AHMEDABAD
Speaking on 'Gendered Gaze in Our Mythology', Pattanaik gave certain examples on the same and admitted that there exists gendered gaze but in India, it is through this notion of purity
Urging students to ask questions on the invisibilization of women through political and spiritual discourse, renowned author and mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik pointed towards visuals around us that portray only male Gods.
Pattanaik was speaking at the first edition of Women Writer's Festival 2018 held at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. Speaking on 'Gendered Gaze in Our Mythology', Pattanaik gave certain examples on the same and admitted that there exists gendered gaze but in India, it is through this notion of purity.
Touching upon a very sensitive issue of pure and impure, he said, "We have established power through the medium of shubh and ashubh. This is something that nobody in the world will understand. Across the world, a hierarchy is created through money and power. The male body is privileged and purer as compared to a female body. It is found across traditions and which is why when a woman menstruates she does not enter the kitchen. This is where the power comes from. Shubh and Ashubh are two words you cannot explain. They do not have any rational explanation and are the basis of the caste system and gender discrimination."
He further added, "God is always visualised as a male. It is believed that God created Adam and Eve was created from Adam's body. This actually contradicts the fact that it is women who give birth and reproduce. Who has written all these things? Is it men? We all need to give this a thought and form our opinions. Mythology, in general, is controlled by men. Mythology also says that a man not born from the womb of a woman or one who stays away from women is a superior being. What needs to be highlighted today is stories of Sati and Savitri who were brave and courageous women and not only Sita and Draupadi about whom we have been speaking of since ages."
Patriarchy in India is not in the form of a Mucchad, but a celibate male form. The moment I talk in terms of celibacy, I see the rejection of women, he said.
He concluded his talk by saying, "There is a movement going on when all you see is only male forms being depicted when looking at political posters and idols. Shiva is shown without Parvati, Ram is shown without Sita, Krishna is shown without Raas Leela. Who is cutting out on women? We are ready to make an idol of Ram, why not Siyaram?."
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