I D Soni
The one great need of our troubled world in this age of deepening darkness is the power of the spirit. Women have a great potential – a great Shakti – which could be utilized for the betterment of the society and the nation. The progress for women cannot be achieved by encouraging them to make their entry into every field. A better approach would be to increase their knowledge, skills, alertness and awareness in their own sphere of activity. The more a woman is endowed with these qualities, the more effective will be the part she plays in the activities of daily life. An intellectual woman can perform the greatest services, whereas if she is left ignorant and untutored, she will never-even if she is brought to the forefront of things – be able to play a role of any significance. It is, therefore, very much essential that her potentials i.e. her hidden Shakti be drawn out which exists in her in abundance.
There have been many women in history who never emerged from their homes, but who exerted a great influence upon the outside world. The allegation that women cannot perform great services when confined to the homes is refuted by the history. Home management is also undoubtedly great work, but the work which concerns the outside world can also certainly be performed by women, without putting themselves into uncongenial surroundings, or forcing themselves to play unfamiliar role for which neither training nor biology has fitted them.
It is a little understood fact that the role a woman plays does not depend upon her physical environment, but rather on the degree to which her intellect has been cultivated. In order to progress, it is not binding that she has to put herself into all kinds of unsafe situations in the outside world. Intellectual women, however, can best operate in their own chosen sphere and that is not physical brashness which counts in this life, but the sharpening of the intellect and hidden potentials which already exist in women.
I believe profoundly that in the coming days woman will play an important part in the unfolding of our national life. I recall the words of one who was a great poet and a great thinker. He said, “The woman soul shall lead us on.” Yes – in the political factions of parties and in the gatherings storm of communism, the woman soul shall lead us on as they have great potentials – a great Shakti. Yes – in the deepening unrest of the village folk who are battling against hunger and homelessness, the Shakti of women shall lead us on. In the depression and chaos that seems to be coming to many, in the crumbling of civilisation and the noise and strife of many, in this ancient land, once again, I believe, the woman soul, her great hidden Shakti and potentials shall lead us on. For she, the woman, she lays her hold on the spiritual ideals of India. She – the woman – will place her sympathy above strife, and above the impassioned teachings of Marx ana Lenin, she – the Indian woman – will place the illumined teachings of India’s Rishis and Sages.
The need of hour is that we must encourage our children to build their lives, to build their homes, to build their schools and colleges in the great ideal of Dharma, the ideal of righteous living. I definitely believe that in the coming days woman shall build India in a new strength : woman shall build a new, emancipated India. The women soul shall lead us on.
The new world is in the making. The man made world has proved to be a broken bleeding world. Man has blundered badly, for man has believed in force. Even marriage, at one time, was marriage by capture. Man has had his chance. Masculine mentality has blundered.
Now woman gets her chance. She is called upon to build a New World. She is a symbol of Shakti in the Hindu scriptures. And Shakti is not force, Shakti is integration. This includes intelligence. Education, more education is needed. But it must be education of the right character. Current education is a cult of separation. A new education of integration is needed. Today, disintegration is setting in. Woman is the centre of social integration. Therefore, new education should emphasise the value of simple life. In simplicity is strength. Love of fine dresses must go.
Our homes must move in a new atmosphere of the simple life : else they will break up : they cannot stand the strain of this heavy drain. Great souls plead, also, for a new vision of purity. The growing love of cinemas and theatres must go. They move in an atmosphere not yet purified.
The Rakshas will be vanquished on the condition that knowledge is radiant with the light of simple life.
In order to make proper use of the hidden potential – the hidden Shakti of women, the education of our girls must be no pale imitation of the West. Their education must be inspired by Indian ideals of life. Dr. Lin was a Chinese poet and philosopher. In the course of talk he said, “India has sunk deep owing to her neglect of and indifference to, her own culture.” The culture of India emphasises these four values : simplicity, purity, prayer or meditation, and sacrifice. It is, therefore, essential that we must give heed to the Divine fire within women. It must be re-captured for modern civilisation. Power and pleasure are passing; what in lives as are cherished are sacred in the memory of humanity is sacrifice. It is the Eternal in time. The woman soul has the potential – the Shakti to rebuild the shattered world in the strength of her intuitions; her purity, her simplicity, her spiritual aspirations, her patience, her sympathy and silent sacrifice.
Studies in Biology and Psychology have shown that the two genders are different in nature, each being designed for a different purpose. They are endowed by nature with different capacities so that they may play their respective roles in life with greater ease and effectiveness. Difference of biological function does not imply inequality. In fact differences are meant to make both genders play complementary roles and endure the challenges of life by supporting each other with their constructive capacities for which is best suited. It should not be looked upon as a matter of superiority. Looked at with the right perspective, these differences are a blessing of God. However, all studies and religious scriptures of all religions admit that a woman possesses a special potential – a special Shakti which makes her great in all respects.
What the world perceives as a problem of inequality when it comes to oppression and degradation of women is actually a phenomenon of evil perpetrated by humans upon other humans due to misuse of freedom. It has nothing to do with the role accorded to each gender by nature. Such evil is a part of every society. The problem of oppression is due to the backwardness of women because there is a lack of opportunity for the women to progress. It requires the people should be helped to change their mindset. To this effect there should be wide efforts to raise the thinking level of the individual to overcome such negative behaviour in society.
The modern Indian women have realised the strides of progress made by women in the advanced countries. The success of the women of the west, in every field, has influenced the Indian women and they have felt the need to question the subjugation they are subjected to. Education, coupled with liberal views and the support of the parents, has helped women to draw out their hidden potentials and Shakti to gain a new identity in the male dominated society.
The modern women have come out with latent Shakti to assert themselves. The occupations of home-making and house-keeping have not been given the credit and have not been appreciated. This has helped in boosting their self-respect from their husbands as well as the counterpart at work place.
In the new millennium, the Indian women are poised to further their endeavour and command respect from their male counterparts. By being talented, full of Shakti, bold and assertive, women have gained respect and achieved a respectable position in the social structure of India. The austere and sacrificing mothers have given have given way to resolute, diligent, courageous, daring, audacious working mothers. The Indian women have taken up the initiative of self sustenance and the responsibility of the family with determination. The Indian women have evolved and emerged as women having great potential and great Shakti.
Ideally, they should be individuals who are willingly involve themselves unstintingly in the scheme of Lord. To perform this task is To help the Lord. There can be no doubt about the excellence and superiority of the women whom God chooses to enlist His helpers being having great potential – a great Shakti.
(The writer is President Home for the Aged & Infirm, Ambphalla, Jammu)