Letters to Manushi

To me, it appears that those who While we fully agree that it would Thought Provoking are more oppressed need a much be better to bring out a paper monthly, This has reference to Madhu higher degree of provocation than do weekly or even daily, if possible, we Kishwar’s review of Nihalani’s three those less oppressed. Thus, while an are constrained by our very limited films, published in Manushi No. 20, urban woman rightly gets angry at an resources. Earlier, it was difficult even under the title “In the name of eve teaser, a poor, helpless woman in a to bring out the magazine on time man-hood, not humanity.” village may remain apparently quiet every two months. Last year, we did You are right in pointing out that even after suffering a sexual assault. manage to bring out all six issues, and the popularity of Ardh Satya is due to Of course, when she is provoked she we hope to stabilise the situation this its Amitabh Bachan film like ending may really become a Durga and may year. While it is not possible for us at which gives a false satis-faction to kill the attacker barehanded. present to bring out the magazine viewers that finally, after all, good has At least, these movies are thought monthly or in more than two won over evil. It is true that a more provoking and this is a big change for languages, it is our hope that women’s natural ending would have been one Hindi films. felt need for more such forums will where Velankar again compromised V.K. Tondon, Roorkee stimulate the production of other with Shetty, as this is what Velankar Delicate Balance women’s magazines in re-gional has been shown doing all along. A well I liked the Ismat Chugtai inter-view languages by other groups, who could known drama, Ek Aur Dronacharya, as well as her story in No. 19. It brought perhaps then coordinate and is more satisfying in this respect a delicate balance to Manushi which, I translate material from one language because it shows reality and does not think, sometimes seems to lack humour to another. A few such regional turn away from it at the end. While Ardh and the kind of common sense that language magazines and newsletters Satya shows corruption by Ismat Chugtai represents. But perhaps are now in existence. compromise in the police force, Ek Aur the story of women in India is not really —Manushi Dronacharya shows the same funny —and how can you make it so?... Struggle For Dignity phenomenon amongst academics. But Vasantha Surya, Madras then, one can financially afford to be Bimonthly Not Enough After a long time, I saw Manushi more realistic in a dramatic production We have tried to expand the sales again. The film reviews are interesting than in a commercial or semicommercial of Manushi here but the biggest and enlightening. I found the review movie. obstacle is its being published once in of Gandhi a well thought out analysis. You point out that in Akrosh “It is two months. I think this question needs The positive and negative points of highly significant that none of the to be thought about. Even at the cost the film had been clearly brought out. tribal women are shown bottling up of reducing the number of pages, it But I think that Gandhi’s work for their rage.” It is true that women, should be published every month on a un-touchables was just playacting, on particularly tribal women, are the most definite date. which the Congress is still cashing in oppressed section of society hence We have to stimulate the desire to today. Apart from keeping a couple of they have bottled up their rage against read amongst people. As it is, a majority untouchables in his ashram, Gandhiji their oppressors much more than have of Indian women are un-educated. did not in any way attack the structure any other section of society. But don’t How effective will it be to feed her this of the caste system. Gandhi was not a you think the desperation and elixir at intervals of two months ? I true sympathiser of dalits, and they are helpless-ness has been made so much would like this libe-ration magazine to realising it today. a way of life for them that it is not be published in the 16 major languages I liked the article “I fought for my unnatural for a tribal woman to look on of India, and to be published life and won” by Sohaila Abdulali. She while the man attempts to pro-tect the regularly... has continuously faced and overcome family and its honour—of course, as Kamla Mahesh Sinha, Nasik insecurity, fear, anger and he deems fit ? (translated from Hindi) helplessness. She has confronted the 24 MANUSHI physical and psychological insults and and Sita in her subconscious may service. This woman has spent the best tortures heaped upon women — and influence her actions. In her perso-nal part of her life working here and is she has won. By print-ing the article life, she may be more submis-sive. uncertain of getting another job at this with her own name and photograph, Motivated by love and selfless-ness, age. She cannot risk losing the pittance she has once again demonstrated her she may be a regular martyr. she has. courage... Every woman should hold Sexism is prominent in religions Under our Constitution, the right her head high and live with dignity like too, even at a metaphorical level. Men to life is guaranteed to every citizen. Sohaila. have institutionalised their chauvinism, Can we say that this adivasi woman Sardara Singh, Patiala and their standards have come to be has the right to life when she is paid (translated from Hindi) accepted as inviol-able norms..