Though it was formally banned in December 1829, under the Bengal Presidency by Lord William Bentinck; the free India still holds its deeper roots in many districts of India. With the revelation of partially burnt body of 50-yr old Usha, in Latur district in Marathwada region of Maharashtra; the speculation of Sati practice still holds true. Though Police has denied the fact if it was sati practice or if the clothes might have caught fire. Within hours of Tukaram’s funeral, Usha (50) had gone missing on April 1, 2015; after the last rites were performed on her husband. Killari Police in Latur district had then registered a case of sudden death.
Similar case had been found for Roopkuvarba Kanwar, aged just 18; of a Rajput woman who was sacrificed at Deorala village of Sikar district in Rajasthan. She had been married merely for eight months at the time of her husband’s death. Few news reported that her death was voluntary while few claims that she was forced to her death. Although a much publicized later investigation led to the arrest of people (nearly 45) present at the ceremony wherein all the eleven accused were later acquitted by the special court.
Sati (also called suttee) is nearly obsolete Hindu funeral custom or practice, where a recently widowed woman either voluntarily or by use of force or coercion commits suicide as a result of her husband's death. The literal meaning of Sati is “a pure and virtuous woman”. It was associated with a kind of virtue, where it was nothing more than shameful social act and an evil practice. This may have been banned lawfully though it holds its profound roots in mind of the free India.
Is this the Free India that has been fantasized off? Have we really travelled far or have we really moved a bit in terms of our perceptions, thinking and mindset for women? Are all the so called rules, norms and guidelines have been set for the Women clan?
We believe in equality of Men and Women or Girl and Boy and then still in 2016, a pregnant woman got acid-attacked by her in laws after the news of having a girl child in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh (September 2, year 2016); while a four-month old girl Mahika’s tiny body had 17 stab wounds with throat slated by knife, later found inside an unused air-conditioner, motionless covered in a blanket in Jaipur (August26, year 2016).
Have we dreamt of India having equal male and female sex ratio or a country struggling for female’s survival over males; and we ironically call it as “Mother India”.
We still donate our girls in Marriage in the custom of “Kanyadaan”; We still accumulate gold right from their birth to be sold in the custom of exorbitant dowry at the later stage. We celebrate the birth of male child and believe in bathing in holy river Ganges after daughter’s marriage, as if it was a cumbersome task to be fulfilled. A girl has to sacrifice her individuality, independence, dreams and her life just to be the Ideal ‘bahu’ post marriage.
Even today, the male dominating or the patriarchal set up prevails in major parts of the country. Man is still considered to be superior which is easily inveterate with the celebration of birth of a male child and danger that a girl child holds even in her mother’s womb. The male-controlled set up where the man is believed to be superior has much to do with the condition of women in our country. According to CSO's 2012 report, female child population in the age group of 0-6 years was 78.83 million in 2001 which declined to 75.84 million in 2011 which has resulted in a skewed child sex ratio. This alarming change in child sex ratio can be attributed to sex selective abortion which is rampant in India despite laws prohibiting it along with the belief that it is only the son who can perform the last rites, and the lineage and inheritance runs through the male child.
Although it’s not as worsen as in the earlier part of century and we have really came far by traversing a long distance from the days when they were tied only in the household chores and were not even allowed to step out of their homes. Though a real progress would be achieved on the day, when a girl would feel safe to travel at any time, any place without being judged for her dressing sense, righteous intentions, behavior; as we still have to break ourselves free from vicious grips of social, economic, political, caste and gender-based discrimination.
Not sure if this was the India that has been dreamt of? If this is the freedom, any girl would have thought of. Are we actually free or still welded by our prejudices, inhibitions, customs and the regulations that we are just blindly following since ages.
Similar case had been found for Roopkuvarba Kanwar, aged just 18; of a Rajput woman who was sacrificed at Deorala village of Sikar district in Rajasthan. She had been married merely for eight months at the time of her husband’s death. Few news reported that her death was voluntary while few claims that she was forced to her death. Although a much publicized later investigation led to the arrest of people (nearly 45) present at the ceremony wherein all the eleven accused were later acquitted by the special court.
Sati (also called suttee) is nearly obsolete Hindu funeral custom or practice, where a recently widowed woman either voluntarily or by use of force or coercion commits suicide as a result of her husband's death. The literal meaning of Sati is “a pure and virtuous woman”. It was associated with a kind of virtue, where it was nothing more than shameful social act and an evil practice. This may have been banned lawfully though it holds its profound roots in mind of the free India.
Is this the Free India that has been fantasized off? Have we really travelled far or have we really moved a bit in terms of our perceptions, thinking and mindset for women? Are all the so called rules, norms and guidelines have been set for the Women clan?
We believe in equality of Men and Women or Girl and Boy and then still in 2016, a pregnant woman got acid-attacked by her in laws after the news of having a girl child in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh (September 2, year 2016); while a four-month old girl Mahika’s tiny body had 17 stab wounds with throat slated by knife, later found inside an unused air-conditioner, motionless covered in a blanket in Jaipur (August26, year 2016).
Have we dreamt of India having equal male and female sex ratio or a country struggling for female’s survival over males; and we ironically call it as “Mother India”.
We still donate our girls in Marriage in the custom of “Kanyadaan”; We still accumulate gold right from their birth to be sold in the custom of exorbitant dowry at the later stage. We celebrate the birth of male child and believe in bathing in holy river Ganges after daughter’s marriage, as if it was a cumbersome task to be fulfilled. A girl has to sacrifice her individuality, independence, dreams and her life just to be the Ideal ‘bahu’ post marriage.
Even today, the male dominating or the patriarchal set up prevails in major parts of the country. Man is still considered to be superior which is easily inveterate with the celebration of birth of a male child and danger that a girl child holds even in her mother’s womb. The male-controlled set up where the man is believed to be superior has much to do with the condition of women in our country. According to CSO's 2012 report, female child population in the age group of 0-6 years was 78.83 million in 2001 which declined to 75.84 million in 2011 which has resulted in a skewed child sex ratio. This alarming change in child sex ratio can be attributed to sex selective abortion which is rampant in India despite laws prohibiting it along with the belief that it is only the son who can perform the last rites, and the lineage and inheritance runs through the male child.
Although it’s not as worsen as in the earlier part of century and we have really came far by traversing a long distance from the days when they were tied only in the household chores and were not even allowed to step out of their homes. Though a real progress would be achieved on the day, when a girl would feel safe to travel at any time, any place without being judged for her dressing sense, righteous intentions, behavior; as we still have to break ourselves free from vicious grips of social, economic, political, caste and gender-based discrimination.
Not sure if this was the India that has been dreamt of? If this is the freedom, any girl would have thought of. Are we actually free or still welded by our prejudices, inhibitions, customs and the regulations that we are just blindly following since ages.
