In our patriarchal society, women are always accustomed with certain norms and duties that are often harsh on them. The society has also set some rules on men but as compared to women, the rules for men are more lenient and easy going. The time when these rules were set, they seemed to be equal for both men and women as men had to work hard to earn a livelihood while the women took care of the home and family.

Today, the scenario is completely different as the hardships for men are not the same with the evolution of technology and mankind altogether. However, the case is not same for women in the country. Although, many women in the urban cities are enjoying the liberty of modernization and freedom to make their own decisions, many others are still under the scrutiny of our cultural norms, rules and regulations.

Is Religious Norms Behind Such Injustice On Women?

The basic reason for women falling under this scrutiny is mostly because of the Religions and their heads. As Religion drives the culture and traditions all over the world, it is evident that the leaders of each religion set norms and regulations for all beings globally.

Recently, all over India, the crime against women has amplified to an extent that today many women fear to go out alone. Rapes, molestation, acid attacks etc. are making the headlines of leading newspapers of the country on a regular basis. Since Nirbhaya’s incident, instead of decrease in violence against women, it has peaked all over the country.

This sudden peak can be due to the reason that the men who commit these crimes are not experiencing any remorse or guilt after committing such brutal crimes against women. Most of these men are backed up by religious leaders for their evil crimes claiming that the women deserve it if they break the society norms.

Such baseless and idiotic statements from religious Godmen and spiritual leaders actually encourage these men into committing crimes under the aid of getting supported by religious leaders and people altogether in the future.

Why Do Religious Leaders Getaway After Giving Idiotic Comments?

In India and almost everywhere in the world, you can’t getaway making anti-religion comments as it is considered to be hurting the religious sentiments of many followers. But at the same time, these religion heads or spiritual gurus get away after making discriminatory comments against women. All I want to ask our government or the so-called religion administrators if women don’t have sentiments at all. Don’t they feel hurt when such ridiculous statements are made against them when they are the prime victim here?

Image Source: deccanchronicle.com

After Nirbhaya’s incident, the famous Godmen and accused rapist, Asaram Bapu made this statement,

“The victim is as guilty as her rapists. … She should have called the culprits brothers and begged before them to stop.”

The girl who suffered the brutal crime and fought for her life for months was termed guilty by Asaram openly in front of his followers yet none of his followers came out and defied the statement. Isn’t that hurting the sentiments of a girl and her family who are not yet revoked from such a brutality forced into their lives?

If that was not enough, there was another statement made by RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat after Delhi Gang Rape Case:

“Where ‘Bharat’ becomes ‘India’ with the influence of western culture, these type of incidents happen.”

According to Mr. Bhagwat, rape incidents as well as other sex crimes against women have spiked in the country because of westernization and the influence of western culture. He also added that there are no such incidents registered in villages or forest regions of the country.

Image Source: thehindu.com

If this was not enough, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the Chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islami Fazl, Pakistan, was rightly heard quoting to the media that the disastrous Nepal Earthquake was caused due to Women Wearing Jeans.

“From Earthquakes to inflation are caused by the Jeans-Wearing Women.”

Although he belongs to Pakistan, our neighbor, Does it really suit someone to target a woman who sacrifices all her life for her family and loved ones?

Such bizarre statements are not made by people from a specific religion or community. Recently, a Pakistani cleric, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, claimed that women who wear jeans are the reason behind earthquakes and terrorism. This was truly one of the most hideous and idiotic comments yet made against women. He also added that military action should be taken on women who wear jeans, terming them as “immodest women”. I don’t understand where his modesty goes while making such sexist remarks on women which have no connection whatsoever with nature or terrorism.

When Will These Powerful Leaders Realize Their Responsibility?

It is not a new trend adapted by powerful men in the community, whether from the religious circle or political arena to make such remarks against women. Many well-known politicians in India like Mulayam Singh Yadav, Farooq Abdullah, Babulal Gaur, MLA Abu Azmi, VHP leader Ashok Singhal, Abhijit Mukherjee (Son of current Indian President Pranab Mukherjee), Mamta Banerjee and many others have made remarks degrading the image of women who are bold and believe in freedom to live life in the same way as men in the country.

In spite of this, no law or authority is taking action against these culprits who have given pity remarks hurting the sentiments of all the women in the country. There’s a famous saying which goes, “With Great Power Comes Greater Responsibility” but most of our leaders don’t understand the value of power and often misdirect people in wrong direction.

It is very sad to know that in a country, that worships Goddesses like Lakshmi, Parvati, Ganga or Saraswati, the leaders of the same country both religious as well as political don’t value the rights of a women while accusing her for all the crimes and injustice towards her when she is actually the victim.