Religious Patriarchy

As a Boy, I have enjoyed many prerogatives over my sister throughout my life. I was allowed to come home, even after nine, whereas my sister was forced to come home by 7. Whenever she had a birthday party at her friends, she used to ask actually she has taken it as a prerequisite to ask for the permission to stay till 9 with the condition that I would bring her from there as she is not allowed to take her own Scooty because it would not be safe for her to drive alone at night. It was always the same story for her irrespective of the event, whether it is a party, a social gathering, a Dandiya night, a school trip, etc. It is still very much vivid in my mind how my sister used to lament at being a girl and envy of me. Whenever I objected my mother, she pacified me by saying “Ladki Jaat Hai”.

There is a fear residing in the minds, thoughts, acts of the people. Society just cannot think over this stereotyped life, there is a problem in their school of thought, to be more precise they have considered it as a way of life. When parents refute the privileges of their full grown daughter, citing the monster as a reason which has its adobe in the skull of the masculine half of the society, would it not be considered as an encroachment to the right to life.

In retrospect, when I intend to trace out the rationale behind this mindset by reviewing the History of Human Civilization, I allege a term, ’Religious Patriarchy’ which has led our society to the current scenario. Women were forbidden in the places of worship, in her son's wedding. They are still denied in the cremation of their loved ones. Even after abolishing ‘Sati’ women still face restrictions in many social gatherings and they even leave their home to make somebody’s house home. All this happens in the wake of culture, customs, tradition and religion. Who have formulated these laws? Why do we follow them? Religious leaders have imposed and instilled these ideas as a veil around the human mind, making them unable to ponder; restricting their development of mind, in the name of God. The worst part is that the most intelligent animal created by God, Human Being, has taken it as the requirement of the Life, without giving it a second thought. They have just stopped using their brain. Each and every idea that was procured for man, he had taken that as it might have come, without contemplating over those.

This Patriarchal Ideology has found its way deep into the nerves of a human being and as a result of this woman feels bounded. They are bounded by their Family, their Religion, their Society, and their Country. Does even God bind them? I don't think so. It can be substantiated by an assertion which underscores the Lincoln’s Vision to the Emancipation Proclamation

“Things which are equal to the same things are equal to each other" Simple Mathematical Law.

For Engineer Graduates, the Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics can somewhat state this phenomenon

Intellectuals have proven these laws. Then how come our civilized society which boasts of participatory and inclusive administration couldn't understand that. Our society has always been ushered by the forerunners of the patriarchy since the time immemorial who have misguided people and have eluded the women from their every right. They have created havoc in us, particularly women.

Walk slowly, Sit Carefully, Speak politely, Succumb, Submit, Lower your sight, Live in a Hiding, Compromise, Marry, Satisfy, Conceive, Nurture and Die. That’s all we have, in the name of freedom, for women. Whenever somebody resists, she is proscribed, harassed, molested, raped, banished, or even murdered by the fundamentalists and extremists, brandishing the religious flag, thereby upholding the misogynistic, chauvinistic, and misanthropic and so called revered society, which ultimately desecrates the humanity.

Society needs a change. Remove the barrier from your mind. It’s the fear created by the demagogues, which is stopping us. There is nothing to fear.

Be thoughtful, be generous. Impart them freedom which was endowed upon us in 1947.