Saturday, March 19, 2011

Tarabai Shinde's Stripurushtulna

I chanced upon this while researching history. Powerful words from Tarabai Shinde's Stripurushtulna (A comparison of women and men)

Once a woman's husband has died...

Isin't a woman's life as dear to her as yours is to you? It's as if women are meant to be made from something different from men altogether, made from dust of earth or rock or rusted iron whereas you and your lives are made from the purest gold...

you are asking me what I mean. I mean once a woman's husband has died...what's in store for her? The barber comes to shave all the curls and hair off her head, just to cool your eyes. ..She is shut out from going to weddings, receptions and other auspicious occasions that married women go to.

And why all the restrictions? Because her husband has died. She is unlucky:ill fate is written on her forehead. Her face is not to be seen, it's a bad omen

No comments: