Actress Richa Chadha feels for a country, which worships several goddesses, it is hypocritical that the nation has double standards when it comes to treating women. Richa states the huge division between the people worshipping goddesses and on the other hand neglecting women is a serious matter, which has baffled her ever since she was a child.
“India is one of those few countries in the world where violence against women starts in the womb before the girl is even born. We have to overcome the hypocrisy in our culture. On one hand, we celebrate Navratri, nine days of fasting for the goddess, then Durga Pooja… All kinds of goddesses in India are worshiped and praised than in any other culture,” Richa said.
“But when it comes to our women, daughters, wives, mothers, sisters, we have a completely different standard. That has baffled me since I was a child,” she said.
ALSO READ: ‘Yeh hain aapke achhe din,’ Kapil Sharma asks PM Modi
The “Masaan” star was speaking at a panel debate on “Gender Based Violence in India”. The event was held to commence the programme for the ‘Justice Institute‘ in association with the Avon Foundation and Vital Voices.
The 29-year-old-actress said it is necessary to educate men on how to treat women and give confidence to girls that they can achieve what they want in life.
“Girls know they are at par… More than educating them, we need to give them confidence that they can do whatever they want to do in life. It is also about teaching the men how to treat women. “It starts from there. From the patriarch, the person in-charge of the power, who is conditioning everybody else to a certain way of life.”
Richa, however, believes that the development will take time, as gender-based violence is a serious matter, which has its origins in traditions and religion. “It will take a lot of time because somewhere we are conditioned into thinking a certain way, it is a very large topic. It includes culture, religion, and tradition. “It’s time we question some stuff. When somebody from outside questions it, we get defensive. But we must question our own culture and use the best aspects of it.”
Richa says often sexual assaults victims are stigmatized, because of which they are indecisive and hesitant to proceed and talk about it.