are the times when daughters’ find themselves worrying about their well-being in public more often than usual?
I was brought up to believe that our socio-cultural practices mould our societal thinking. But, growing up in this society, my experiences speak otherwise. Now, I do not merely witness gender-based discrimination, but also face it every day in manners that usually skip attention.
Such large-scale celebrations, rituals, tales surroundings the days of each puja, mythology-are they mere ideas that cannot transcend the boundaries of abstract and find its place in the practical world?
Each year, with the advent of the festive season, we preach on how one should seek inspiration from Devi, and bring misogyny to an end.
Advertisements flood with messages of women empowerment with inspiration storylines that eventually lose their way in the real world.
Again.
It’s time. Either the irony ceases, or the false invocation of narishakti.
Image source: Kolkatar Chobiwala, free on pexels, edited on CanvaPro
The author is a Gen-Z kid who resorts to writing to vent out about the problematic ways of the world. Having majored in Theatre, English, and Psychology, I take a guilty pleasure in complex read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
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.
Please enter your email address