- such a low wage today, when prices New Ways Of Life Mani Ramarao, Madras are so high? If her right to life is being ...Our organisation, Chetna, a Right To Life snatched away from her, can the courts progressive, democratic, cultural ...I was glad to hear about the case or the government do anything for her? I wrote to the People’s Union for forum, has printed pamphlets against filed in the supreme court, challenging dowry. About 60 young men of our Democratic Rights about this case. organisation have recently vowed not They informed me that minimum wage to take dowry when they get married. is not guaranteed to domestic servants. We have decided to carry on a The Minimum Wages Act applies only campaign against dowry. The to workers in govern-ment enterprises, pamphlet is the first step in that companies and to contract labour. direction. At our meeting on January This woman’s employer is a very obstinate man. If he is openly 26, we took another revolu-tionary con-fronted, he will immediately decision. We will discard the caste dismiss the woman. He is also a very names that are usually joined to our in-fluential and well known man, so he first names. No mem-ber of Chetna will cannot easily be brought to the dock. use a caste indi-cative surname in Is there any way of extending legal future. I have dropped the name help to this woman ?... Sharma and joined the name Saraswat Hira Lal Srivastava, Jamshedpur to my first name..- (translated from Hindi) Amarnath Saraswat, Gorakhpur Man Born Of Woman (translated from Hindi) From March 1 to 3, the Islami Alami Thought And Action the unconstitutional denial of land Ijatma was held at Ararhia in Purnea, ...Throughout history, though rights to Ho adivasi women...I wish to Bihar. About 40 lakh men gathered at there were women scholars even in the tell you about another exploited tribal this religious meet-ing but not a single Vedic age, at no time have women been woman. If you know of any woman was allowed to attend. If regarded as more important than men constitutional remedy to help her, women approached or stood in the or equal to them. Women have please take some action. nearby fields, men would go in a group generally been cloistered in their There is a high official in to turn them out. Announcements were homes. The typical idea that a woman Jamshedpur who has many servants— repeatedly made over the mike : “Do can look after the home best is still a cook, a bearer, a washerman and two not allow women to come. It is the duty prevalent. While a woman’s greater ayahs in his bungalow. One of the of men to send away any woman who capacity for endurance, gentleness and ayahs is an adivasi and the other is comes in.” sensitivity are conceded, she is also not. The adivasi woman has been Islam nowhere forbids women to expected to be the eternal sufferer— working there for 15 years but she is participate in religious gatherings or Any person’s psyche is paid only Rs 120 a month, while the to hear religious teachings. Men and condi-tioned by concepts prevalent in other woman who has worked there women go on the haj together and pray general consciousness, which intrude about three years, is paid Rs 250 a together there. When questioned, into his or her thinking and actions. month. Both of them do similar work. some men say that women are impure Thus an Indian woman might believe In fact, the adivasi woman is harder hence they were forbidden to enter the in her absolute equality to a man, workerd. meeting. But if woman is impure, how except in physical capacities. But in a The poor adivasi woman does not can men, who are born of her womb, situation that demands the application dare demand a raise because two be pure ? of this principle, she may act bearers who dared make such a demand Khurshid Jahan, Bihar differently. Symbols such as Savitri have already been dismissed from (translatedfrom Hindi)

