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| Women perform last rites in Bihar |
| The intention was to send out a message that daughters are as good as sons. If they can keep the hearth going, what's wrong with lighting a pyre?
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| INDIA
, 19-September-2007
1:56:18 AM |
| For the first time, women in Nawada village of Bihar have broken an age old tradition.
Daughters and not sons are carrying out the last rites of the dead to bring about complete gender equality and what is truly new is that the men of the village openly support this initiative.
Breaking from tradition
Sharmila Devi and Meena Devi carried their deceased father's body to the cremation ground though the bereaved family has three sons.
The daughters even performed the last rites.
The intention was to send out a message that daughters are as good as sons. If they can keep the hearth going, what's wrong with lighting a pyre?
''We want to send a message to the society that there is no difference between sons and daughters. Even daughters can do anything in the world,'' said Sharmila Devi, Ulas Mahto's daughter.
''There is no difference between sons and daughters. Both are equal,'' added Meena Devi, Ulas Mahto's daughter.
Gender equality
This unique initiative for gender equality in traditional Bihar came from a reformist organisation in Nawada, which believes real change can only take place when people are made aware that some of age-old customs need not be practised forever.
And surprisingly, even men support this call for change.
''In the old customs, women were not allowed to light the pyre. Our organisation Arjak Sangh is trying to change that and that is why women are here at the cremation grounds,'' said Brahmdeo Prasad, Secretary, Arjak Sangh.
For a state that has made news off late for vigilantism, this incident comes as a refreshing change.
But even these women know that it's only the first step in their long struggle to secure an equal footing with men.
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