It is a common thing that one hears about the society being patriarchal, men pulling the strings and parading their dominance. However this feeling of being the more dominant and more powerful sex is not a superficial force. This has been etched in the minds of men and women alike due to centuries of domination.
In our society (by 'our' society, I mean a society which is supposedly 'modern') we do not see this domination or the effect of it directly. it is subtle and subverted but equally powerful. One recent incident, which gave me quite a shocker, made me realise how powerful the image of a "powerful patriarch" the all providing demi-god is in the minds of commoners.
It was just another summer night in Manipal. We were tying banners around the town for an upcoming event of our college. Our laughs (which sounded more like monstrous howls) was eclipsed by a shrill voice of pain and fear. What we saw was a woman fallen on the road and a man throwing punches and slaps at her. Without second thoughts we ran towards the rumble. The man, shouting that he was her husband ran as soon as he saw five boys running towards him. We did catch him and took him to the police station which was hardly a furlong away. Some threats and a couple of swings from the lathi, they were let go. They were construction workers, both husband and wife. On the way back we kept a close look on them as they crossed the road.
What happened next was unbelievable! The husband picked up a wooden club (some remnant in a construction site) ready to give his wife a royal showdown. This time we ran , shouting violently (this is the nearest I had got to a war cry). My friends started a verbal rant which is impossible to publish (but he deserved it). While this showdown was going on , one guy slightly taller than the husband entered the scene with a helpless look. we had seen him during the couples fight on the road. He looked like a body builder right out of the garadi . One punch from this guy to your stomach would solve all your problems, as you wouldnt be alive to face them. The real shocker was when we came to know this guy was the couples son, who was a mute spectator till now, as he feared his dad who, in front of him looked like a puny animal!!
Need i have to say more, that is the perception of the powerful patriarch!
2 comments:
Whoa!!
Like the baby elephant tied with a thin rope... even when the elephant grew into this huge animal that could snap the rope with a small tug, it did not even try - the power of conditioning!
Good, I am glad you took him to the police station, and not say "oh ganda-hendati jagala, come on, let's not interfere." good job.
I hope you gave the son a piece of your mind and some courage.
By the way, "furlong?" really? :))
ha ha ha yes furlong!! well the son got a slap from an elderly guy who joined in after he witnessed it. But my stomach still collapses when i think of the wife's state after they reached home!
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