Point of View

Man and woman are two strange and powerful creations of God. Both are like the two sides of a coin. One is not complete without the other. Both of them need each other to survive on this earth. But why do men always aspire to have dominance over women? Ponders Jyoti Shokhanda

Recently, I went to watch movie, Provoked. The movie introduces a social issue regarding condition of an ordinary woman in society. As it's not a new topic for us but again it shows how a woman suffers throughout her life because of a man.

The movie is based on the true story of Kiranjeet Ahluwalia, a simple Punjabi woman who leaves India to marry a Punjabi boy settled in Europe but only to be badly abused. Actress Aishwarya Rai played the role of Kiranjeet very well. How her husband tortures her physically as well as mentally during their ten years of marriage. She then takes revenge and ends in prison for murdering the abusive husband. Nandita Das who works as a social worker comes to Aishwarya (Kiranjeet) rescue. She is ultimately justifies for her actions.

One of India's well-known scholar and educationist, Radhakrishnan once remarked "Give us good women, we will have a great civilization. Give us a good mother, we will have a great nation." How true these words resound. Our traditions and culture teach us to respect women just as we respect our mothers. Our parents have taught us that God cannot come on the earth that's why mother is his noble, soft hearted and kind creation.

I think a man must respect a woman as she is not just only a woman but also she has the ability to give birth to a man. I know many things have changed in 21st century. Women are in better condition than before. They are independent, confident and educated. They can challenge men in every field. Today, they compete with men. But still there are instances where women still suffer as a result of man's domination. A woman is not a play thing. She has the power to change the society but not without the help of a man. We can convert a hell into a heaven only if a man and a woman work together equally without any dominance.

Interestingly, many of the youngsters feel the mentality needs to change and more respect showered on women. According to Kunal Verlakar, a second semester Biotech student, women have been dominated by men for a long time. "It is time we changed the way we look at women and showed them respect. “A woman is not just a creation for sexual satisfaction and enjoyment,” she says. “Women are equally talented and have the same capabilities as men if not more.” Kunal recalls watching the movie, Mrityudand, a couple of years back. In the movie, Madhuri Dixit wages a war against the unnecessary laws imposed by men on women. She tries to break down the bondages in which she finds herself entangled with. “We need such courage to change things in the society,” she adds. "To break such bondages, education is the only formula,” insists Archana Surendra Nath, also a second semester Biotech student. “If we want women to raise their living standards, they must have access to education. This is important for a woman as well as a man but it is must for women."

With the world is witnessing change, the mentality of people has also been changing for the last few decades. Shailesh Kumar, a freelance journalist feels that the status of women in the present society is far better than what it was say a decade ago. "No one can deny the fact that women are taking up the challenges and performing their duties very well. Still the society is not prejudice free and women have to suffer in villages and backward areas. Instead of having a big number of laws, rule and regulations we have not fully succeeded in protecting the women from torture and other discrimination. The effort to return the women their rights and give them equal status as men in the society should come from the heart of the people and such environment should be created by providing value and practical education," says Shailesh.

Today, the media is playing an important role to change the attitudes. There are many news channels and social organizations working for the betterment of people in the society. Parents should teach their children to respect not only their mothers and sisters but women. Above all, man should respect a woman and vice versa.