Dhirendra Shastri has condemned Swara Bhasker’s statement in which she called Rani Padmavati’s ‘Jauhar’ an act of cowardice. Swara has already clarified her statement, but the controversy continues. Now, Bageshwar Dham’s Dhirendra Shastri has strongly objected to her remark. He said that Jauhar was not an act of cowardice but one of bravery, devotion and dedication to one’s husband.
He made the statement on the second day of the ‘Hanumat Katha’ being held at Liluah Workshop Ground in West Bengal. During the event, Dhirendra Shastri said that he could not remain silent on the issue.
Dhirendra shastri – what do you know about the culture?
Dhirendra Shastri said, “A woman made a statement about Rani Padmavati and called Jauhar cowardice. You shameless, wicked woman, Jauhar is not cowardice; it is an act of bravery, devotion and dedication to one’s husband. What do you know about the culture of Jauhar?”
He further added, ‘Those who oppose faith can never understand Jauhar. Some people even turn brothers into lovers; what would they know about Jauhar? Even if my words offend anyone or hurt their sentiments, I will still speak the truth.’
Swara Bhasker had given a statement on the Jauhar scene in the film Padmaavat at an event in Delhi.
What was swara bhasker’s full statement and why did the controversy begin?
At the ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ talk held at the India International Centre in Delhi on August 31, Swara Bhasker spoke about the Jauhar scene in Padmaavat. She said the scene could send a wrong message to rape survivors.
She further said, “Is this what we want to tell survivors—that they are not worth living, that if you were truly a respectable and brave woman, you would have killed yourself? Are we saying that rape is the end of a woman’s life?”
Referring to a scene in which a pregnant woman is shown preparing to commit Jauhar, Swara said, “I was very angry seeing this and I said ‘yuck’ right there in the theatre. After thinking about it for 5 days, I wrote an open letter to director Sanjay Leela Bhansali.”
Her remarks led to criticism on social media, with some people accusing her of insulting a historical sacrifice.
swara clarifies her statement
As the controversy grew, Swara shared a video on Instagram to clarify her remarks. She said, “A clip of mine is going viral on social media. I was asked why I wrote an open letter after watching Padmaavat. I want to clarify that I did not call Rani Padmavati or the other women of the palace cowards.”
She added, “If you want to abuse, do it for the right reason. I had said that if I were a rape survivor, then after watching the climax, I would feel that by surviving after rape, I have shown cowardice.”
Swara Bhasker has shared a video on her Instagram account to clarify the matter.
‘Is a woman’s purity more precious than her life?’
Swara said that rape continues to be a serious problem in the country. Referring to the recent gang-rape of a woman in a moving bus in Delhi, she questioned whether films should send a message that a woman’s purity is more important than her life.
Citing the Nirbhaya case, she said Nirbhaya fought for her life until her last breath. Swara added that a woman’s desire and determination to live should never be underestimated.
Debate with Priyanka Chaturvedi on social media
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi responded to Swara Bhasker’s statement on X. Priyanka said that if women had to choose between becoming slaves of the victors and being kept as sex slaves in their harems, different women could make different choices. She said people could debate whether they agree with such a choice, but it was still a choice.
Responding to her, Swara said, “Priyanka ji, you are not understanding the real point. It is not about the choice of the women performing Jauhar, but about what we are glorifying. Does a survivor not have the right to live after rape?”
Deepika Padukone in the Jauhar scene of Padmaavat.
What is the Jauhar scene in Padmaavat? The Jauhar scene in the film comes near the climax. Alauddin Khilji’s army defeats the Rajputs and enters the Chittorgarh fort. Deepika Padukone’s character, ‘Rani Padmavati’, performs Jauhar along with the women of the fort. In the film, it is depicted as an act of self-immolation to avoid being captured.
