Writes Nalini Singh. I have always admired her & yet again she comes up with a beautiful article. So much has been written & talked ‘about Pahalgam’.
‘ they folded their hands instead of fighting & letting their husbands become victims of the terrorist’ some argue. Maybe true. But in an unexpected, extreme situation how does one react??
Now, sitting in our homes on a comfy sofa, we can think of ‘why she did this & not that’ is very easy. Running away from danger is an instinct . Have we ever been trained to fight??
The doctrine of ono violence is fine. Meditation also teaches to calm minds but to revolt, to oppose & to resist require an attitude. The right frame of mind.
Mahashweta Devi, Amrita Pritam & other writers understood women. Also the ‘sub humanness’ of widowhood. The readers of that time greeted their inspiring stories with thoughtful acceptance.
Read one of their stories & we find their excellence in understanding women. Without being feminist, they always had women in the center.
Why are we referring to these women, who have lost their husbands by using a vocabulary that reminds them constantly of their sindoor-less status? They are being courageous & finding their own space. Are we trying to help or bring them down again, now with our words ???
MP Ram Chandar Jangra warns to reignite the spirit of bravery of Rani Ahilyabai Holkar. Ironically this warrior Queen as well as the intrepid Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi had helmed their armies & attacked enemies after the death of their husbands had wiped off their sindoor.
Are we going back & branding women as ‘widows’ or being single , their fate ?? Don’t they have the freedom to decide their own status ???
Haven’t we all tolerated the British Raj?? Everyone knew it was wrong. But how to go about it? How to resist & make them leave our land?? It needed generations & years of long fights.
It is a liberal country today but I assume that feeling of being ruled never goes away. The education system, the governance everything has the imprint. Our thinking is also influenced.
Asians have a certain way of living. I find so many similarities with the Japanese, Koreans & the Chinese in various dramas. We think in a certain way. Our values, patterns are all over lapping, almost the same. Aren’t we all Orientals???
So many thoughts are crowding in my mind….
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