Actress Swara Bhaskar has drawn criticism from political and social figures over her remarks linking the depiction of jauhar in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film Padmaavat to the experiences of rape survivors today.
Bhaskar was revisiting an open letter she had written to Bhansali nearly eight years ago when she argued that portraying thousands of women committing jauhar to protect their honour could send a troubling message to rape survivors in the present day. She suggested such a portrayal could make survivors who choose to continue living feel like “cowards”.
Her comments triggered a political response, with BJP leader Shazia Ilmi accusing Bhaskar of being “ignorant” and lacking an understanding of historical context.
“It is clearly evident that Swara Bhasker ji can neither grasp historical context, nor understand how women are viewed or how they view themselves across societies in our country, nor comprehend our country’s constitutional values,” Ilmi told IANS.
Ilmi said jauhar must be viewed in the context of the medieval period and argued that Rajput women who chose the practice sought to avoid captivity, torture, exploitation and sexual violence.
Uttar Pradesh Women Commission President Babita Singh Chauhan also criticised Bhaskar, saying that decisions made by women in historical circumstances should be understood within the context of their time. She said she would not comment on whether jauhar was right or wrong but maintained that “linking it to rapes is absolutely wrong”.
Congress MP Tariq Anwar offered a different perspective, saying that jauhar was accepted as a tradition in the historical period but that society’s understanding and attitudes have evolved.
Rajasthan Finance Commission Chairman Arun Chaturvedi similarly said historical decisions should not be judged without considering the circumstances in which they were made, while stressing that such practices are not supported today.
Meanwhile, Maulana Sajid Rashidi criticised the portrayal, arguing that linking jauhar with rape could convey a hurtful message to survivors. He questioned whether suicide out of fear of rape or murder could be associated with the image of Rajputs as warriors.
The debate has once again brought attention to the contested historical, cultural and social interpretations surrounding Padmaavat and its depiction of jauhar.