District coordinator Deepa Varshney condemns actress Swara Bhaskar's remarks on Jauhar tradition

Deepa Varshney, district coordinator, has expressed strong disapproval of Bollywood actress Swara Bhaskar's statement on Jauhar. Swara Bhaskar raised objections to Jauhar during a talk show in New Delhi on 31 August. The actress made comments on the sacred tradition of Jauhar and linked it to words like 'rape' and 'suicide'.

Deepa Varshney questioned whether Jauhar was the name of defeat or a step taken out of compulsion. She said no, Jauhar was that burning flame of self-respect before which the cruelty of invaders turned to ash. When foreign invaders cast their eyes on our motherland, their minds held only the brutal intention of plunder and trampling the dignity of our mothers and sisters. At that time, our brave women chose immolation by fire instead of surrendering.

Varshney said this was not cowardice but a slap on the faces of invaders that they could not even touch our bodies. Jauhar is not a subject of debate but a symbol of the supreme courage and valor of the women of this country which forced the oppressors to bow down.

She said we should be proud of our glorious history and not question the sacrifices of our own ancestors in the name of modernity. She added that where sacred tales become history, in the soil of that very India our breath resides.

The story was reported by Rajat Malhotra.