Recently, Ratna Pathak Shah made a controversial statement that left the internet angry. In one of her recent interviews, Ratna Pathak Shah shared that she believes our society is becoming more conservative and superstitious with every passing day. She further added that women are the ones who suffer the most in such societies.
Comparing India with Saudi Arabia, she asked, “Do we want to become like Saudi Arabia?” But that’s not it. She also added that how the modern women doing Karwa Chauth is appalling.
Ratna Pathak Shah’s Controversial Statement on Karwa Chauth
In an interview with Pinkvilla, Ratna Pathak said that she was recently asked if she was doing Karwa Chauth. While responding to the question, she said “Am I mad?”.
“Nothing has changed for women, or very little has changed in very crucial areas. Our society is becoming extremely conservative. We’re becoming superstitious, we’re being forced into accepting and making religion a very important part of one’s life. Someone asked me for the first time last year if I’m keeping ‘Karwa Chauth ka vrat (observing Karwa Chauth)’. I said, ‘Am I mad?”
She further added how modern women are doing Karwa Chauth is appalling.
“Isn’t it appalling that modern educated women do Karwa Chauth, praying for the lives of husbands so that they can have some validity in life? A widow in the Indian context is a horrible situation, isn’t it? So anything that keeps me away from widowhood. Really? In the 21st century, we are talking like this? Educated women are doing this.”
And, finally, Ratna Shah compares India to Saudi Arabia
“Look at all the conservative societies in this world. Women are the ones who are most affected. What’s the scope of women in Saudi Arabia? Do we want to become like Saudi Arabia? And we will become because it’s very, very convenient. Women provide a lot of unpaid labor within the home. If you have to pay for that labor, who will do it? Women are forced into that situation.”
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Her statement left many netizens disappointed and disgusted. Many women shared how passing judgments on their personal choice is unfair and others pointed out Ratna Pathak’s selective take on regressive rituals. Here’s what women over the internet said:
People commenting on my belief system is Appalling
— Shweta Shalini (@shweta_shalini) July 28, 2022
I do Karwachauth ‘cause I live in a free country where I CAN follow what I believe
I am a MODERN woman because I am not judgemental about others.
I am also an INTELLIGENT woman because I know my rights.#RatnaPathakShah pic.twitter.com/zk2necT29z
Woke modern women like #RatnaPathakShah and Twinkle Khanna leave no stone unturned to mock or insult Hindu Culture. Girls its ok if u don’t celebrate #KarwaChauth but, pls don’t insult the age rituals your dadis & nanis have been following
— PragT.Dt (@SaRaPragT) July 28, 2022
Wow! Brilliant! People like her inspire me to follow rituals/tradition and I’ll make sure I do it at the right time. 🙂#RatnaPathakShah 👎 https://t.co/fQmc3Q705i
— Milli 🤍 (@sapiome) July 28, 2022
#RatnaPathakShah does not values, family, tribe, community, culture, and society. Liberals like her will come after our tradition cause thy knw these traditions make our tribe, community, nation strong. Mind you, we bond cause of our culture not cause of liberal idea of liberty.
— Archie (@ADenzing) July 28, 2022
This ratna pathak is mentally sick.Comparing india to Saudi is another level especially when women are concerned.Its high time these folks should realize that they comment on religious things which they have no idea about and create unnecessary uproar.#RatnaPathakShah
— Seema Singh💃 (@qwertycma) July 28, 2022
Wow, now observing ‘karva chauth’ is making India extremely conservative, and is ‘appalling’ to #RatnaPathakShah – wonder why she hasn’t said anything about the practice of ‘nikaah halala’ and female genital mutilation?!
— rupz (@krazyrupz) July 28, 2022
Why did Ratna Pathak “Shah” add Shah to her name if she was so progressive so modern ??
— RituMod 🕉 (@RituM67501354) July 28, 2022
She was a well known actress .. why she added her husband s surname? #RatnaPathakShah #Karwachauth
One day Karwa Chauth fast seems more regressive & misogynistic than women clad in burkhas 365 days .
— Sapna 🇮🇳 (@Sapna_3) July 28, 2022
Wah re modern feminists 🤔#RatnaPathakShah https://t.co/9otku9L7Tz
What do you think? Tell us in the comments below.