In our world, the root cause of all mischief is considered to be women. Or to put it in another way, we claim that every destitute is orchestrated by women.
Adam was expelled from heaven because of a woman. Joseph was bound because of a woman. Hamza Asad ur Rasool was martyred because of a woman. Shakespeare and Ghalib were upset because of their women.
Love does not grow, because of women. Women are also the cause of obscenity in society. The cause of a man’s trouble is always a woman. Even the corruption of billions of men is due to the fact that women fail to say that they will be able to make ends meet.
That is, Adam ate the forbidden fruit because Eve made him do it. We prefer to objectify Zulaikha rather than glorifying Yousuf’s patience. We only remember the name of one of the 70 martyrs of Uhud, probably because a woman was found guilty. We enjoy being more critical of the attitudes of lovers than of the poets’ affairs.
Man has a strange nature, the perpetrator is always portrayed innocent; circumstances and compulsions are shown. And since a woman is just a symbol of lust and luxury for us, the responsibility for everything is fixed on her.
Of course, not all women are innocent. There are some women behind hundreds of thousands of evils. Of course, brothels are run by women. But by God who is Almighty and All-knowing, that brothel sustains only because of men. No matter how beautiful a prostitute dresses, or not; no matter how beautifully she sings; dances; shows off; if the men do not go to them, brothels will soon be out of business.
A TV show showed a woman divorcing her husband to marry a rich man. The ex-husband called the outgoing wife a 2 takay ki aurat; and all of the youth sang praises of the dialogue.
Everyone felt that the dialogue resonated with him, and his grief was rightly translated by the small screen. Somehow every girl, every woman was made to hear that a woman always puts her own self, her own interests first. But no one said a word about the man who kept luring her. The highlight of the story remained “2 takay ki aurat”.
We are sick. We objectify women. Every single one of us knows who is Zainab; but no one knows the name of her rapist and killer. Farishta – similar unfortunate little angel – is still remembered by most of us, her killer is yet anonymous. Mukhtaran Mai is known all around the world; there are no names of those who oppressed her. Malala was shot, everyone knows. The person who shot her is still nameless.
In our country, when a woman sits in the premier chair, no one criticises her politics, her custodianship; her character is tarnished in speeches; her nudes are scattered around; her private life is slammed.
In our country, if a colonel commits obstruction of the law; harasses and man-handles a policeman; there is no noise. But, when a colonel’s wife bullies a policeman, everyone has the austerity to say a word or two on the incident. We do not dare to embarrass the Colonel for breaking the law. The courage to even stop the Colonel’s wife is somewhat shaky. But, we do enjoy the opportunity to utter words of abuse for the Colonel’s wife.
Of course, there have been people in the military who have abused their power. Many also received punishments. But is it right to call the whole army arrogant because of these few people? Then, due to the corruption of some politicians, abusing the whole political class is justified. In view of the ignorance of some so-called scholars, it becomes permissible to insult all the scholars. In the context of the bestiality of a few human beings, all human beings should be condemned to hell.
I have had contacts with some colonels. I have seen their children and wives. Humble, trustworthy, virtuous, noble, and sometimes even against martial laws. But seeing them, I did not conclude that the whole army is full of men of God. Why should I derogate the whole army because of the wife of one colonel?
Of course, some officers have been, still are, and will remain arrogant and ‘bloody civilian’ minded. Isn’t that the case with other institutions and classes? In politicians, in scholars, in teachers, in students, aren’t there such people everywhere? There are. And in their lives and after their lives, disgrace becomes their inevitable destiny.
Call a spade a spade, a crime a crime, and a criminal a criminal. But do not mark the innocents as guilty because of some fanatics.
It is not a woman who ought to be called 2 takay ki, it is a mind-set that is pathetic and worthless. Do hate that mind-set, and despise those who incur such mind-sets, but for God’s sake, do not abuse a whole class, a whole department.
Do not make it a crime to be a Colonel’s wife. One lady who claimed to be the wife of some unfortunate colonel displayed arrogance. Mock her, and make fun of her, hold her severely accountable, but do not embarrass the whole institution.
Also Read: Where is God?
