I am a Rajput woman. Never before have I been ashamed of calling myself one
I am a Rajput by birth. I grew up listening to the stories of Rajput valour. "Courage flows in our blood" is what I was told when I didn’t even know what the word actually meant. But today, my mind questions the very notion of "Rajput courage".
With time, one develops one’s own sense of understanding of the world around them — reality takes over fiction. I realised how oppressive some Rajput traditions were. I was born and brought up in Delhi, far away from the struggles of Rajput girls born in villages in various parts of India. But once in a while, a visit to my mother’s village would make me realise how deeply steeped in patriarchy and misogynistic these customs were.
The women seemed to be absolutely comfortable being locked up inside the four walls of domesticity. Their mind was full of a vain sense of pride in not having to go out and work. "It is a man’s duty to go out, earn and protect his family. It is the duty of the woman to take care of his heir and home."
The seed of this segregation was planted as soon as a child was born. These women supported ghoonghat, female foeticide, child labour, child marriage, illiteracy among girl children, domestic violence and even dowry deaths.
Today, when I see pictures of Rajput women holding the sacred khanda in their hands not to fight against the social oppression that women have been subjected to but to protect "their honour" against a movie, those glorious narratives somehow fade away in the blinding light of enormous foolishness.
While shooting the movie Padmavati (released as Padmaavat), the film's director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali was manhandled by Karni sena. Bhansali shifted his set from Rajasthan to Kolhapur, Maharashtra. The set was destroyed by a petrol bomb group. Death threats were issued against Bhansali and Deepika Padukone, playing Rani Padmavati in the movie. There have been violent protests by members of Karni Sena against the release of the movie. Even ministers of various states demanded a ban on it stating that it might pose a threat to the law and order situation.
On Sunday, protesters belonging to Karni Sena and other Rajput organisations damaged the Delhi-Noida-Delhi toll plaza and set a barrier ablaze. In other parts of the country, buses have been burnt, roads blocked and various cinema halls damaged. Since when did vandalism and uncalled-for violence become a means to protect Rajput honour? I am sorry to burst the bubble, this is anything but Rajputana.
Members of Karni Sena claim the director has distorted historical facts in making Padmaavat. The portrayal of Rani Padmavati, who is considered the epitome of sacrifice in Rajput folklore, as a queen performing "Ghoomar" and romancing Alauddin Khilji in a dream sequence is construed as playing with the honour of the Rajput queen.
What kind of valour and pride gets offended by a work of art? The movie is supposedly based on 16th century Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi's epic poem Padmavat. The makers say that the movie is a magnum opus, a tribute to Rajput valour. When someone looks at a work of art, he brings his own perception and sensibilities to it. The movie is ultimately a beautiful amalgamation of the director’s interpretation of the epic poem and his imagination. There should be no other way of looking at it. As the apex court said, “Don’t watch the movie if you don’t want to, but there cannot be a ban on the screening.”
Hundreds of women in Chittor staged a "Swabhiman rally" threatening to commit Jauhar — mass suicide by immolation — if the movie is released. I am a Rajput woman as well and never before in my life have I been ashamed of calling myself one. The nonsense surrounding a mere movie is appalling. Those who want permission to end their lives over it need not wait. Such rank idiocy must be eliminated from the gene pool.
As for the rest of the Rajputs, it is time to rethink what real valour is in our times. Is it in protesting over a movie or is it in fighting against those traditions and customs that have kept us chained to the dark patches of the past?
For me, being a Rajput is more about giving a voice to the voiceless and courage to the oppressed, and uplifting the weaker. True valour is in being educated, being aware and being in tune with the voice of reason because the fight has shifted from the battlefield on the ground to the mind's warzone.
It is you versus the politicians and evil forces who want to profit by playing with the sensibilities of the masses and causing unrest in the society.
So make education your sword and reason your armour, and fight against such forces that put us down as a society.