When Choice Becomes Controversy: A Discerning Look at Women’s Rights and Sanatan Dharma
Last updated on October 20th, 2024 at 02:21 pm
In today’s modern world, the narrative of women’s empowerment and the right to choose is often brandished as a hallmark of progress and societal evolution. We applaud women for making choices that align with their beliefs, lifestyles & aspirations. But this support seems oddly selective when viewed in a broader cultural context. For instance, when women outside of Sanatan Dharma make choices about their clothing, their lifestyle, or even their vows of celibacy, they are met with widespread admiration and encouragement for exercising their free will. They are celebrated for asserting their autonomy and are offered the full backing of human rights activists, feminists, and progressive thinkers.
Yet, a disheartening double standard emerges when these choices are made by women who follow Sanatan Dharma. Their choices—whether to wear traditional attire or take vows of celibacy as a religious practice—are met with skepticism, disapproval, or worse, an insinuation that they are being coerced. It is not uncommon to hear claims that women within Sanatan Dharma are “forced” into specific roles or lifestyles. These claims, often rooted in misinformation, serve only to undermine the very concept of free will that is so vocally defended in other contexts.
The Double Standard of Choice
Why is it that when women from other faiths or secular backgrounds choose celibacy, we champion their decision as an emblem of personal strength, but when a woman from Sanatan Dharma chooses the same path, the conversation quickly devolves into criticism? Claims of oppression are swiftly made, with little regard for the individual’s agency or her right to make spiritual choices. This selective outrage suggests a deep-rooted bias, one that is either wilfully ignorant of the principles of Sanatan Dharma or intentionally aimed at distorting the truth.
In fact, Sanatan Dharma, far from being oppressive, has been home to some of the most revered women saints, scholars, and warriors in history. From the fiercely independent Gargi and Maitreyi in ancient times to spiritual leaders like Mirabai, Anandamayi Ma, and modern-day sanyasis, women in Sanatan Dharma have long enjoyed the freedom to choose their paths, be it marriage, celibacy, or a life dedicated to spiritual pursuit.
Manufactured Outrage and the Fight Against an Illusion
Those who criticise these choices often forget a key aspect: no one, outside of the woman herself, has the right to dictate her path in life. Yet, when women in Sanatan Dharma exercise their choice, society “rises to the occasion” to fight a phantom cause—one built on half-truths and unfounded accusations. The same human rights activists who vociferously defend women’s rights to choice and expression are strangely silent when it comes to acknowledging the autonomy of women within the framework of Sanatan Dharma.
This reflects a deeper, more insidious problem. The fight against Sanatan Dharma is not a new phenomenon; it is as old as the faith itself. Throughout history, Sanatan Dharma has endured countless assaults—be they military, cultural, or ideological. It has never waged war willingly, never forced anyone to convert to its teachings, and has never committed atrocities against those who chose a different path. Instead, it has always been at the receiving end of violence, coercion, and attempts to erase its existence.
The Perpetual Defence of Dharma
Sanatan Dharma has always been a target for those who seek its destruction, either out of ignorance or malice. The current discourse around the “forced” lifestyle choices of women within the Dharma is yet another manifestation of this age-old battle. It is crucial to recognize that the narrative of forced oppression is a myth, perpetuated by those who neither understand the faith nor respect the individual autonomy of its followers.
While Sanatan Dharma has never been an aggressor in history, it has consistently defended itself against forced conversions, cultural eradication, and ideological invasions. And it has survived—through sheer resilience and an unwavering commitment to its principles of tolerance, peace and spiritual freedom. Today, those who attack its values, particularly its treatment of women, are carrying forward this ancient animosity, masked under the guise of modern liberalism.
The Ignored Rights of Sanyasis
It is worth noting that the rights of sanyasis and other religious adherents of Sanatan Dharma are being grossly ignored in this discourse. Where are the human rights activists when the rights of sanyasis—many of whom are women—are being violated? Their right to freedom, right to privacy, right to live anywhere in India, and their right to religious freedom are enshrined in the Indian Constitution, yet we see little action when these rights are trampled upon.
If the narrative of freedom and choice is to hold any integrity, it must be applied universally. We cannot pick and choose which women’s rights to support based on cultural or religious biases. The right of a woman in Sanatan Dharma to choose her way of life is no less sacred than that of any other woman in any part of the world. The continuous attempts to undermine this right are not just hypocritical, they are dangerous, fostering division and perpetuating ignorance.
Sanatan Dharma’s Legacy of Peace and Survival
In the face of this ongoing ideological assault, one thing is clear: Sanatan Dharma will prevail, as it always has. Its principles are built not on force or coercion but on free will, choice, and spiritual growth. It has survived every attack on its existence and will continue to do so. The fight against Sanatan Dharma is not merely a battle over religious or cultural identity; it is a battle over truth, freedom, and the right of individuals to live as they choose—without interference, without false narratives, and without prejudice.
It is time we recognise this truth and stand for genuine freedom of choice for all women, including those who follow Sanatan Dharma.
The witch hunt against Sadhguru and the police crackdown at Isha Foundation is yet another stark example of the bias against Sanatan Dharma. The violation of the rights of sanyasis and residents, who are entitled to privacy and religious freedom, reflects a disturbing double standard. While other groups are protected in exercising their beliefs, institutions like Isha are unfairly targeted. This selective persecution is part of a broader effort to weaken the spiritual core of Sanatan Dharma. It is crucial to stand against these violations and defend the fundamental rights of those following a spiritual path.
Article written by Shruti Patki
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