Ok. I'm reading ramayanam now because Akshaya is so interested in it. And I have so many thoughts and questions on it.
On the downside women are seen as property of men. They are powerful no doubt yet also fragile in some ways. They are objectified even in the ramayanam - limbs breasts thighs all described at length- rape and lust ... Women needing the protection of men.
On the interesting side- time means totally different things! They easily live for thousands of years! Gods and Demi gods and supreme gods and man - all interacting with ease- devotion prayer makes up a lot of the day-
There is terrible public rape of rhambai by ravana- after which rhambai's husband curses ravana- he can't ever touch another woman against her will - he will be destroyed. He doesn't dare take a woman against her will after that. She stopped him from tormenting other women in this particular wAy.
That scene is just so resonant today- an Indian girl recently was brutally raped and murdered in delhi and it has caused such uproar world over. Rape and molestation has been rampant in india and world over for ages. But the savagery of this incident has raised it to consciousness forcing India to publicly acknowledge its shameful attitudes to women and admit that something has to be done.
If this girl is like rhambai - her death need not be in vain. Her suffering Can stop rape - reduce it at least- her death will not be for nothing.
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