SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEFS RELATED TO WIDOWS IN INDIA  AND KENYA

Author – Hardik Gupta, NMIMS

Best Citation – Hardik Gupta, SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEFS RELATED TO WIDOWS IN INDIA AND KENYA, Indian Journal of Legal Review (IJLR), 3 (1) of 2023, Pg. 657-668, ISSN – 2583-2344.

ABSTRACT

The paper tries to bring into light the oppression and infringement of rights which the widows in India and Kenya face because of the customs and widowhood rituals in both the countries. Though there are different customs in these countries like Sati pratha, widow cleansing and drinking corps’ water which not only dehumanize the society but also infringe the fundamental rights of these widows. There is no historical proof that these practices must be followed by every widow even there is no contribution shown of Kenyan woman in their history which brings out the neglected and rejected status of woman in the society. In the Indian context where so much importance is given to Vedas and other epic and there being no mention of sati pratha in these books brings out an objection that are this customs for the benefit of the woman going to die or there because of wrong interpretation of these books. Such is the condition of woman in a country like India which gives fundamental rights to its citizens irrespective of gender and also has ratified many international treaties for woman empowerment and human rights. Not only India Africa to has ratified many international conventions but even after that this type of practices take place commonly there, the reason being the lack of education and financial independence of woman in these countries. Many women even today are unaware of their rights and thus due to ignorance of these rights they are fooled by these customs and have to face hardships throughout their life.