{"id":308834,"date":"2025-12-01T12:00:25","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T12:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=308834"},"modified":"2025-12-01T05:49:33","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T05:49:33","slug":"ancient-peace-disrupting-echoes-modern-wounds-deconstructing-gender-based-violence-in-the-hindu-mahabharata","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2025\/12\/ancient-peace-disrupting-echoes-modern-wounds-deconstructing-gender-based-violence-in-the-hindu-mahabharata\/","title":{"rendered":"Ancient Peace Disrupting Echoes, Modern Wounds: Deconstructing Gender-Based Violence in the Hindu Mahabharata"},"content":{"rendered":"

This publication is not suitable for general readership as it contains narrative of Gender Based Violence and abuse of women.\u00a0 This can be grossly disturbing to some readers. Parental guidance is recommended for minors who may use this research paper as a resource material, for projects.<\/em><\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/em>Important Note to Readers of this publication<\/em><\/p>\n

The author acknowledges that the Hindu scripture, Mahabharata, is a layered text, as a poem, written originally in Sanskrit. Many episodes are allegorical and its portrayal of GBV reflect historical, social norms from antiquity, rather than an endorsement, thereof. Modern readings aim to learn from these disturbing narratives, to obviate repetition of injustice, patriarchal oppression and abuse of women, certainly NOT to vilify the scripture, which the author, as a Muslim, highly respects, as a revered Hindu tome.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWastraharan: When Virtue Was Dragged and Dharma Stayed Silent\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Dice Game of Patriarchy: Wives, Wagers, and Systemic Violence against women in the Mahabharata. A Swayamvara Interrupted: An objective and contextual elaboration of Female Autonomy and Its Violation as narrated in this Hindu Scripture\u201d <\/em>[2]<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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Washantran of Draupadi, dragging the Princess by her long, lustrous hair, to the royal court for disrobing, in public: A gross form of GBV in antiquity. Photo Credit: Premium AI<\/p><\/div>\n

A Swayamvara Interrupted: An objective and contextual elaboration of Female Autonomy and Its Violation, as narrated in this Hindu Scripture. [1]<\/strong><\/sup><\/a><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Prologue:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gender-Based Violence and Femicide is declared a National Disaster in South Africa, ahead of G20 Summit[3]<\/a> (GBVF) following mounting public pressure and a wave of protests across the country. The announcement comes just a day before the G20 Leaders\u2019 Summit with government citing the urgent need to address the escalating crisis. he classification was confirmed by Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Velenkosini Hlabisa who said the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) had formalised the declaration. This follows a nationwide shutdown led by advocacy group Women for Change on Friday, November 21 calling for decisive government action against GBVF. Hlabisa welcomed the move by NDMC head Dr Bongani Elias Sithole[4]<\/a> who invoked Section 23 of the Disaster Management Act 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002)[5]<\/a> to effect the classification.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis decisive action follows a thorough reassessment of previous reports and updated submissions from organs of state as well as civil organisations\u201d Hlabisa said. He added \u201cAfter evaluating the persistent and immediate life-safety risks posed by ongoing acts of violence the NDMC has concluded that GBVF now meets the threshold of a potential disaster as defined in the Act\u201d The classification places the responsibility for coordinating and managing the national disaster on the National Executive in line with Sections 23 and 26 of the Act. This will be done using existing legislation and contingency arrangements already in place.<\/p>\n

All organs of state have been called upon to bolster their support for GBVF response structures activate contingency plans and ensure that mechanisms are in place for effective disaster management. Section 22 of the Act also urges the private sector communities and individuals to intensify prevention and risk-reduction efforts by implementing GBVF-related standards procedures and laws. \u201cIndividuals are strongly encouraged to refrain from any acts of gender-based violence or femicide\u201d Hlabisa said. National provincial and municipal authorities have been advised to roll out multisectoral prevention mitigation relief and rehabilitation plans to address the crisis holistically. Hlabisa stressed that the classification does not trigger emergency powers but rather reinforces existing systems and aligns with key initiatives already underway. On Friday 21st<\/sup> November 2025, In an impressive display of solidarity and urgency ahead of the G20 Summit, thousands gathered across South Africa to draw attention to the pressing issue of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in honour of those who lost their lives as a result. At 12 noon, participants dressed in black lay down in silence for 15 minutes, throughout major centre and institutions like the University of KwaZulu-Natal.[6]<\/a> The notice also outlines the conditions under which the classification may be revoked. If a national state of disaster is not declared the classification will be lifted once GBVF no longer meets the criteria of a disaster under the Act. Should a national state of disaster be declared the classification will automatically lapse when that declaration ends in accordance with Section 27(5).\u00a0 \u201cThis effort pulls together every sphere of government and every critical sector \u2014 policing social development justice health education economic development and traditional leadership\u201d Hlabisa said \u201cAbove all it confirms a fundamental truth, BVF is not a women\u2019s issue. It is a national crisis\u201d The announcement follows President Cyril Ramaphosa\u2019s[7]<\/a> remarks at the G20 Social Summit in Boksburg on Thursday where he acknowledged the severity of the issue.\u00a0 \u201cWe are now going to classify gender-based violence and femicide as a crisis a crisis that needs to be addressed\u201d Ramaphosa said. He added \u201cThey need protection support and assistance, from their government and from the men of South Africa\u201d Ramaphosa said all social partners agreed that \u201cextraordinary and concerted action\u201d is needed to end the crisis. \u201cThe collective perspectives expressed at this summit will enable governments and decision-makers to better understand people\u2019s lived experiences, what works what doesn\u2019t and what must change\u201d<\/p>\n

The classification comes amid growing pressure from civil society. Women for Change spearheaded the November 21st<\/sup> shutdown demanding urgent action on GBVF. Civic organisations including Operation Dudula[8]<\/a> also announced plans to protest during the G20 Summit with movement leader Zandile Dabula stating that demonstrations would be peaceful and aimed at highlighting broader issues such as poverty and unemployment.[9]<\/sup><\/a> All affected organs of state are required to submit progress reports to the NDMC under Section 24 enabling oversight of interventions by government departments municipalities NGOs and communities.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It is against this background of GBVF that the author opined it relevant to respectfully examine the status women in the religious scriptures of the different faiths in South Africa, on this GBVF Awareness Day, based on the diverse religious beliefs and traditions of the citizenry of the \u201cRainbow Nation\u201d[10]<\/a>, as described by the late Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu[11]<\/a>. The author has written about the Ramayana and the present research refers to the principal female in the Hindu Epic Mahabharata[12]<\/a>, one of the two major poems in Hinduism, classified as religious scriptures.\u00a0 The first is the Ramayana, which traces the odyssey of suffering and abuse against the female principal in the epic, Sita Devi, Lord Rama\u2019s wife, both of whom were banished, into exile from the Kingdom of Kosala[13]<\/a> by King Dasarath[14]<\/a>, based in Ayodhya and Lord Rama\u2019s father, to please his second wife, Kaikeyi[15]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Introduction: The Spectrum of Gender Based Violence and Femicide[16]<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The author writes this paper on Gender-Based Violence (GBV), as depicted in the Mahabharata which is an excellent and insightful idea. The epic provides a profound and complex foundation for exploring this timeless malady, offering narratives that are not only ancient but remain deeply relevant for contemporary discourse. The author approaches this topic, respectfully, without disparaging the scripture or its cultural significance, and frames the discussion in terms of modern GBV categories<\/strong> such as:<\/p>\n