Be it parts of
Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan or North Karnataka, these Jauhars were practised when
the Rajput men lost the battle fighting the Muslim army. The women committed
Jauhar and the men Walked the Saka(Saka is a practise where in the remaining
men would apply the ashes of their wives and children on their forehead, dress
in saffron and walk out of the fort to kill the enemy or to be killed by them). The reason could be that the women and
children were taken captive and hurled into their harems as sex slaves.
Another reason could be due to the treachery
faced by the defeated army by the Muslim kings.
Often the Rajputs could make peace with the enemy and when they went to
meet them with their children and women, they would be slaughtered. The Rajputs
would at times marry their daughters to the Muslim kings to protect their
community and kingdom to save themselves from their fury.
When their men
lost the battle with the enemy(Muslim invaders), the Rajput women had no choice
but to commit Jauhar as they feared the reputation of the enemy and to protect
one’s honour and dignity. They did not even
want their remains to be touched by their enemies. Such was the intention of
Jauhar.
This is indeed a
saddening plight of the Rajput women of those times to have taken their lives
in this manner. A whole life gifted by God went in vain. For some it is a mass
suicide, for some it is lives being taken off in a split of a second and for
others it is a heroic act by women of those times.
On Re-thinking,
why did these queens along with other women not fight in the battlefield? What
stopped the men from treating them as equals or give them equal opportunity in
all areas? Was it the male dominance or the ego or different rules set by the
society for men and women? Was it that in spite of having all the qualities,
they stepped back and allowed their men to rule and intervened only when there
was no choice left? Again, that would be too late. By the time, they took the
forefront the damage would be done and they were left with less resources to
handle. Ultimately it would lead to a Jauhar when they could not sustain
anymore.
Coming to
present times, we have abolished Sati-self immolation tradition and thankfully
no Jauhars happening in the country (at least I don’t know of any). There are
no practical self immolations and foreign invaders.
In the
twelfth -thirteenth century self immolation was practised in a particular
situation but in today’s times it has spread across the country. Jauhar of a
different type and face is seen in and around us. Though we speak of a
progressive and a modern day society we are far, far away from it. It is just
another coffee table discussion
There are
still lot of women and children in our country falling prey to vicious
mentalities -the brutal, obsessive, ruthless, harsh, and inhuman types. One who
can go to extreme to achieve his goal. We have heard and read such incidents of
boys/men going to extremes to achieve their love or hurting women if they fail
to get them. We have known incidents of domestic violence, discrimination by
colour, looks and trivial matters. We have had incidents of infants, babies
being molested, raped, and killed for reasons known or unknown. Even the Delhi
incident that ran a shock wave in the country was no less than a Jauhar. She did
put up a strong fight but would be burning within in anger, anguish and
helplessness-no one knows.
Women are
silently self immolating themselves internally day after day failing to react
to such men in the name of society, faith, religion, family pride. They are not
in a position to fight for themselves not for others. They are captive of their
own agony. Girls are fighting for their basic rights. Women are making their
efforts to make a mark in the society and the struggle is a long one.
What do women
look for? Equal opportunities than being equated to their counterparts. To be
treated as another individual. Treat them with respect and dignity than just
worshipping the personified goddesses when required. To be heard and responded
than blocking their voice.
On second
thoughts, if there was a choice, had the Rajput women trained to use arms and
ammunition and the tactics of warfare they would have equally fought with
their men. Had the men not been so rigid and thought of them to be any less
than them, maybe the tale would be different. The History might have spoken of
complete bravery, equality and equal opportunity. There would be an entire
different of which the women folk have been treated then and now. There would
be less stories of self immolation and more stories of valour, bravery and
courage. The women folk would be well-respected and accepted as equals in the
society and generations to follow. No other invaders either internal or
external have the nerve to lay his hands on a woman’s dignity and question her
identity or treat their girls and women in a disgraceful manner.
We learn and
practise a lot from our previous generations and history. Had we been a society
that practises education, empowerment, encouragement, respect and equal
opportunity their women and girls there would be a complete new face of a women
in the history (though we have a very few of them). We would have a tales of
delight and heroism than a story of horror, terror and disgust.
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