NUMBER TWENTY TWO, 1984 25 Women Die, Campaign The girls told me that any girl who sit in front of the girls while they eat. Succeeds falls in love with a boy will be sent home The students do not have a immediately. Such cases have occurred union or association. When I asked the ...Several women have died in the in the past. Girls are not supposed to students why they do not fight for their sterilisation campaign that has been go outside their hostel after 6 p.m., not rights, all of them said that anyone who going on in Rajasthan for the last two even to the library which is adjacent to dares question the rules will months. The People’s Union for Civil their hostel. However, boys can use immediately be sent home or will be Liberties is conducting an enquiry in the library up to 9.30 p.m. Girls are not failed in the examination. Their which I am participating. I have just allowed to go to the department store universal comment was that if they returned from Sawai Madhopur district except on Sundays. Girls are not protested, instead of getting the degree where I had gone in this connection. allowed to go home at all during term in three years, they would get it in 10 In this district about half a dozen time, not even at weekends. They can years, because they are completely women died on the operating table. visit their homes only during vacations, dependent on the staff for internal The medical team works with great provided they bring a letter from their assessment and for marks in the speed, completing about 150 or 200 parents. Once in a way, they are examinations. Therefore each student operations in the course of a single day allowed to go and see a film, but they concentrates on somehow getting the without conducting the necessary must be escorted by a female warden. degree and leaving the institution. preliminary examination. Most of the Otherwise, they are not to step out of Some of them said that they had lost women who died were pregnant when the campus. Their letters are censored. their creative personalities after joining they underwent the operation. This this institution, but they do not want shows how little value a woman’s life to spoil their career prospects by has in the eyes of society. The doctors putting up a fight. The girls said that are interested only in reaching their their hostel is worse than a prison. targets. Even if some lives are lost, the Sunila Singh, Madras national programme is still called successful... Servility, Not Respect Asha Bhargava, Jaipur ...Recently, I had a very painful (translated from Hindi) experience. I attended the 71st Indian Students Or Slaves ? Science Congress at Ranchi. The university authorities had invited world Recently, I visited the Gandhigram famed Odissi dancer Sanjukta Rural Institute in Madurai district, Panigrahi to participate in the cultural Tamil Nadu. This institution professes programme. Her programme was to train students as rural development scheduled for the evening of January workers on Gandhian lines. When I reached the campus, I was surprised It was ridiculous to see how the 3. Unfortunately, the prime minister at the behaviour of the boys, who watchman came every night at 9.30 and also arrived that morning. All the came out of the hostel and obscenely locked up the gate of the girls’ hostel. authorities were busy looking after her teased us. One day, my friend asked him if he was all day. Panigrahi and her accompanists As days passed, I noticed that the protecting or suppressing the girls, arrived but there was no one to receive students seemed depressed and and why he did not first lock the boys’ them. They had to find their own way frustrated. One day, one of my friends hostel. She also told him that we would to the university office. The office was wanted to get her slipper mended by remove the tiles and jump out. This locked so Panigrahi had to go to the the cobbler, who sits near the boys’ comment shocked the staff who began local market and contact the authorities hostel. She and I walked up to him. to worry lest we corrupt the girls. on the phone. Then she went to the Immediately, a female warden sent us We found many types of hotel. Still, no one came to guide her to word that we were not to go anywhere discrimination prevailing. For example, the auditorium because everyone was near the boys’ hostel. This kind of the girls have to prepare their own rotis so busy with the prime minister. segregation seemed very strange to and are not served food. They have to Panigrahi and her accompanists me. I questioned the girls about it and work in the mess. But boys are served made their own way to the auditorium was shocked to hear that girls and boys their food, and their rotis are prepared which is about 10 miles away. There, in this institute are not supposed to in clarified butter. Only boys are they found the stage in a mess. There talk to each other, even if they are allowed to participate in functions and was no green room and no curtain. classmates. If they happen to talk the cultural programmes. There is a feast There was only a transparent cloth authorities immediately write to their day when girls go to the boys’ mess hung on one side