I just had a conversation with a young man in a Delhi store about his Islamic religion. It started when I was asking questions about two items, which I can’t name currently because they are gifts for someone. This young man was asking where I was from and what I was doing in India, which are hot-topic questions often asked to travelers. I told him I was from the USA and that I was studying here in Delhi. From the Taqiyah he was wearing I knew he was Muslim, but he proceeded to tell me anyways. We got into a conversation of prayer and I was inquiring him on if he always prayed five times a day. He explained to me that no matter where he is, he always prays. Even if he is sick. If he were to miss a prayer, something bad could happen. He told me that his brother didn’t pray for a long time and had to spend a lot of time in the mosque studying and reading the Koran. After a few initial questions, I really just listened to what he said. In some ways it seemed he was defending his religion but it another way it seemed that he was so proud and in love with his Allah and religion that he simply wanted to tell me about. He told me that his sister covers her face, but not because she is forced, but because if she doesn’t something bad could happen to her—for her protection. This did irk me but, having been in Delhi and having had a lot more man eyes on me than usual, I now know that women here really don’t have any rights; I understood. Also, while maybe this young man’s family isn’t personally pressuring their women to cover up, I can understand that if other families do pressure their woman it could well indeed bring trouble to uncovered women.
I digress for a few moments. The other day a classmate of mine was doing a presentation on rape and sexual harassment in Delhi. She had interviewed several people, men and women, who all gave a similar response. They all believed that if a woman in Delhi is raped it was because she was asking for it, either by revealing too much skin or acting a certain way. They all said that it’s only human nature that men have such desires—so if women entice them it can only be the woman’s fault. This mindframe cannot be pinpointed to a religion, but to a cultural mindset that stems from patriarchal ignorance.
Then the young man asked me what my religion was. I knew it was coming. I mean we were having a religious conversation. I hesitated for a few seconds before telling him I was Jewish. This did not bother him. He essentially told me that my family was his family, my mother his mother, my brother his brother. It was sweet and not what I was expecting. I think this is going to be one of those conversations that stays around for a while and makes the brain churn.
I digress for a few moments. The other day a classmate of mine was doing a presentation on rape and sexual harassment in Delhi. She had interviewed several people, men and women, who all gave a similar response. They all believed that if a woman in Delhi is raped it was because she was asking for it, either by revealing too much skin or acting a certain way. They all said that it’s only human nature that men have such desires—so if women entice them it can only be the woman’s fault. This mindframe cannot be pinpointed to a religion, but to a cultural mindset that stems from patriarchal ignorance.
Then the young man asked me what my religion was. I knew it was coming. I mean we were having a religious conversation. I hesitated for a few seconds before telling him I was Jewish. This did not bother him. He essentially told me that my family was his family, my mother his mother, my brother his brother. It was sweet and not what I was expecting. I think this is going to be one of those conversations that stays around for a while and makes the brain churn.
