क़लमकार: “Ghoonghat: Behind the Veil”- Saloni Maheshwari

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January 17, 2020

“Ghoonghat” is yet another custom that is still practiced in most of the rural areas of Northern
India, mainly in Haryana and Rajasthan.
The practice of wearing ghoonghat especially in the rural areas is something that has been
followed for ages.
According to history, the practice of ghoonghat is said to have come during the 14 th century.
It was when Rana Ratansen of Chittorgarh lost the battle to Alauddin Khilji. Alauddin Khilji
fell in love with the queen of Chittorgarh, “Rani Padmavati” (Padmini).
When Alauddin Khilji knew about the unparalleled beauty of Rani Padmini, he couldn’t wait
to meet her. Desperate to meet Rani Padmavati, Khilji sent a word to Rana Ratansen to meet
him. Rana Ratansen invited Khilji as his guest (unarmed). The sole reason that Khilji wanted
to visit the fort was to see Rani Padmini. Further, Khilji requested Rana Ratansen to see a
glimpse of Rani Padmini. And a Rajput never refuses their guests’ requests. So, he decided to
show him Rani’s reflection in the mirror. As Khilji saw her reflection, he was taken aback
with her breath-taking beauty. As such, he planned to attack Chittorgarh to win her.
On his return after winning the battle, he only finds the ashes of the queen as she decided to
perform “Jauhar”, (a practice where women burn themselves alive) than to submit herself to
his lust.
So, from that day, women of Rajasthan and surrounding states started to wear ghoonghat in
the presence of anyone outside their family. Sometimes even in the presence of any male
member.
India is a storehouse of various customs and rituals that have stayed long after these stories
and never have been questioned.
Stressing on the importance of women empowerment for nation-building, Rajasthan Chief
Minister Ashok Gehlot on 6 th November, Tuesday said the custom of “ghoonghat” must be
eradicated at the earliest.

Ashok Gehlot expressed his displeasure at the practice of women covering their faces with
“ghoonghat” in some rural areas, he said the custom belong to a bygone area.
“Time has changed bow but the practice of “ghoonghat” is still there in some of the rural
areas of India. There is nothing right in confining women to “ghoonghat” system. Women
cannot progress until and unless “ghoonghat” exists”, he said at a program on women
empowerment in Jaipur organized by an NGO.
Women will be able to play a constructive role in nation-building and also uplift themselves
only when they are not forced to do what they don’t want to do.
I asked a few women in a village near Ajmer, Rajasthan that why they cover their faces with
a veil. Here are their answers:
“Kabhi socha nahi par sab log lagate hain, islye hum bhi lagate hain”
“Bade log ke saamne ghoonghat me hi jaana hota hai, yehi sikhaya hai bachpan se”
“Ghoonghat ka matlab hain hum unhe aadar de rahe hain”
“Koi aur purush hume dekhe nai, isliye ghoonghat lagate hain”
And I further asked, are you willing to wear this veil your whole life?
Their answers:
“Nahi, garmi me bahut dikkat hoti hai”
“Hume koi dikkat nai, jo pratha hai use nibhana hai”
“Baar baar ghoonghat hatakar dekhna padta hai, dikkat hoti hai, par kuch kar nai sakte”
Does society have the right to confine a woman to ghoonghat?
Well, the time has changed now and the women have to move forward courageously!

No doubt, Rajasthan CM, Ashok Gehlot has done a great job, but the question is- Will the
traditional families in rural India allow removing this veil? Will they allow the women to
move without any purdah? Will they easily accept this change?
Well, in my opinion, it’s the women who need to be strong enough to raise their voices. It’s
high time when women should speak for themselves.
Say “No”, when you oppose something!
Voice out your opinion!
Say “goodbye” to those things that you just don’t want to do!
Wear what you like, not what others want you to wear!
And the most important thing: Try to be the strength of the other women. Do not try to
demean the next generation just because you have gone through it. Women are the agents of
change and change begins at home!