of the stage, and parents. for dinner. But male and female wardens meant to serve as a temporary green 26 MANUSHI room. The audience could see though women’s day and the condition of it and make rude comments as she women in Nepal.” We had invited changed into her costume. There was people from various fields, many of no one to offer her a cup of tea, no whom were women. There were heater to warm her feet and no carpet professors, teachers, lawyers, for the accompanists to sit on. It was economic planners, writers, industrial snowy winter, and the temperature at workers and farmers. The programme Ranchi that day was six degrees concluded with progressive songs and fahrenheit. The dancer had to perform, dances. We are in the process of as usual, barefoot. bringing out a magazine devoted to the Yet Panigrahi performed without upliftment of women and society. any complaint because for her work is Hsila, Radha, Sushila, Kathmandu worship. The performance concluded No Change Required at 10.30 p.m. Then, one person, acting This is in response to Panna Shah’s as a representative of the authorities, erring children, but shields her letter in Manushi No. 21. You are right in saying that there is nothing presented her with a cheque for Rs husband from the knowledge of their requiring a woman to change her name 10,000 as her subsidised fee. This was irresponsibility, because she thinks his after marriage, though it is certainly the last straw for her. She refused the work outside the house is much more useful to register the marriage and to money and said : “What do you men important than is hers, so he should keep copies of the certificate in case think we are—dancing girls not be bothered with such petty things, there is a need to prove the relationship. (nachnewali) ? I did not come here in another story “A cup of tea”, the I married in 1977 but did not change just to take this money without respect. heroine is shown as a woman full of my name. The Indian passport does Where are the authorities who invited ideas but no real feelings, whose only not require a declaration of marital me? I want to meet them.” interest is holding her husband’s full status. I continue to use my father’s The audience did not witness this attention. In many homes, women are name as identification on all scene because the lights had been the sole earning members. But do we documents, reasoning that even dimmed and people had left the hall. have stories about such women? though I am married he does not cease Only a few of us had stayed back. In a story “Stranger”, a husband to be my father. Finally, she left Ranchi without taking remarks that his wife Delia is “just like I have travelled quite extensively any money, and no university authority a woman, ready to sacrifice everybody after 1977. Never once have I had a came to meet her or to apologise to else’s comfort for your own” and the problem. In some countries, if I was on her. The male authorities were still busy story confirms that his statement holds a dependant’s visa, it required with their prime minister. good. ...Out of about a dozen lessons explanation, but that was all. The Why was it that the male authorities which in some way deal with women, marriage certificate was adequate paid more attention to a woman prime there is not a single positive image. proof. minister than to a woman artist ? It It is time we search for some books Still, I must warn that some seems to me that men defer only to unlike these. Are there no other women countries may have adverse women who have political power... existing around us except the ones regulations. My cousin, who has not Renu Dewan, Jamshedpur talked about by Delia’s husband? In changed her name either, had to use Unscientific Textbooks this age of science, blind acceptance her husband’s surname in the I have just finished my tenth class of such stereotypes is criminal. It Netherlands, apparently for legal board examination. I find that my confirms society’s and women’s own reasons. The USA makes no English textbooks of the ninth and tenth conception of a woman as frail, difficulties. Many women there do not classes show women in a very dependent, jealous, often stupid, and change their names after marriage. stereotyped and irrational way. The always needing a man to handle her... Rupa K. Bose, Delhi books we have are not just storybooks Sujata, Delhi but are supposed to educate us and A Success inculcate in us a feeling for the role we We are glad to inform you that our ourselves should play in society. Such celebration of international women’s negative images of women therefore day on March 8, 1984, was a great do a lot of harm... success. Amidst hundreds of The story “All the years of her life” spectators, half of whom were men and glorifies a mother who spends her life half women, we celebrated March 8 in suffering and sacrifice, helps her with a seminar on “International

