The novel, 'Kadal Pura'. Author Sandilyan. Scene: The beautiful, golden-hued woman takes bath in the sea and finds a secluded corner to dry herself. The upper garment slips. She turns to find the hero handing her the cloth, his face turned away from her in modesty.
Then the author goes on to explain why the hero, despite already being filled with thoughts of her, looked away though his heart wanted to see more of her. Because he was a high-born man, taught to respect women, to be chivalrous. "It is easy to stare intently at an object of beauty, it is also easy to be led by your senses. To fence it in with ethics is very difficult. Our elders have highlighted that there is greater pride in not seeing than seeing," explains the author. He quotes Thiruvalluvar, "Do not covet another man's wife," further explaining that it is applicable not only to another's wife but any woman who is not yours.
This, then, is what is said in Indian thought - do not covet a woman who is not your wife even if she stands naked in front of you. Modesty is not just for the woman, but the man too.
Where then did we lose this learning? Why do we associate arrogance and greed and licentiousness with the rich? Why do we thrust the onus of modesty and ethics only on the women and not the men?
Scriptures repeatedly talk to men to keep their five senses under control. Is it because the great men knew that it is the men who get wayward and therefore need to be given strict instructions on dos and don'ts? Why aren't men taught this today? Why do we think 'men will be men' and allow them to get away with, even, rape?
Who is against women? The traditional bound by rules or the modern, bound solely by the swaying senses??
Where art thou, O Noble Man?
Then the author goes on to explain why the hero, despite already being filled with thoughts of her, looked away though his heart wanted to see more of her. Because he was a high-born man, taught to respect women, to be chivalrous. "It is easy to stare intently at an object of beauty, it is also easy to be led by your senses. To fence it in with ethics is very difficult. Our elders have highlighted that there is greater pride in not seeing than seeing," explains the author. He quotes Thiruvalluvar, "Do not covet another man's wife," further explaining that it is applicable not only to another's wife but any woman who is not yours.
This, then, is what is said in Indian thought - do not covet a woman who is not your wife even if she stands naked in front of you. Modesty is not just for the woman, but the man too.
Where then did we lose this learning? Why do we associate arrogance and greed and licentiousness with the rich? Why do we thrust the onus of modesty and ethics only on the women and not the men?
Scriptures repeatedly talk to men to keep their five senses under control. Is it because the great men knew that it is the men who get wayward and therefore need to be given strict instructions on dos and don'ts? Why aren't men taught this today? Why do we think 'men will be men' and allow them to get away with, even, rape?
Who is against women? The traditional bound by rules or the modern, bound solely by the swaying senses??
Where art thou, O Noble Man?
No comments:
Post a Comment