Ratna Pathak Calls Modern Women Doing KarwaChauth Appalling, But Women Ain’t Happy

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: 

What do you think? Tell us in the comments below.