Hindu men can have two wives????

One wife or two?

Many years ago when my girls were little, they felt sorry for me doing the daily chores which all housewives have to do. In fact they felt specially sorry on days the domestic help used to vanish and I had even less time to spare for them or if I did, was tetchy and always in a rush ” Why don’t you ask Dada to have a second wife? ” they advised me, ” That way you won’t have to do all the work yourself!” That was a thought which never occurred to me and tempting though the idea was to halve my work, that was definitely not the solution I would have wanted!

The thought of two wives is not only repugnant but also regressive. Traditionally the argument given for two wives was to protect the women from the unwanted advances of other men. Thankfully most women these days are capable of looking after themselves and don’t need to get married to protect themselves. However that doesn’t stop men from talking about having more than one wife – whether in jest or otherwise.

What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander

Yesterday evening’s television discussions centred round the Shankaracharya’s proclamation that Hindu men without children should be allowed to take a second wife – an idea that is not only insulting to all women but downright distasteful ,showing a complete lack of sensitivity and knowledge, unbecoming to someone who claims to be a religious leader. Science has proven beyond doubt that the ability to have children is not dependent on the woman alone. So if a Hindu man can have a second wife if his first can’t have a child, won’t it make sense for a Hindu woman to have a second husband if her husband can’t have children? I hope the Shankaracharya realises the absurdity of his proposition!

Missing the wood for the trees

What is the need of the hour is a rebuilding of national character as demanded by Mr. Modi from the Red Fort on Independence Day. Instead of thinking of nation building by changing people’s attitudes from the dead wood of the past, we seem to be talking of inconsequentialities that will take us no where. Instead of asking for a modification of Hindu law that will legalise polygamy, the Shankaracharya should change people’s attitudes to childless couples and dispel the myths associated with having children.

Religious leaders should refrain from stirring up peoples’ passions and offer spiritual guidance to their followers in private. What is needed is a rational solution to social problems . As Karl Marx said ” Religion is the opium of the masses” and a responsible religious leader should maintain social peace and calm rather than create controversies and incite communal disharmony.