Names Like Nirbhaya And Abhaya Are Pretty Meaningless

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 22 August 2024 Somewhere, This Deep-Rooted Misogyny Stems From Men's Inherent Inferiority Complex And Fear Of Women. Deep-Down, Men Are Aware Of Women's Supremacy, Their Greater Emotional Resilience And Intelligence. The Psychological Saying, 'You Disparage, When You Lack Courage,' Applies Here. ----- Bahut Bemani Se Naam Hain, Nirbhaya-Abhaya KyonNa Pukarein 'Maasooma'- Kya SharmAati Hai? (Names like Nirbhaya and Abhaya are pretty meaningless/ Why shouldn't we call her Maasooma- helpless and innocent- Are we ashamed?) Anjum Lakhnavi, A retired mandarin of Central Bank of India Pahle BarhanaKiya Sar-E-Aam Uss Maasoom Ko Phir Mita Ke Naam Uss Ka 'Ahtiraam' KiyaHumne Suhail Kalkatvi (We disrobed that helpless woman in public and then expunged her name out of 'respect') It has always intrigued me when I see and hear names like Nirbhaya and Abhaya, who succumbed to the lust of a pack of licentious men. Agreed, their names shouldn't be disclosed in publications and forums as a mark of 'respect' to them. But doesn't this 'respect' smack of pontification? It's not a woman's fault to be brutalized by men. A woman is indeed helpless and extremely vulnerable in 'modern' times. In fact, she has always been at the receiving end. The objectification-cum-subjugation of women in Indian society is a hoary-old phenomenon. We all know Mandan Mishra, a great philosopher. But hardly anyone heard of his wife, Ubhaya Bharati, who was a far greater philosopher and who came to argue with Adi Shankara when her erudite husband was defeated by Adi Shankara in a metaphysical discourse. We've been weaned on the fallacious notion that a woman is perennially inferior, impure and full of guile. Even our semantic formations reek of a woman's negative trait(s). Just think of the words Laasymayee (bewitching) in Sanskrit. The word 'Laasya' reeks of a woman's embedded carnality just like 'witch' in English word 'bewitching' savours of something negative. It's because of a woman's perceived oomphy self, she's prohibited at temples and many sects. Swaminarayan Sect of Gujarat doesn't allow women's entry, lest they should pollute the minds of sexually-frustrated ' venerable men.' Aurat Pair Ki Jooti Or StreeBhogyaYogyam (woman must be 'enjoyed') mentality has percolated down to the 'modern' societal set up so much so that a couple of years ago, one CM of a northern state audaciously commented upon women wearing jeans, shorts or torn clothes. A woman smoking in public is condescendingly reminded of Sidney Sheldon's famous (or infamous?) quote that a woman gains more by remaining a woman. She's always a home-breaker or a Kulta (slut), but a man is never 'embellished' with such disparaging adjectives. Rather, he's called a 'stallion' or a 'stud' as if his (sexual) capers, nay s(exploits), are some great accomplishments and feats! You may have heard this sarcastic little rhyme, ' When a woman is a flirt, she's full of dirt / But when a man philanders, he's 'innocuous' and full of mirth!' It's worthwhile to mention that when a foreign journalist interviewed one of the accused in Nirbhaya Rape and Murder Case at Delhi's Tihar Jail, he said, ' Had the girl 'cooperated' with us while raping her, we'd have spared her and not killed!' This is rank misogyny and arrant gender discrimination, so well entrenched in Indian male psyche. Rapist 'godman' Asaram immediately said after Nirbhaya's rape and murder that had she called those rapists 'brothers', they would have spared her. Ironically, the pervert 'godman' himself didn't spare a young girl and brutally raped her at his ashram when she implored, calling him Bapu/ father and even god! Men need to develop a gender neutral attitude towards all women. Somewhere, this deep-rooted misogyny stems from men's inherent inferiority complex and fear of women. Deep-down, men are aware of women's supremacy, their greater emotional resilience and intelligence. The psychological saying, 'you disparage, when you lack courage,' applies here. Men disparage women because they (males) lack courage, courage to accept women's significance. But remember, however hard we may condemn women, we cannot progress sans them. ' As for women, though we scorn and flout them/We may live with but cannot live without them.' So very true. ------ A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/nirbhayaabhaya-pretty-meaningless/d/133007 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism