Vrindavan - the land of Lord Krishna - is considered one of the holiest places for Hindus in India. The temples of the city attract people from across the world, but for the widows of Vrindavan, it is home. For they have nowhere else to go.
'Sati,' the abhorrent cultural practice of a recently widowed woman, either voluntarily or by force, immolating herself on her deceased husband's pyre, was long abolished in 1829 but the condition of widows in the country till date remains pitiful.
Considered inauspicious, many widows are abandoned by their children and relatives. In order to prevent them from inheriting their husbands' property, they are thrown out by their families. In many instances, the widows had to leave the house after facing harsh treatment from their sons and daughters-in-law.
But it is still not clear why Vrindavan attracts widows from all over India, particularly West Bengal. Many come here as genuine pilgrims to devote rest of their lives to Lord Krishna, yet others simply want to escape their ruthless families.
Kalidasi came to Vrindavan 12 years ago. After her husband's death, her son and daughter-in-law started thrashing her over flimsy pretexts. One day, her son forced her to consume rat poison. That is when she decided to leave her family and settle in Vrindavan.
Widow Shobha Soni has a sorry story to tell.
"I suffered a lot after my husband's death. My parents-in-law did not treat me well. They asked me to leave the house immediately upon my husband's death. I could not remarry because I had two daughters. A woman has no value and respect in our society after her husband dies. Considered useless, she is prohibited from participating in family functions. In fact, she is completely dissociated from the family", Soni explains.
Another widow Kalyani Paul has this to say.
"I get some money through clothes-stitching for lord Krishna, but that is not enough. I buy vegetables, milk and other things. I don’t have any other source of income. Stitching is all I do to sustain myself," says Paul.
Taking into account the predicament of widows in Vrindavan, the apex Supreme Court asked National Legal Service Authority (NALSA) to contact non governmental organisation (NGO) Sulabh International to work for their cause.
In 2012, Founder of Sulabh International Dr Bindeshwar Pathak visited Vrindavan to personally meet and understand the condition of widows who were, in most cases, reduced to begging on the streets.
Even now, widows can be spotted begging at Nidhi Van and many other locations.
“In the beginning, we helped each widow with Rs 1000 but later, as we realised this was not sufficient, we raised the amount to Rs 2000. We have employed teachers to teach them Hindi, English and Bangla, as most of the widows are natives of West Bengal. We also train them in making incense sticks, garlands and dresses for Lord Krishna and deity Radha. Sulabh helps in marketing these goods," says Dr Pathak.
From organising regular medical check-ups and annual trips to Kolkata during 'Durga Puja' and Taj Mahal in Agra, Dr Pathak and his NGO have tried to ensure a normal and joyful life to the widows of Vrindavan.
These widows start their mornings with two-hour Krishna chanting at 7 am. During the daytime, they take care of their personal work or simply relax. The evenings are again dedicated to Krishna chanting.
The widows in shelterhouses of Vrindavan are slowly beginning to gain social acceptance. Some of them celebrate major festivals such as Holi, Diwali and Rakshabandhan with the local people of Vrindavan.
Besides Sulabh, many other NGOs are working together to help improve the condition of widows in the holy town of Vrindavan. But there is a long way to go before these widows can come to have a dignified status in the society.
