Last week was Karva Chauth- the day when all the married women in North India fast for the well being of their husbands. It is a festival I have never understood. We have a similar festival down in the South. Only it does not involve fasting but tying a yellow thread around the neck. The other difference is that both unmarried and married women participate-the married women pray for the well-being of their husband and the unmarried pray for a good husband. I must have been in 7th or 8th class when I began protesting against this festival. I did not want a yellow thread around my neck and having to answer embarrassing questions in the school. More importantly, I did not see why my brother should not pray for a good wife or why my father should not pray for the well-being of his wife. This one-sided business made no sense to me. My mother and I had a fight over this festival every year till I left home. At that point she kind of gave up on me.
While the South Indian version is plain and simple, the North Indian version is colorful thanks to the patina provided by Karan Johar's movies. My friend puzzled by the fervor of Karva Chauth, she wanted to know the reason. She was told the reason plain and simple: One gets gifts including diamond set. Well that makes lots of sense though I still think keeping a fast for a diamond set is stupid. Now if some one was promising me books it would be a different matter...
This week is Irom Sharmila's tenth year of fast. This one is shorn of all glamor. All Irom Sharmila wants is the AFSPA to be withdrawn from Manipur. Successive governments have come and gone. Whatever be the color of the government, they all agree that AFSPA is necessary for a state like Manipur. No one bothers to answer why it is important. Makes no sense to me but...
