CELEBRATION OF WOMANHOOD

Every International Day sets me thinking and the International Women's Day on March 8was no exception. The opinion that our land celebrates every facet of life seems to be ignored and the new celebratory days are now gaining in acceptance. It was therefore surprising to note that a leading English daily recalled the importance of the festival of Navarathri or Dussehra in this context and drove home the point that the potent force of this festival was greater in celebrating womanhood rather than any other occasion. Reflect and you will notice that for a whole fortnight the entire nation bows to the feminine idol which assumes different forms for each day. Genders are swept in the background and gaiety replaces any differences.

The traditional days take care to include every sector of the society. Imagine today a educated, liberated woman walking with devotion to the doorsteps of devadasis to seek some clay to make an idol. Let alone for this purpose will any person just walk to the doorstep of the devadasi just to enquire about her welfare? This is probably the reason the traditions were built in such a manner with elaborate rituals in place and the fabrication of legends. In the Panchatantra, Vishnu Sarma reveals that the students have to be classified and persons who fail to understand the concepts need to be educated through stories. Therefore, the bulk of us fall under this category who fail to appreciate concepts but are happy to adhere to rituals and treaditions.

Reverting to the issue of celebrating womanhood, Indian men have done wonders. The sculptures at the temples is one while the temple celebrating the dancing abilities of Queen Shanthala immortalised by King Vishnuvardhana would inspire any hard core chauvinist to pay obeisance to the royal couple as well as the sculptor. The mausoleusm of Mumtax Mahal is never referred to as such instead it is celebrated as a wonder of the world and is an acknowledged to be a pilgrim centre for any loved ones. The Chola queen mother who spent time to construct several Shiva linga temples said to number 1008 inspired the Brihadeeswara temple at Tanjore. He goes on to give her the credit for his monolithic endeavour. These are not myths but substantiated by history.

In every rite or ritual the woman is the one who is given the place of pre-eminence. To drive home this point, Sage Vashistha questions Rama as to how he intends performing the Yagna without Sita. All take pleasure in pointing out that he performed the same with the presence of a statue. He may have done so but the fact remains that he had to request the sage to find a way out. Even at that point the issue that he had to concede to have a statue of Sita is not recognised. In today's parlance imagine a minister or a person of status to reconcile to this fact and acknowledge it in public and all one could expect is a debate 24X7 with a host of panelists. Why do we miss the salient issues? Why do we fail to learn from them?

Go back in time. Matha is the first God. Hell hath no fury as a woman scorned. Every auspiscious rite requires a woman. A single man is considered inauspicious while the kanya as well as the married woman are considered auspicious. Much is made about the status of a widow without realising the widower is not considered in any manner for any ritual including his own funeral. Of the five elements, the major ones of earth and water are considered as feminine. Only air accounts for masculine in the immediate vicinity. Sisterhood is celebrated in all faiths in India. The responsibility of safeguarding the sister is with the brother, the provider of food and shelter is the father, brother, husband or son. Over a period of time these fine lines have been altered. Women have taken the roles of men. A man wins a war is not much of consequence as much of the valour of a woman who even ventured to wage a battle.

Women, arise and awake. Follow the great Anasuya who commanded respect rather than demanding it. She showed the world her power by demonstrating on no less than the Trinity. This legend is not to cast aspersions on the Trinity or to uphold the chastity of Anasuya but to re inforce the fact that conviction in principles can lead to commanding respect which needs to be earned not demanded or beseeched. Now should we have a rethink on all our legislations which promote the idea of being a weakling or backward rather than the old principle of empowering oneself.

Loud thinking for the benefit of brainstorming!!!!!!