Ratna Pathak finds modern Indian women observing ‘Karwa Chauth’ ‘apalling’; sets Twitter ablaze over ‘India turning into Saudi Arabia’ remark

Tribune Web Desk

Chandigarh, July 28

Known for being an actor par excellence, Ratna Pathak has won many accolades for her exceptional craft and stellar acting skills.

In a recent interaction with Pinkvilla, the actor did not shy away from speaking her mind on women observing Hindu traditions in India.

The portal published a video interview of the veteran actor on July 26.

Talking about society and drawing parallels with Saudi Arabia, Pathak pointed out that India was moving towards becoming an extremely conservative society.

She said nothing seemed to have changed for the women in India as educated women still believed in age-old traditions.

Calling out ‘Karwa Chauth’, the Hindu festival of keeping a day-long fast by wives for the long lives of their husbands, the actor said it was “appalling” that modern educated women observed such practices.

She said, “Nothing has changed for women, or very little has changed in very crucial areas. Our society is becoming extremely conservative. We’re becoming superstitious. We’re being forced into accepting and making religion a very important part of one’s life.

She remembered how someone had asked her for the first time last year if she observed the fast to which she had replied, “Am I mad?”

“Someone asked me for the first time last year if I’m keeping ‘karwa chauth ka vrat’. I said am I mad?”

She further added, “Isn’t it appalling that modern educated women do Karwa Chauth, praying for the lives of their husbands so that they can have some validity in life? A widow in the Indian context is a horrible situation, isn’t it? So anything that keeps me away from widowhood. Really? In the 21st century, we are talking like this? Educated women are doing this.”

Shah said that when a country becomes more conservative, it clamps down its women first. She said, “Look at all the conservative societies in this world. Women are the ones who are most affected. What’s the scope of women in Saudi Arabia? Do we want to become like Saudi Arabia? And we will become like it because it’s very, very convenient. Women provide a lot of unpaid labour within the home. If you have to pay for that labour, who will do it? Women are forced into that situation.”

Twitterati wasn’t impressed with her views and the actor received flak for trying to preach morality and modernity only to Hindus.

“Isn’t it appalling that modern, educated women do #KarwaChauth…हम लोग सऊदी अरेबिया बनना चाहते हैं क्या?”

– says Actor Naseeruddin Shah’s wife Ratna Pathak Shah in an Interview. Netizens question her silence on women issues like Teen Talaq & Burqa.

???? Credit- Pinkvilla pic.twitter.com/QtXQhNwup5

— Jammu-Kashmir Now (@JammuKashmirNow) July 28, 2022

So guys Halala,Mutah,hijab, polygamy, triple talaq r symbols of progressive society & Karva chauth is regressive for secular #RatnaPathakShah waise she is married with a Islamist #naseeruddinshah so feel her pain..she is still in marriage yahi bahut badi baat hai????#KarvaChauth pic.twitter.com/C5xpbFmTaM

— karuna Tyagi(Proud Hindu) (@K_tyaagii) July 28, 2022

This ratna pathak shah just lost all her respect and admiration as an artost from me. Such stupod statement on karwa chauth

— sweetgirl (@somewoman007) July 28, 2022

I genuinely thought Ratna Pathak was more sensible than Naseeruddin Shah ????????‍♂️

— Batla_G (@Batla_G) July 28, 2022

Ratna Pathak Shah finds Karwa chauth extremely conservative & compares India with Saudi Arabia

But the hypocrite was completely silent on * Hij@@b issue”

What else can we expect from a typical elite Bollywood Secularist

— Sheetal Chopra ???????? (@SheetalPronamo) July 27, 2022

Ratna Pathak Shah says it’s ‘appalling’ that modern educated women do Karva Chauth, ‘Widow in the Indian context… ‘

ALSO APPALLING IS THE FACT : THAT ONLY HINDUS TRADITIONS CAN BE SPOKEN AGAINST, Because educated women wearing Burqa is emancipation! https://t.co/69Q7D6vHQ4

— अणिमा सोनकर (@AnimaSonkar) July 26, 2022

Ratna Pathak Shah is worried about India becoming Saudi Arabia.

I, like Pervez Musharraf wonder and fear if we will turn into Pakistan by the end of the century.

— Anoopsri???????? (@Anoopsri) July 27, 2022

Ratna Pathak Shah uttering garbage against Hindu rituals but she can’t speak against the same in Islam like triple talaq, halala and women forced to live like a slave.
Does she have courage

— Yogendra_009 (@delhi_same_day) July 27, 2022

Today I came across with One more woke woman “Ratna Pathak Shah” wife of Nasiruddin shah
She says why modern educated women are keeping karuwa chauth fast !! Lemme tell u keeping fast is indian rituals not mandatory it also improves health of woman!! Man too keep fast!!

— Ankit Gupta (@AnkitGu01754772) July 27, 2022