Are Mysoreans, known for their penchant for fine things in life including arts, culture and literature, forgetting them in the rat race?
This question was posed by none other than Karnataka Sahitya Academy Chairperson Geeta Nagabhushana here on Sunday. She was speaking after inaugurating seminar on women in renowned writer De Javare Gowda’s works.
Noting poor attendance of literature enthusiasts, Geeta wondered if Mysoreans too were losing out on literature while running after other pleasures in life.
Referring to women in De Ja Gow’s works, she said their never rush like waterfall, but tread silently like a stream.
“Pro-women ideologies are always relevant,” she said.
Launching scathing attack on mythological male characters such as Rama, Satya Harishchandra and Dharmaraya regarded as most sacred in Hindu community, Geeta said they were never good husbands.
“Look at our beloved Lord Rama. He offered fire test to his wife since she has stayed away from him for 14 years, which was not her fault.
Actually, Seeta should have given chastity test to Rama since he had stayed away from her for the same time period.
But, those days the thoughts were not as radical as now. Hence, women like Seeta suffered silently,” she said adding Ravana was much better than Rama since he waited for Seeta to develop interest in him than force her against her wishes.
“Dharmaraya used his wife as property. Satya Harishchandra sold his wife to climb to the status of God. If you look at it, these men just lived the way they wanted, without bothering too much about their wives,” she said.
Referring to female foeticide, Geeta said if the situation continues unchecked, Pandava Rajya will become reality instead of Gandhiji’s Rama Rajya.
“Very soon, a group of men will will have to marry single woman since ratio of women is witnessing steep fall in the recent years,” she added.
Former ministers Leeladevi Prasad and Lalita Nayak presented papers.
Dr M G R Urs, De Ja Gow, columnist HSK, former minister Rani Satish, Dr D Thimmaiah were present .
