The Good Indian Wife

Women shouldn't just keep quite – no matter who says what. Once in a discussion about “good Indian gal” obviously in the context of a “bahu” I heard somebody complain that girls these days question their husbands – obviously it was not put forth that nicely by the party complaining. If I remember right their words were more like “behes karti hain” ya “sawal-jawab karti hain” – which in the parameters of a good Indian bahu is a strict no-no. They are expected to just listen to whatever their husbands say and nod along even if they feel or know that it is wrong?

Now try imagining what would Ramayana have been like had Sita been such a woman. Just when the story kicks off, Ram is expected to give up the throne and go off to jungle for 14 long years. And he actually tells his “ideal” wife Sita to stay back and take care of the in-laws. Why then like a good wife she did not listen? The whole saga of the Ravan and Lanka could have been avoided and such a big epic might never have been written. Instead our lady, begged, appeased, gave all possible reasons and managed to get her way and go with her husband. She had a mind of her own and she exercised her rights to speak up and stick it out. And that my friends - is the lady celebrated over generations as the “ideal Indian wife”.

Now if the women today do stand up or stick it out - they are modernized, westernized, uncultured and lack sanskaar!!