Thread by @vsirnate

Do you remember the time when Dalit women had to bare their torsos to upper castes? And if they didn’t they had to pay a “breast tax” in Kerala? Do you know of or remember brave Nangeli who cut off her breasts and bled to death as resistance to the “Mullakaram” tax?

Today Muslim women are being hounded by Hindu Indian men to remove their head scarves. Tomorrow they will hound Dalit women, tribal women, women in jeans or skirts or saris, to remove items of clothing.

After all isn’t disrobing and humiliation of a woman central to atleast one Indian myth?

Don’t let women’s clothing be a decision that comes from men or community. Khaps in Haryana already blame jeans for rapes.

This power and entitlement that men command in Indian society over the lives and bodies and choices of women has to be broken once and for all time.

Don’t think that because you may be one of the privileged savarna women that this has nothing to do with you. The Hindu majoritarian state is an incel state. They do not respect women. They do not care about our rights, education or entitlements or protections.

The Hindu majoritarian state is run by the same people who developed an app to streamline thousands of abusive comments directed at women journalists. Think about it. They developed an app to make abuse of smart women efficient.

This is the same state that hastily cremated the remains of a Dalit rape victim at Hathras.

It is the same state whose henchmen defended the rapists of an 8 year old girl in J and K.

You may be watching the plight of Muslim women right now with a few laughs because that’s what we do don’t we? Because as women we haven’t learn to fully sympathize with other women yet.

You may be snug in your three bed room middle class apartment in Dwarka or Gurgaon, ordering your “maids” about but trust me if you women don’t stand up now, this majoritarian project will come to devour you soon enough.

Wait for the day they say women can’t take loans without

a male co signer.

Wait for the day the police stop filing FIRs for rape because a woman must be responsible for the crime committed against her.

Wait for the day when women’s clothing and sanitary products attract more tax.

Wait for the day when you have such little choice as a woman

that you spend your days trying to feel powerful only by being nasty to your female house help.

Then let’s talk! And I’ll remind you that I asked you to not side with Hindu patriarchy.

And take a moment to learn from the long history of Dalit women who fought hard against patriarchy and regimes. Remember Nangeli, remember the Panayeri Nadar women who fought to be able to cover their breasts in the mid 1800s. That’s who we all need to look to.

Right now Muslim women are under attack for an article of faith that they wear. It is your responsibility, nay, it is your duty as women to support them.

Note: I became acquainted with the story of Nangeli some years ago in Chennai. While it is disputed whether she was indeed a historical figure, she is still alive through the retelling of her story.

Here’s a piece that says a lot more about the clothing tax

google.com/amp/s/www.then…