Yesterday, I came across an interesting and thought-provoking Sher - an Urdu couplet - written by Zehra Nigaah.
Par us kay liye koyi bhi achhaa nahin hotaa "
(By: Zehra Nigah)
Meaning:
A woman has two Gods -
One in this world (her husband) and the second in the other world (God).
But neither one is good or fair to her (devoid of bias and discrimination).
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Perhaps this type of thinking is rooted in the origins of the Abrahamic religions.
According to the story, common in all Abrahamic religions, God created man and placed him in Heaven.
One day, God saw that Adam was lonely and sad.
So, God created a woman from one of Adam's ribs - to serve and entertain Adam.
According to this anecdote or ideology, God did not create man and woman simultaneously, at the same time - or even equally.
The woman was created to please and serve the man.
Aurat* - is an Arabic word for a Woman.*
(Please see the literal meaning of Aurat in the footnotes)
Hindi words for man and woman are - Nar and Naari.
No Authentic Hindu Holy Scripture has ever said Naari is less than a Nar or a man.
In fact, women are placed on a higher pedestal in Hindu Holy Scriptures -
"Yatra Naariastu Poojyatay - Tatra Ramantay Devtah"
Meaning- where women are respected and worshipped, Gods reside there.
It is only the Hindu Dharma and culture where this ideology is practically seen where so many female Devis - Goddesses are worshipped - such as Devi Durga, Sarasvati, Laxmi, Parvati, Kali, Seeta, Radha, etc.
In fact, the wife's name is given priority and enunciated before the Gods - such as Radha-Krishna, Seeta-Ram, Laxmi-Narayan, Gauri-Shankar, etc.
No Hindu Pooja or custom - spiritual or social - is considered complete without the presence of the wife - sitting right next to the husband.
Guru Nanak also said - "So kyon manda aakhiye jit jammay rajaan"
During my childhood, I witnessed an old popular Hindu custom called Kanjkaan - A custom when five female children from the neighborhood are invited and worshipped by the whole family.
They were offered a higher seat - and everyone sat at their feet and prostrated before them.
Food and gifts were offered to them after doing prostrations.
I remember our non-Hindu neighbors and friends making fun of such customs. Even so-called Hindu intellectuals with a Westernized mindset criticized and laughed at such customs.
However, such practical demonstrations of this and other similar Hindu customs created a lasting impact on our young minds - an impression that women are supposed to be respected - and not to be repressed or considered less in any way.
" Rajan Sachdeva "
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Note:
I don't know in which context Zehra Nigah has written this verse, but this is very apt for a famous court case going on in India right now - in which statements of Muslim clerics are coming against the decision of the Supreme Court for granting small alimony to a divorced Muslim woman. They are saying that giving any money for her livelihood to an ex-wife is against their religion and religious books (Quran and Hadith) - and it is unfair and injustice towards men.
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* The word "Aurat" originally comes from the Arabic word "Awrah". In Arabic, the words Awrah or Awrat denote defectiveness, imperfection, blemish, weakness, genitalia, loins, private parts, pudendum flaw, defect, and fault.[3]
(Wikipedia)
According to one Urdu dictionary, the literal meaning of Aurat is - the one who has an Auraa - An opening or entrance to a passage at the end of the cervix of the uterus.
** When the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution was adopted in 1868, the Equal Protection Clause, which guarantees equal protection of the laws, did not apply to women. It was not until 1971 that the United States Supreme Court extended equal protection to sex-based discrimination.
Poetess whose quote is analysed has expressed reality of women by her religion which considers woman as a commodity. Critique of Women in Hindus, Sikhs faith and even by American governance system is apt. Currently it's plight of Muslim women which is under active consideration of Apex court in India. Think post 1971 US has witnessed a surge in emancipation of women folk. In India despite of support from legal system for equality for women, mindsets of Indians (Males) continue to be conventional. Participation of women in work space, though is improving, yet it remains far behind when compared with advanced World. Anyways. Fantastic thought provoking read, Professor Sahib.
ReplyDeleteDon’t know what the intention of the author is but i interpreted this as a spiritual connection, as in Sufism they address ruh - as women , my mind is not happy with the worldly affairs and the Great God - this mind is never happy with either 🙏🙏
ReplyDeleteThis couplet by Zehra Nigah explores the dual expectations and challenges faced by women in traditional societies. Let's break it down:
ReplyDelete**"औरत के ख़ुदा दो हैं - हक़ीक़ी ओ मजाज़ी"**
- Translation: A woman has two gods - the real one (true God) and the metaphorical one (her husband or societal expectations).
- Meaning: In many cultures, women are often expected to balance their devotion between their spiritual beliefs (true God) and their earthly obligations, which are often represented by their husbands or the societal norms that dictate their roles and behavior.
**"पर उस के लिए कोई भी अच्छा नहीं होता”**
- Translation: But for her, neither is truly good.
- Meaning: Despite her efforts to fulfill both roles and meet both sets of expectations, neither her spiritual devotion nor her adherence to societal norms completely satisfies her or acknowledges her struggles. She often finds herself in a position where her efforts are not fully appreciated or rewarded.
Overall, the couplet highlights the difficult position of women who are caught between religious and societal expectations, often feeling that they can never fully satisfy either.
Thanks for sharing very deep thoughts
ReplyDelete