Ratna Pathak finds modern Indian women observing 'Karwa Chauth' 'appalling'; sets Twitter ablaze over 'India turning into Saudi Arabia' remark

Chandigarh, July 28

Known for being an actor par excellence, Ratna Pathak has won many accolades for her exceptional craft and stellar acting skills.

In a recent interaction with Pinkvilla, the actor did not shy away from speaking her mind on women observing Hindu traditions in India.

The portal published a video interview of the veteran actor on July 26.

Talking about society and drawing parallels with Saudi Arabia, Pathak pointed out that India was moving towards becoming an extremely conservative society.

She said nothing seemed to have changed for the women in India as educated women still believed in age-old traditions.

Calling out ‘Karwa Chauth’, the Hindu festival of keeping a day-long fast by women for the long lives of their husbands, the actor said it was “appalling” that modern educated women observed such practices.

She said, “Nothing has changed for women, or very little has changed in very crucial areas. Our society is becoming extremely conservative. We’re becoming superstitious. We’re being forced into accepting and making religion a very important part of one’s life.”

She remembered how someone last year had asked her for the first time if she observed the fast to which she had replied, “Am I mad?”

“Someone asked me for the first time last year if I’m keeping ‘karwa chauth ka vrat’. I said am I mad?”

She further added, “Isn’t it appalling that modern educated women do Karwa Chauth, praying for the lives of their husbands so that they can have some validity in life? A widow in the Indian context is a horrible situation, isn’t it? So anything that keeps me away from widowhood. Really? In the 21st century, we are talking like this? Educated women are doing this.”

Pathak said that when a country becomes more conservative, it clamps down its women first. She said, “Look at all the conservative societies in this world. Women are the ones who are most affected. What’s the scope of women in Saudi Arabia? Do we want to become like Saudi Arabia? And we will become like it because it’s very, very convenient. Women provide a lot of unpaid labour within the home. If you have to pay for that labour, who will do it? Women are forced into that situation.”

Twitterati wasn’t impressed with her views and the actor received flak for trying to preach morality and modernity only to Hindus.