Redefining Rakhshabandhan

I believe the name 'Rakshabandhan' for this lovely festival must have been given when India faced massive foreign invations,  women were abused,looted and exploited badly and seeked someone's protection all the time.  Protection from invaders was their primary urge.  But in today's context the whole concept of  womanhood in India is changing slowly.  A country which is still conservative and stereotype in the way they see women but the expectations of women from the society is surely changing.

The word 'Raksha' is a little demoralising for women who believe they deserve equal rights. According to me the word 'Raksha' should be replaced by 'Sneh' - 'Snehbandhan', seems more relevant.  Strings of sneh should be tied by brothers to sisters,sisters to brothers,sisters to sisters and brothers to brothers, Without any protocol. Infact festivals were introduced to bring happiness in every possible way. Hence nobody should be deprived just because she / he has no brother or sister. That's the first step towards equality and respect.

You call it 'Rakshabandhan' or 'Snehbandhan', moreiott important is how you treat women in your family and personal circle. The question is, does the society empower them enough that, they need not seek protection and are confident economically and educationally.

Equal right on assets
I come from a family of landlords. My grand father had hundreds of acres of land and he could very well afford to give property shares to my aunties(Bua jis) but never gave an inch because of the Patriarchal Society.For him  that property is for the boys.  On the contrary my Mom belongs to a matriarchal society of Kerala , she owns land from her paternal as well as maternal side. The legacy was continued by my mom and I became the  exceptional case in my dad's family. I own property from my dad's side as well as mom's side.  This is surely bringing change in the mindset of my family. Now my cousins (girls) too inherit their parental property.

Everyone knows that our govt has given equal property rights to the girls, but is that ever practiced ? We live in a society which lives with a mindset that parental property is for the boy and marriage expense done for the girl is what she deserves. She would receive her husband's inherited property. But what's the take if she doesn't marry? What's the take if her marriage fails? Doesn't she deserves the extra perk and security which the boy is entitled to? She surely deserves it and this makes her super safe. This is actually the real 'Raksha' for women.

Right to breed her own race

The time when I was carrying my second child some of my husband's relatives used to wish me by saying, May this be a boy kid so that your children can celebrate all the festivals, I knew they meant 'Rakshabandhan'. Isn't this a way of taunting someone for having a boy child compulsorily and you are bound to be sad if you have a girl child as second child. Although I personally believe that having a child is a festival in itself, we don't breed children for celebrating festivals. Happiness cannot have conditions.

It is high time that the stereotypes of having a boy child should be broken compulsorily. We live in the era of scientific advancements , people are well aware of the theory of 'X' and 'Y' chromosomes and their carriers but, still the society hasn't come out of the mindset of blaming women for the girl child. The hypocrisy of expecting a boy child every time a woman gets pregnant leads to low ratio of - famale population, high rate of female infanticide, which is a shame for the society.

Equal Upbringing is what women require

The time when Rakshabandhan actually evolved,boys were taught martial skills,skills to earn money and girls were taught only the core household work. In today's scenario things have quite changed,society doesn't have to live in the fear of attacks and so the girls are free to try their hands on various skills which would make them earning members too. An equal upbringing desires, respect is for both, for a boy and so is for the girl. Girls too can afford to give away gifts to their siblings and parents. It's high time people get over the mindset that we don't accept gifts from our girl child.

Respect as a human being

Women too expect 'Respect' as human beings and that's all. What's the meaning of 'touching the feet' and 'Kanya Bhojan' if you don't desire one in the womb.  Try to consider her a human instead of a 'devi' and she'll be liberated in real sense.