The Outrage Over Rajasthan Minister Govind Ram Meghwal’s Remark On Karwa Chauth Is Lost On Us

By Priyadarshini Malavia Updated August 21, 2022 6:20 PM

Earlier today I heard the news that Rajasthan minister Govind Ram Meghwal, offended everyone with his opinions on women in India. A male politician commenting on women’s issues within the country, what’s new? However, I was in for a pretty pleasant surprise when I heard what he had to say. Minister Meghwal spoke about the differences between the women of our country and that of the US and China. But as luck would have it, people in the country have chosen to be offended about this and BJP demanded he apologises.

As a Gen Z person, I feel like people in India are slowly losing their open-mindedness. With the call for boycotting being thrown here and there, I don’t even understand what upsets the people in this country anymore. Today, we have chosen to be upset over the words of Rajasthan minister Govind Ram Meghwal as he criticised the patriarchal practice of celebrating Karwa Chauth rather than following a more scientific path. According to sources, this is what Minister Meghwal said, “Women in China and the US are living in the world of science, but it is unfortunate that even today, women here on Karwa Chauth see through a sieve, talk about the long life of their husband. But a husband never sees a sieve for the long life of his wife.”

As a woman myself, I fail to understand what the outrage is over. Isn’t Karwa Chauth a patriarchal practice at the very core? A wife stays hungry and thirsty all day and can only consume something when her husband breaks her fast just for his long life whereas, for the most part, men don’t really do the same for their wives. What is not patriarchal about this? Having said that, I am not saying that we should stop celebrating Karwa Chauth. You are free to celebrate what you like, as you like, But what minister Meghwal said isn’t wrong either.

Also Read: Ratna Pathak Shah Appalled By Modern Educated Women Observing Karwa Chauth, Comments Send Twitter Into A Frenzy

Moreover, I don’t even think he was trying to undermine whatever Indian women have achieved so far. From the context of the conversation, I believe that his criticism was rather about the patriarchal and regressive society we still live in today; holding our women back when other countries’ women are advancing thanks to their scientific thinking. Again, nothing wrong with what he said. The women in our country are brilliant and have so much potential that gets hindered thanks to the majority of the country still having an extremely archaic misogynistic and sexist mindset.

Also Read: From Neetu Kapoor To Kriti Sanon, Congratulatory Messages Pour In For Sonam Kapoor, Anand Ahuja As They Welcome A Baby Boy

Whether we like it or not, India isn’t perfect and to get defensive whenever someone points out our weaknesses isn’t going to help us make progress either. I personally believe we are better than that. Our country and culture are predominantly patriarchal in nature and if we want to help our women live up to their full potential, that has to change.