Inspite of being in a secular country, time and again issues on purdah/ hijab ban has been raised. The recent comment passed by Mulayam Singh Yadav in a national convention at Lucknow was a total nuisance. Purdah is not an evil tradition, all the religions in some or the other way speak about veil and women in their scriptures. It is not something which was established few years back due to some circumstances as the chief of Samajwadi party reported. Purdah does not mean a lady is being oppressed or is inferior to others. A proper understanding of purdah would have made it clear that purdah dignifies a woman. She is raised in her status, as all precious things are kept covered and safe from evil eyes. She knows her value, she is not a toy. It does not hinder her progress and she can still walk shoulder to shoulder with men folk, because purdah covers the head but not the brain.
Saba Bengre, Margao