NUMBER TWENTY TWO, 1984 27 Student Nurses Struggle For Dignity

“You girl, take off your shoes. Idiot The superintendent asked them to wait of a girl, don’t you hear me ?” This is till March 1 for an answer, which they how Dr V.N Sharma spoke to student agreed to do. When no answer was nurse Kalpana Shukla in the D. K. given up to 11 a.m. on March 2, the government hospital, Raipur, Madhya student nurses stopped work. The Pradesh, on February 27, 1984. Kalpana authorities then appointed Dr Nigam, was standing outside the nursery head of the ENT department, to where weak infants are kept. She knew conduct an enquiry into the incident. that she should change her shoes The nurses felt that a nurse before going in but Dr Sharma rebuked representative should have been also her even though she had not yet appointed, as one doctor is likely to entered the room. When she protested, favour another. that to take action against Dr Sharma he shouted “What should I call you if Chhatisgarh Mahila Jagriti will be to ruin his career prospects. not an idiot?” and proceeded to Sangathan conducted an independent Therefore, he tried toassure the nurses shower filthy abuse on her. He also enquiry in the course of which we spoke that Sharma would not misbehave in raised his hand as if he intended to to many hospital workers, but we future, and they should agree to a strike her. This was the second time Dr found that most of them were unwilling compromise. He further said that if Sharma had misbehaved with a nurse. to let their names be disclosed. The Sharma ever misbehaved again he, the On October 28, 1983, he had scolded authorities said that the nurses should director, would take voluntary and abused nurse Shirley Thomas not have gone on strike just because retirement. The nurses feel, however, because she forgot to put the patients’ one nurse was harshly spoken to, but that this is only a way of letting Sharma cards in alphabetical order, and had the nurses pointed out that this was off the hook, the implication being that also thrown a box at her. not an isolated incident. As a routine, a doctor’s career is far more important On the advice of all the student the nurses are insulted, abused and than an insult to a nurse. Therefore, nurses, Kalpana Shukla sent a written rebuked in public by doctors and other the nurses demand that at the very complaint to the hospital authorities authorities. They are also commonly least, a warning should be issued to asking them to give a satisfactory looked upon as women of loose Dr Sharma. answer within four hours, failing which morals, and are treated with contempt. —Shashi and Renu the student nurses would go on strike, The director of the hospital feels (translated from Hindi)

The Veiled Reality help, saying they feared Varsha’s life The burning to death in Ahmeda- spoke in a threatening manner. was in danger. The policemen on duty bad on April 12 of 21 year old Varsha After this, Varsha continued to be there laughed at them and said they has caused a public outcry. Large sums tortured and beaten by her husband, would come only after Varsha was of money are given and taken in dowry her father-in-law, Parshottam Thakker, actually killed. amongst the Patel community in brother-in-law, Navin Thakker, mother- They then returned to Varsha’s in- Gujarat, but dowry related deaths are in-law and sister-in-law. On April 11, laws’house where they heard her not commonly reported, because they she wrote a letter to her father in which screaming for help. She had already are passed off as accidental deaths. she said that her husband had been burnt—and the police finally Varsha was married last year, and threatened to kill her. She asked her turned up only after her death. It is she had a two month old daughter. She father to fetch her since she feared for alleged that Varsha’s sister-in-law is used to be harassed and beaten by her life. related to a policeman, and that husband and in-laws because they On April 12, Varsha’s two brothers, influence has thus been exercised to were dissatisfied with the dowry given. Vinod and Nitin, reached Ahmedabad have the case registered as one of When Varsha came from Ahmedabad and tried to fetch her away on the suicide. Varsha’s father, Girdharlal to her parents in Jamnagar for her pretext that her sister’s engagement Khimani, has written letters to the delivery, her husband Ramesh was to take place. Varsha’s in-laws police commissioner and other Thakkar, who keeps a pan shop, quarrelled with her brothers and authorities, alleging that Varsha was accompanied her and demanded Rs refused to send her with them. The murdered. 4,000 to buy a rickshaw. When this sum brothers immediately went to the —Jayshri Vadalia was not paid, he was annoyed and Amraivadi police station and asked for (translated from Hindi) 28 MANUSHI