Feminism Today

As I was walking by the lane at the time of Navratri, the atmosphere was filled with devotional songs and huge pandals were erected in different localities of the town. I came across a beautiful pandal of Durga along with Saraswati and Kali beside her. She was riding on a lion. An extraordinary calm and peacefulness was exuding from her face.

She is the mother of all. She is the saviour of good people and destroyer of bad people. Her endeavour is to bring victory over evil. As I was looking at her with reverence, I heard a conversation between a group of young and old ladies. They were discussing aspects of Durga, Lakshmi, and Annapurna. They were narrating a tale of their maid who washes utensils in their homes. She was uneducated, poor and a mother of two children. Her husband did not support the family due to his bad habits and often beat his wife. But like a mother, she tolerated all ordeals bravely. She deposited the money in a bank, she worked to feed her children and pay their school fees and other necessities of the house. They were talking of her tough life as well as praising her for playing the role of Lakshmi, Saraswati and Annapurna.

God has made man and woman equal. But unfortunately, the women are forced to be commanded, disrespected and punished by menfolk. All talks of education and impunity are useless. Though it is surprising that while men worship Goddess yet they forget to love and respect their daughter, wife, sister, and mother.

In Sanskrit it is told God dwells in those houses where the men respect women. I thought Navratri and other festivals are celebrated to make us remember this aspect of human life. Some follow it, some defy it.