Dhirendra Shastri & Swara Bhaskar Controversy – The rhetoric regarding Jauhar between Swara Bhaskar and Dhirendra Krishna Shastri of Bageshwar Dham has once again sparked a debate. Swara Bhaskar’s old objection to the scene of Jauhar shown in ‘Padmavat’ came to the fore again in a recent program.

After this, during Hanumat Katha in West Bengal, Dhirendra Shastri expressed his opinion about Jauhar and linked it not to cowardice, but to bravery, devotion and dedication. This entire matter is now being discussed from social media to public forums. However, one important thing amidst the controversy is that Swara Bhaskar later clarified that she had not called Queen Padmavati or the women who committed Jauhar cowards.

What did Dhirendra Shastri say on Swara Bhaskar’s statement?

Dhirendra Krishna Shastri expressed his displeasure regarding Jauhar during the Hanumat Katha organised at Leelua Workshop Ground in Howrah, West Bengal. He did not take anyone’s name directly, but his statement is being linked to Swara Bhaskar’s recent comment.

According to reports, Dhirendra Shastri said that it is not right to call Johar a coward. Linking it to bravery, devotion and devotion to one’s husband, he questioned how Jauhar can be judged without understanding its historical and cultural background.

In his address, he also made a sharp comment on Swara Bhaskar and said that those who do not understand the faith and culture of that time cannot understand the tradition of Jauhar properly.

What did Swara Bhaskar say on the Jauhar scene of ‘Padmavat’?

Actually, this controversy is not new. Even during the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film ‘Padmavat’ in 2018, Swara Bhaskar had raised questions on the Jauhar scene shown in the climax of the film. He had written an open letter to Bhansali, in which he had objected to the thinking shown in the film regarding Jauhar and the ‘respect’ of women. His question was that if a woman is sexually assaulted, does her life end there? Recalling the same old controversy at a recent event in Delhi, Swara said that she found the Jauhar scene in the film disturbing because she felt it was in danger of sending a wrong social message to rape survivors.

Their argument was that if a woman decides to survive after sexual violence, she should not be considered a coward for not sacrificing her life to save her ‘honour’.

Did Swara call Rani Padmavati a ‘coward’?

This is the most important fact-check point of this entire controversy. Swara Bhaskar’s statement on social media was interpreted to mean that she called Queen Padmavati and the women who performed Jauhar cowards. But as the controversy escalated, Swara herself clarified that she had not called Queen Padmavati or the women who committed Jauhar cowards.

According to him, the context of his statement was that the scene in the film could make a rape survivor feel that she is a ‘coward’ if she does not commit suicide. Swara also alleged that her statement was being misrepresented.

Therefore, it would be more correct to say that Swara Bhaskar had questioned the film’s portrayal of Jauhar and the message emanating from it, whereas her statement on social media was presented as directly calling Queen Padmavati and the women who committed Jauhar ‘cowards’.

Why was there such a big debate about Jauhar?

Jauhar is a very sensitive and controversial topic in Indian history. This is seen in the context of medieval warfare and the historical tradition of mass self-immolation by women to avoid falling into enemy hands. One side sees it as a reflection of the courage, self-respect and decisions taken under the circumstances of the women of that era. On the other hand, from the modern perspective, questions are raised by linking it to women’s lives, rights and social pressure. Due to this difference, the Jauhar scene of ‘Padmaavat’ had become a major cause of controversy even at the time of its release, and now, after Swara’s statement, this debate has come to the fore again.

What appeal did Dhirendra Shastri make regarding Navratri?

Along with the Jauhar controversy, during his Hanuman Katha program in West Bengal, Dhirendra Shastri also appealed to the people regarding Navratri. According to reports, he appealed not to sell non-vegetarian food around the idol during Devi Puja. He also mentioned issues like ‘Love Jihad’ and asked people to focus on faith and worship of the Goddess during Navratri.

The debate intensified on social media also

After Swara Bhaskar’s statement, two different opinions are being seen on social media. On one hand, some people support his argument and say that historical events should also be seen from the perspective of women’s rights and dignity in modern society.

On the other hand, many people associate Jauhar with the circumstances of that period and Rajput history and believe that from today’s perspective it is not appropriate to call it merely ‘cowardice’ or a ‘wrong decision’.

This controversy has once again raised the question of how to strike a balance between history, faith, culture and modern social values ​​while showing historical events in films.