I have always been against for women covering their faces, whether its purdah for the Hindu women or naqab for their Muslim sisters. I never find any logical reason for doing so, God has given me a unique face, it’s my unique identity then what is the need to cover it. Or there is so much distrust of one human being in other that we need to cover our face and use the veil as a shield to protect ourselves.
The times when this must have been introduced were different from today, now women are not what they use to be; we no longer live in anarchy or in a monarchial set up? In a free independent India when we have equal rights, why these women does not have an equal status?
Shopping in the old streets of Bhopal, I see various women who have either covered their face either with the anchal of the saree or a burqa. Even if it is 45 degree hot they are jam packed with these black clothes (which absorbs even more heat). Few days back in these same street a burqa clad women was sitting next to me in a shoe shop, I turned my face right and we happen to look at each other I passed a smile but I couldn’t make out that whether she responded to my smile with a smile or not as her face was covered. She bought something and started walking, I looked at her again, our eyes met – she must have smiled at me but again I couldn’t make out.
What harm it could have made if I would have seen her smiling face behind the black cloth, it happened to make a sort of communication gap between us and not only me it happens with lots of people. I feel it kinds of takes away your freedom to express yourself. Even if that woman smiled back at me, I just couldn’t know.
Advocates of veil justify it by saying that it protects the dignity of a woman, they chose to wear it at their own will, and it protects them from evil eyes.
Well then I beg to disagree, a veil is not the symbol of dignity of a woman, it’s her stature and her conduct, and not a piece of cloth. And even if women nowadays choose to wear it, then I would like to say even this choice was imposed upon them much before in history by the male counterpart.
It’s a pity that a face is considered no more than a pretty item, which needs to be concealed out of shame of being looked at. Do you believe beauty is something shameful that need to be covered? If so why God created it?
I don’t say that modernism is throwing off your clothes, if covering your face is a sign of conservatism than neither wearing a mini skirt suggests liberalism. We live in an era where equality is being sought, then why are we humans creating these sorts of discriminations. Let a human live like he/she is, when God makes no discrimination why do we?
I’m still thinking of those two glittering eyes, her smile must be as beautiful as her eyes were.
4 comments:
Always comaparing with men and trying to equate women with men has brought lot of problems. Men and women are two separate entities physically, mentally, psychologically and spiritually too. Women are fighting for 'equal rights' since days immemorial but they are never satisfied .. why? because men and women can not be equal .. they are completely different beings. They are made for each other to help each other. ALLAH wants team work from husband and wife to help each other lead a principled life. Its not about equality and iequality. A man does not like him to be treated like a women .. but why does a women like and aspire to be treated like a man? This is because of the false propaganda of the society that men are superior and that they are enjoying some special status in the society. women lose their importance and their very self while trying to 'equate' themselves with men. they (men and women) are different and they will be more happy and peaceful if they are treated differently.
Also as per Quran and hadith, face and hands can be shows but some feel it safe to cover the face too. Why do people always try to highlight few women who are unhappy with the viel? there are many proud muslimahs who love their vieland feel pride in wearing it.
Well said Soumya, I completely agree.
Infact, putting on a veil makes a complete sex object out of a woman. By telling a woman she should cover her face, you are telling her even her face is a sexual object which needs to be hidden to avoid 'fitnah' in the society.
I find it extremely demeaning. Women of my own family take veils, but as Dr Zaheer said already, they are amongst the women who happily take it.
They take pride in obeying the orders of the society which considers their entire being as merely a sexual object. When I am walking down the street, why cannot people see the woman in me? the daughter in me? the sister in me? the student in me? the worker in me? the friend in me and the lover in me?
All the society sees and wants to see is any sexual attraction my body may have, and this one aspect of my life and my existence overwhelmes everything else.
And its disgusting. I refuse to demean myself that way, I refuse to wear a veil showing everyone I am an object that needs to be hidden.
I am a human being and its my fundamental right to show my identity.
Well written Soumya!
An interesting article written well. ending is well presented. You could have talked to that person may be next time you meet.
i agree with Soumya hundred percent. Face is a unique identity of every person why the hell does she should be forced to cover it ?? wen a male's open face doesnot harm a women's chemsitry then how come a women's open face harm his chemistry?
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