Posted:
Finally I caught up with the Budhiya /Bua parts.
Its strange to find that widows in Punjab were treated the same way as widows in Bengal 50-60 years ago.
Their heads were shaved off so they wont look attractive. The Buddhi's hair is also probably chopped off so she keeps it hidden under her pallu.
The widows could not eat anything after dusk and were only given one full meal per day.
The meal consisted of plain fare like rice and vegetables, absolutely no meat, fish or poultry was allowed. Not even onions, garlic or masoor dal as they are supposed to make the body hot and widows shd always keep cool so they dont think abt sex.
Of course MEN....when their wives died, widowers could marry as many times as they wanted! 😡
Widows wore white all their life, and no jewelry. They didnt attend weddings or happy occasions. Their shadow was supposed to be manhoos, so they were barred from such celebrations.
They had to stay in a sparse, spartan room and sleep on the floor.
So whatever they are showing in Maayka is authentic. BUT widows were treated that way half a century ago. Now the scene has changed especially in cities.
But such customs still remain in many villages and backward societies which are steeped in old traditions and sexist attitudes.😡
This Bua was probably a child widow, she doesnt have any kids as her husband died before she could have any. Thats why the Khuranas are pitying her as she has nowhere else to go.
The buddi is horribly frustrated as she had a terribly unhappy life.
Such women always target other women in similarly unfortunate circumstances.
They take out all their rage and frustrations on other helpless women.
She hates and resents Soni becuz at least Soni has her husband's child growing inside and shes young and pretty and might remarry some day.
The Buddhi never had such chances in her lifetime. That is why shes determined to keep Soni unhappy, suffering and hoping she would lose her child.
She cant bear to see another woman's happiness, especially if that woman is a widow like herself.
Such malicious, twisted, unhappy people DO exist in this world.
And the attitude that a widowed woman is helpless and at the mercy of such harassment from Bua and her lecherous devar......that kind of thinking may be archaic and outdated but it still exists in the minds of many Indians.
Sorry to say but thats the truth.
Did anyone see the movie "Water" by Deepa Mehta? Its a horrifying account of such widows living in Benaras ashram.
pallavi
