Standing in the front of the mirror, she was longing to put on a red bindi. To some, it might seem like a trivial matter (“it is just a bindi”), but for her, it is now a wish unlikely to come true; last year, her husband passed away in an accident; therefore, even the simplest acts of self-expression feel like a sin in the eyes of the society. To them, she is now a widow.
Customs forbids a widow from wearing to segregate them from married women.
My question is, why? Many of you might disagree with the above statement, saying that nowadays, we can barely differentiate a widow from a married woman. You may say, “The world has now progressed,” but has the world progressed?
In my opinion, the answer is no. Progress unfolds in the globe like a mosaic of advancements punctuated by stark disparities. On the one hand, the great minds of society are giving speeches on integrating Artificial Intelligence with Human beings; on the other, those same minds struggle to accept a widow wearing a “Red Bindi.” Society questions her intentions and character if a widow wears a bright-colored sari. I emphasize women here because society is biased; widowed men do not face the same scrutiny in this context -they are not pressured to wear white.
After all, society tries to bandage this cruelty by saying, “kuch thoh logh kahenge, logon kam hain kehna” ( Some people will always talk; it is their nature to comment). However, the reality is that the affective friction or the emotional dissonance in people’s minds hinders their progress. Their irritation to step out of what they are used to has kept them stuck with the same old societal norms in the name of customs, traditions, beliefs, and symbols of purity.
Embracing change requires courage, and to create an inclusive society that honors self-expression and individuality, we must dare to bring that change equally to every nook and cranny of society. Fortunately, now we have the power of social media to amplify women’s unheard and oppressed voices, allowing their stories of resilience to empower and inspire others. However, despite the narratives, a meaningful change remains elusive. It is not enough to share narratives; we must constantly challenge the status quo, advocate for policy changes, and support various grassroots movements to uplift marginalized voices.
Dear women, my message is to find your strength, embrace your choices, and, most importantly, never fear society because these societal norms will only change if you dare to step ahead of your limits. So this year, I encourage you to wear that red bindi- dare to express yourself!
Let us break the barriers and redefine what it means to be a woman in today’s society.
Awesome Adreeja, so ahead of your age and times.Clarity of thought and ease of communication is breathtaking.Keep it up.
✍️✍️✍️✍️🙏🙏🙏
Proud of you my dear. Yes the change must happen for the good. God bless.