Raksha Bandhan is cherished by siblings across the country. After all, it is a celebration of the bond between brothers and sisters, which are meant to last a lifetime. A rakhi is a symbolic form of protection. But is it only restricted to one’s sisters?
According to Meghavi Trivedi, who works at an MNC, the rakhi should go beyond its symbolism and inspire us to help those around us. Says Meghavi, “Does tying a knot around the wrist actually bring about the bond and the sense of responsibility? If so, shouldn’t we start tying this knot on every person we come across, just so they don’t harm us? Should it be a knot on the wrist or a thought of humanity on all our minds to keep the people around us safe?”
Meghavi Trivedi
A thread’s not enough
Protecting a woman is not a matter of law, it is a matter of one’s choice. It is not necessary to hoard up weapons and go to war. A step as small as educating people around us goes a long way. We recently celebrated our freedom and women deserve it too. As it has been proven by history, neither the fetters of oppression nor the chains of dictatorship can keep down the forces of freedom.
— Keshav Soni, Wealth Manager
Yash Chawla, RJ and producer at a radio station, agrees that protection should be extended to others as well. He says, “This Raksha Bandhan, promise your sister that you will take a stand for those girls who get molested or teased in front of you. This is the time when you need to understand that you have to respect other girls as well.”
Yash Chawla
If we all start respecting our sisters as well as the sisters of others, won’t we be a whole lot safer? Author Ravinder Singh concurs. “I think we need to go beyond respecting our sisters and understand other women out there are someone’s sisters as well. If all men respect all women, we don’t really have to protect women that way.”
She should fight her own battles
The brother should not only promise protection to his sister but should also encourage her to fight her own battles, as she is the power herself. Though this festival is mainly celebrated between the brother and sister, it should be celebrated by the families also by treating the girl and the boy equally
— Amita Rawat, Music Manager and Voice Artist
Shreya Orungati, a student, challenges the idea that women need to be protected. So this year, like previous ones, she will follow the tradition of tying the rakhi on herself. “Go ahead, tie yourself a rakhi, and take a vow to protect yourself. Because in a world where a mere thread defines how safe you are, you're the only protector you need,” she concludes.
HT02
