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Articles: Devotion | Is it religions or Cultural subjugation of Women?...The Debate is Open.
- Mr. Vachaspati Velavartipati
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“She was deprived of food while everybody feasted and was made to put her arms the shoulders of her buyer and stood that way for hours'...The Week (January 26,2003). This is the news item in this magazine about the 'Women for Sale' among Bhils. This is may be an isolated incident among Bhils. But the Bhils are not among the PTG (Primitive Tribal Groups) of India and on the verge of entering the Hindu Caste Structure, this practice need to he highlighted with condemnation. A minister of Madhya Pradesh also attended this ceremony. Young Basanta, who was sold to Kharbarj of Paabai village for Rs.8, 000/-, said, “When the minister was having food I was crying for hunger because the Panchayat had starved me for 48 hours for not obeying their orders”. What a Shame. An individual kept without food intentionally as a punishment for 48 long hours. But the words of these women show some sense of awareness. Hence, the government can take initiative towards that Panchayat to eliminate these kind of practices wherever they are. The village elders and Panchayat members need to be scrutinized by the all, other than police. The villagers of Gowari felt no shy of auctioning her while shouting, ”Paanch Hazaar… Paanch Hazaar… Paanch Hazaar…Paanch Hazaar…ek…do”. Many people offered their bids but Kharbarh Bhil, 21, was the highest bidder. He bought Basanta for that money. But she refused to go with him. She cried. She shouted. She tried to inform the present minister, but failed. As punishment for not obeying the Panchaganga, their traditional Panchayat decision, she was made to hold up one hand and stand on one leg. She was deprived food while every feasted. Devaki, Savitri and Laxmi are another women, who underwent these kind of punishments on the same day.
Ironically, no daily has covered this incident. This shows the indifference of the press. The Week has covered this. This incident shows the status of women in India, with honorable exceptions. This incident had substantiated my Article, “Empowerment of Women” in http://vvachaspati.telugupeople.com. It is true, this society treats women as a commodity only to be auctioned for mere marrying outside her own caste/tribe etc. hence, here no respect and awareness for human rights.
As an anthropologist, I respect tribal societies, but the case of Bhils, Gonds, Minas is different. There are part and parcel of Hindu mythology and culture, with their own cultural ethos. This incident may be because of vested interests of the village elders and Panchayat. Or, this may be because of the presence of outsiders in the village or area who are not tribals, who try to marry beautiful tribal women that result in shortage of women within that tribal village. To prevent this shortage, these kind of harsh punishments are indicted.
I endorse the view expressed by Madhu Kishwar at the bottom of 37th page of the magazine, “While I do not endorse the actions of the Bhil panchayat, I would not recommend handing over such sensitive issues to the police. When a community, rightly or wrongly, sees it ‘izzat’ at stake, when a community is distorting its own culture because it feels under attack by hostile ‘outsiders’ such a situations need the intervention of sensitive social and political leaders capable of assuaging hurt egos, providing a healing touch as well as bringing about an honorable consensual settlement of the conflict”.
I invite opinions from the women folk of the Telugus, India and world. What will you do if this happened to you also in your own house? Because, many of women forced to get married without their consent.
Keep writing to the following addresses apart from mails.
With wishes and regards…
Velavartipati Vachaspati
C.R.P.Quarters Road,
Ongole 523001.
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