01-28-2006, 12:19 PM
I believe Veena Oldenburg has taken anti-Hindu stances elsewhere. I think she signed the anti-IDRF petition. Many of these "Subaltern studies" people like V. Oldenburg try to bring to shift the blame to the British while whitewashing the Musslims. The Muslim rulers used to take desirable women away to their harems in North India. There is a statement that Akbar turned Delhi into a brothel. Sati became a big deal amongst the Rajputs because they feared being raped by Muslims who were invading their country. Sati definitely existed even before the Muslims in India, but then it was there in Europe too because it is something going back to the Indo-European period.
When we first returned to India in late 1980s a young Rajput woman committed Sati. This immediately provided a chance for the Americans and their friends to anthropologize on the Indians. Sati is made a big deal off because the Americans want to make a business out of it by taking it up as a project for study and blowing it out of proportion.
The western women often want to save us from our repression. I would tell I am not repressed thank you, may be it is your mind.
When we first returned to India in late 1980s a young Rajput woman committed Sati. This immediately provided a chance for the Americans and their friends to anthropologize on the Indians. Sati is made a big deal off because the Americans want to make a business out of it by taking it up as a project for study and blowing it out of proportion.
The western women often want to save us from our repression. I would tell I am not repressed thank you, may be it is your mind.