Bruised, battered goddesses feature in campaign against domestic violence

[vgane]

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A poignant reminder of the suffering of our woman folk....Probably this is the only way the violent menfolk (Mard) will understand their hypocrisy and deceit!

Karnika Kohli, TNN | Sep 10, 2013,

[FONT=&quot]An eyebrow-raising campaign depicting Hindu goddesses - Lakshmi, Durga and Saraswati - as victims of domestic violence has gone viral.

Launched by 'Save the Children India', the purpose of the campaign is to increase awareness about rampant domestic abuse.

Their message is clear - no woman is safe, not even our beloved goddesses.

Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and good fortune, here, sits with a busted lip and a bloodied nose. Saraswati's infinite wisdom and knowledge are no defence against a black-eye. Durga, the absolute symbol of strength and power, stands bruised, battered and helpless.

The campaign captures India's most startling contradiction. For centuries in India, goddesses have been worshiped as 'devi'. She is the divine mother. She is sought after for both blessings and forgiveness. And, on the other hand the Indian woman is perennially brutalized, shamed and subjugated.

The hard-hitting initiative is accompanied by text that reads: "Pray that we never see this day. Today, more than 68% of women in India are victims of domestic violence. Tomorrow, it seems like no woman shall be spared. Not even the ones we pray to."



The campaign has triggered a debate in social media circles. Here are some of the reactions:

Poonam Singh: Are ordinary women who get hit not good enough to be put on posters? Why do we need glorified beings to represent our hurt?

Bodhi Cat: The bruised goddesses to me is an artistic representation of abuse of the women in our homes, on our roads etc.

Suleikha Snyder: The image of bruised goddesses is a haunting one, but it needs to take root. Hindu culture can't worship statues while disrespecting flesh.

Abhishek Rajput: Its high time to wake up . #safetyofWomen

ThePetticoatJournal: In abt a month India spills out on streets to worship Durga, the goddess with deep cuts on her cheek & forehead

Archana Hindocha: Powerful! I hope the message works

Kushal Kamra: Its a pity on those who commit these practices...unfortunately they are the fatal product of our own society where we see every other girl with sick mentality...There is one n only one solution...Teach a man to be courteous and respectful to women...My mom taught me that and I will tell that to my children...Once thats stuck in each Indian...Society will be cleansed of this evil...By a True Indian

Sonorita Chauhan: Will bruised Lakshmi, abused Saraswati, teary-eyed Durga help change anything?

Mihir Bijur: Ppl want Laxmi to give them money, Saraswati to give them knowledge, Durga to protect them, But won't respect a Girl Child.[/FONT]
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[renuka]

I feel this is not a good idea...it sorts of conceals the actual situation.

Photos of real battered women should be displayed and not that of Goddesses.

This will lead to thinking that people should revere woman as Goddesses.

Treat everyone as humans and that should suffice.

People need to know that every human being needs to be treated with respect and one does not need to elevate them to the status of a Goddess to be worthy of respect.

We need to solve the problem at a human level without dragging in Gods/Goddesses.

Just say next time guys get battered and abused..are we going to display images of battered Shiva or Vishnu?

Indian woman also should know not to have a feeling that Women = Goddesses and get carried away by it.

If a guy can only respect a woman if he imagines her to be a Goddess such respect is totally unworthy cos that goes to show he is not capable of respecting a human.

There are some women who men or women might not want to think of as a Goddess for example Sex Workers..so Sex Workers might be battered and abused becos they did not make it into the Goddess League and no other female too is going to feel any sympathy for them.

So if we humans are taught to respect every human being at a human level..each women is protected from Sex Worker to Sanyasini.

 

[vgane]

I feel this is not a good idea...it sorts of conceals the actual situation.

Photos of real battered women should be displayed and not that of Goddesses.

This will lead to thinking that people should revere woman as Goddesses.

Treat everyone as humans and that should suffice.

People need to know that every human being needs to be treated with respect and one does not need to elevate them to the status of a Goddess to be worthy of respect.

We need to solve the problem at a human level without dragging in Gods/Goddesses.

Just say next time guys get battered and abused..are we going to display images of battered Shiva or Vishnu?

Indian woman also should know not to have a feeling that Women = Goddesses and get carried away by it.

If a guy can only respect a woman if he imagines her to be a Goddess such respect is totally unworthy cos that goes to show he is not capable of respecting a human.

There are some women who men or women might not want to think of as a Goddess for example Sex Workers..so Sex Workers might be battered and abused becos they did not make it into the Goddess League and no other female too is going to feel any sympathy for them.

So if we humans are taught to respect every human being at a human level..each women is protected from Sex Worker to Sanyasini.

God is to be seen in every human being...Agreed

But how do we communicate this to a lay man

By saying that if we mistreat a woman it is equal to mistreating God is a powerful message because our men have fear for God!(You may argue that if they had fear for God, in the first instance they would not have committed the mistakes)..But pictures create a different impact rather than just saying ..A picture is worth ( can speak) a thousand words...So the image will lurk on the person's mind before he commits a crime

Instead of pictures of Goddesses we can even put symbols of religion

 

[renuka]

God is to be seen in every human being...Agreed

But how do we communicate this to a lay man

By saying that if we mistreat a woman it is equal to mistreating God is a powerful message because our men have fear for God!(You may argue that if they had fear for God, in the first instance they would not have committed the mistakes)..But pictures create a different impact rather than just saying ..A picture is worth ( can speak) a thousand words...So the image will lurk on the person's mind before he commits a crime

Instead of pictures of Goddesses we can even put symbols of religion

Does anyone really fear God??

I feel we can only be afraid of what we perceive through our senses and what we really 'know'.

So tell me..how can anyone technically be afraid of God?

 

[Anand Manohar]

Dear vgane

I think this is a good starting point - especially when we have ancient epics handed down to
us over the centuries and generations wherein there are enough examples of the
' commodification ' of women.

Imagine the plight of a lady - having to be 'won' in a contest, shared by five men and then
to be pledged as 'stake' in a gambling game !

As Dr Renu says, it might make better sense / have greater impact if it was the portrayal
of actual women who have gone through the horrors of hell.

But we need to start somewhere - I think it is a good beginning.

Yay Yem

 

[Madhanvs]

But will they have same guts to depict Mary?

 

[vgane]

But will they have same guts to depict Mary?

Have you seen photos of Jesus, Symbol of Islam, Hindu Gods on the road side wall put in streets of Chennai to desist users from easing themselves

It did have an impact...There were no protests by anyone (including Christians/Muslims) that their religion was being used for this advertisement

Let us take it in that spirit!

 

[Madhanvs]

Dear Vgane
Was there any fotos of Jesus, Symbol of Islam depicted in bad manner on Road side wall in Chennai??
Remember some 10 years back Current CM was praised as Lord Meenakshi and Vellankani and there was uproar from minority community for comparing their Lord with human.
But in our case," we took that in good spirit" and remained mum.
Anyway it is not our fault. We are trained in that way.