We have had great reformers in our country who valiantly battled against regressive prejudices. But there are some prejudices that pose serious impediments to progress, opines Ram Krishna. An exclusive for Different Truths.

Prejudices are preconceived opinions that are not based on reason or actual experience. They often derive their strengths from religious beliefs, social customs, or cultural practices. Across the world, we encounter prejudices at all levels – at home, society, institutions, corporations, and governments. Indeed, some prejudices are so deleterious that they trample on human rights, dignity, and liberal values.  

Thankfully, we have had great social, political, and spiritual leaders in our country. They valiantly battled against regressive taboos and prejudices. Swami Vivekananda challenged many dogmas and bigotry. Raja Ram Mohan Roy took upon himself to fight the practice of Sati.

Widow Remarriage

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar campaigned for Hindu widow remarriage. Mahatma Gandhi questioned the purdah system, caste practices and indignity of labor. There were other social reformers who attacked dowry and encouraged girl education.  

In the recent past, we questioned open defecation practices. The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, besides redeeming our women’s dignity, has helped improve standards of overall hygiene and sanitation.

Taboo Around Menstruation

Social activists and women groups opposed denial of entry of women of certain age groups in temples. Lately, we have also started questioning the taboo around menstruation. Through meaningful public conversations, films, advertisements, corporate support, political initiatives and progressive judicial rulings, many negative attitudes and mindsets are being combated. All this is welcome.   

Yet there are some prejudices in our midst that have a vice-like grip. And these are posing serious obstacles to our socio-economic, cultural, and moral progress. Some of the pernicious ones are:  

Prejudice Against Caste, Colour and Race

Discrimination and atrocities based on skin color and racial features are too brutal to put humanity to shame. Even the monumental sacrifices of Gandhi, Mandela and Martin Luther King, Jr. seem inadequate to tame this monstrous prejudice.

In India, we see the racial discrimination and violence particularly towards African students. Also, our people of the north-east are simply despicable. The heinous crimes against Dalits depict another shameful saga. All such prejudiced acts are against our avowed ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. And the noble initiative of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. 

Prejudice Against Gender and Sexual Minorities

Despite liberal judicial rulings, the orthodox mindset refuses to die down. People with different sexual orientations and gender identity are subjected to severe psychological, social, and economic stresses. Despite progressive court rulings and government initiatives, the community is still facing various kinds of harassment at work, and in society.

Our constitutional ideal of fraternity will remain a dream unless we learn to appreciate and cherish diversity and inclusion of all communities.  

Prejudice Against Girl Child 

With a ban on sex-selective abortions, the sad tale of “missing” women has changed to “unwanted” girls. Parents continue to produce children until the desired number of sons are born. The taboo of abortion is now circumvented through the meta-preference, engendering not only gender inequality and injustice but creating a new taboo. 

The curse of patriarchy and misogyny in our society will never go away with a negative mindset on the arrival of a girl child. This regressive mindset is even more ironic in the backdrop of the happiness and glory our daughters are bringing to their family and the nation through their outstanding achievements at the Olympics.  

Prejudice Around Sharing Household Chores

The patriarchal conditioning and gender-insensitive upbringing are still deeply ingrained in our society. Though the lockdown engendered by Covid-19, with WFH a new normal, has seen some sharing and empathy, menfolk, by and large, still consider doing household chores a taboo. They assume household chores as feminine in nature and ‘un-manly’. As a result, care-giving roles and domestic responsibilities lie disproportionately heavy on the shoulders of women. 

But can a nation rise and aspire to reach its potential without gender equality, and women empowerment? “Men and women”, as Swami Vivekananda said, “are two wings of a bird and it is not possible for a bird to fly on only one wing”. 

Can we afford to sleep in good conscience if prejudices pervade in our society?

Visual by Different Truths

Ram Krishna Sinha

Ram Krishna Sinha is a former General Manager at Bank of India, and lives in Mumbai. After three and half decades of distinguished career in the Bank, he is presently invested in talent mapping, management education and writing for newspapers and magazines on contemporary issues. An author of the motivational book “X-Factor @Workplace” published by Tata McGraw Hill, he is an Opinion Columnist for the CEOWORLD magazine.

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