How come only boys can protect girls?

Anchal Katyal
Sep 6, 2018 · 2 min read

We used to live in a society dominated by men. A lot has changed in the past couple of decades, women are not viewed as fragile anymore. More and more women are independent and self-sufficient. In the Indian society, there is still a long battle for gender equality but slowly, very slowly, we are inching towards it.

Raksha Bandhan is an Indian festival in which a sister ties Rakhi (a thread) on her brother’s wrist, as a symbol of protection. She ties Rakhi so that he can protect her for the rest of her life. But this festival is completely designed around the concept that women need protection. That they are weak and they need a man to come and rescue them. Every year on this day, sisters are reminded again that their brothers will protect them, so they don’t really need to be strong and powerful.

It is funny that in an Indian society where we try so hard to empower girls, yet we abide by and follow these age-old traditions.

This Raksha Bandhan my two lovely nieces proved that we are slowly learning. My eldest niece decided to tie Rakhi to her younger sister, saying that she will protect her, she doesn’t need a brother for it. My 5-year-old niece has the ability to question and understand why we do/say such things.

“How come only brothers protect their sisters?”

These young minds are pure, it makes me proud that they are not tied down by the conservative thinking of a traditional Indian society. If this festival means a symbol of protection, then why can’t girls protect others, maybe even their brothers. It used to be said this festival is only for brothers and sisters, if you don’t have a brother, well hard luck, tie Rakhi to some distant “brother-like” cousin.

I hope, in years ahead, every one of us starts removing the restriction of having a brother on this festival to celebrate it. Girls are strong, they are brave and tenacious. Let them be strong, don’t put them down. If you don’t have a brother, tie Rakhi to your sister or for that matter to yourself. After all, we do need to protect ourselves too.

My intention isn’t to insult any tradition that people have been following for ages, but simply to open their minds to new possibilities. Sons aren’t everything, daughters are amazing too. Let your daughters be strong and let them make their own paths. Don’t shoot them down just because, they are girls.

Anchal Katyal

Written by

A Creative Techie. Software developer by day, lost in infinite possibilities by night.

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