Purdah:-A Compulsion or A Choice?

Purdah, a practice that was inaugurated by Muslims and later it was adopted by various Hindus.  Especially in India, and  which involves the seclusion of women from public observation by means of concealing clothing (including the veil) and by the use of high-walled enclosures, screens, and curtains within the home.. Have you ever wondered why women are asked to stay inside a purdah and how this all started? If no then here’s the answer:-

The practice of purdah is said to have originated in the Persian culture and may have been acquired by the Muslims during the Arab conquest in the 7th century AD of what is now Iraq. Muslim domination of northern India in turn influenced the practice of Hinduism, and purdah became usual among the Hindu upper classes of northern India and eventually in most of the parts of the country.

Talking about my state, Rajathan, a different form of veiling, the Ghoonghat, is found among almost every married Hindu woman.  A fold of the sari is drawn over the face when, when she comes in the presence of older men, in-laws or strangers. Mostly in a place where there is likelihood of meeting them e.g. the in-laws' village. Whatever work she is doing she has to always be inside the Ghonnghat.  It is not worn otherwise, for example, when visiting her mother's home or in a location far from the in-laws' village. Though these changes are only adopted by new generation women.

Once, I asked my mom that what’s the story behind this Ghoonghat? Why in front of only men?  she said “it’s a culture and every woman should follow it.”  May be this was taught to her when she got married and she followed this with soothe I mean like when I was a kid I used to cover my face exactly same as my mom do every day and that was quite fun, though it’s too difficult to handle Ghoonghat. It was slipping off from my head every second; I don’t know how mom handles it. But most of the women are used to it and have accepted it. My cousin got married recently and we were clicking pictures so I told my Bhabhi (sister-in-law) to remove her Ghoonghat but she refused to do so and said “I like it.” I was shocked! How can someone like wearing Ghoonghat. Don’t they feel suffocated wearing that I mean it’s so irritating but then I realized that’s her choices have changed and maybe is seriously liking it or is under pressure. After all everyone have freedom to choose  and every person have different perspective to see the same thing. But there are many women who are forced to do that and that’s not right. There should always be a choice.

There are many scholars who argued that the purdah was initially to protect women from being from evil or being harassed. But later on the practices became a way to justify efforts to subjugate women and limit their freedom and adopted by religious rhetoric to control female behavior. And also our religion says that the practice of purdah is a symbol of respect, honour and dignity. I don’t understand why men aren’t asked to do purdah. Dont' they want respect, honor, dignity? How clothes could be a symbol of respect? So women who don’t do purdah should not be treated same as women who do purdah? How can something like Purdah limits women’s freedom? Women were asked to be in Purdah to protect themselves from being harassed but what if they are being raped by their own husband and their family members even if they were in Ghoonghat all the time. I question which ‘Ghoonghat’, ‘Purdah’ or ‘veil’ we should wear then? Why is nothing called as martial rape isn’t mentioned anywhere? The answer of this question is not given in any book because it considered that after marriage a man can do anything he wants to with his wife. He has full control over the women. That is what our elders teach every woman to obey their husband. 

NO means NO. Whether she is your wife, girlfriend, sister or any other women if she says no then he doesn’t have rights to force her. Don’t you know it’s a criminal offence? Consent is IMPORTANT.

Many women compromise their dreams either because of family pressure and thinking about the world and what will it say. Why every woman has to compromise her dreams some or the other time? Why can't men go and stay with woman’s family after marriage? My mom says I am too young to understand these things and would just laugh about it. How old I have to grow to understand, she never told me?

Women too want to go out and work but our society won’t allow. I want to know, who is this society and how does it look like?  Isn’t society starts with us? Every person has right to dream and can live their life on their own terms. There are many jobs that women can do even from home while taking care of kids and family. My mom used to take tuition classes but because of family pressure she had to quit. There are many women who has talent that they can work and pursue their dreams from home but their family won’t allow it may be ‘cause they think if she will earn on her own then she will start dominating the men’

Purdah is just a piece of cloth which hides woman’s real identity, her dreams and her talent….

 Nowadays this practice is decrementing in many parts of Rajasthan but still there many women facing this problem .I just wish that women would understand the real purdah and raise their voice against it and fight for their dreams and follow their passion. It has to start somewhere ‘because one voice can become the voice of thousands’