Sultana's Dream and Padmarag by Rokeya Hossain

Author:Rokeya Hossain [Hossain, Rokeya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2022-08-09T00:00:00+00:00

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“Mrs. Sen paid for my higher education herself. I failed my BA exam by only three marks. Later, I would pass my teacher-training exams. And now, I am the head teacher of Tarini School.”

Siddika: “Is there no treatment for these suppurating sores of society? You either have to remain tied for life to a raving madman or endure being abandoned for no fault of your own. If after being humiliated by a drunkard of a husband, you refuse to live with him and his concubine, your own brothers want to truss you up and pack you off to him. If a man runs for his life by leaping out of a window, abandoning his spouse to her fate, she is expected to beg strangers for shelter—is there no redress for these injustices?”

Saudamini: “There is! That redress is the Society for the Upliftment of Downtrodden Women at Tarini Bhavan. Come, all you abandoned, destitute, neglected, helpless, oppressed women—come together. Then we will declare war on society! And Tarini Bhavan will serve as our fortress.”

Helen: “Why is there no law that protects women against the kind of divorce on flimsy grounds that was given to Rafiya?”

Rafiya: “Even if there was, I would not deign to take recourse to it. Why should I even cast a second glance at the person who spat me out?”

Sakina: “That is also why I have come to Tarini Bhavan. I want to prove that other choices are available to us. The essence of a woman’s life does not lie in keeping house for her husband. A human life is a most valuable gift from God—it is not something to be wasted by merely devoting yourself to keeping the home fires burning. We have to declare war on society.”

Usha: “Oh, dear! In that case, won’t the fires of discontent heat up the homes of peace-loving Bengalis?”

Rafiya: “Away with peace! Away with a peace that is as inert and emasculated as death. We must smash the core of this custom of seclusion.[*] It is the root cause of all evil! No more putting up with abuse to preserve the dignity of seclusion!”

Helen: “I, too, shall move heaven and earth to ensure that these despicable English laws are abolished.”

Since it was late, everyone went off to bed. Sleep overcame Siddika, while she was pondering over the beauty of a woman’s inner turmoil.

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