India's Current Rape Case

One of the meetings during the last semester was entitled "The Role of Women in Hinduism". The following is  the meeting blurb:

Women in Hinduism are traditionally regarded as ideal in terms of remaining pure and chaste. They must continue to live up to this expectation while being dutiful, as a daughter, wife and mother. However, the once consecrated role of women has changed over time, and it is continuing to do so. This meeting will present significant women from various Hindu texts and mythology, as well as explore the modern day definition of women’s roles and determine whether they still fit their paradigm.

There is a book called "Manusmiriti", a story of Manu, which is similar to Noah's Ark. In the book the king says "The deities delight in places where women are revered, but where women are not revered all rites are fruitless. Where women of the family are miserable, the family is soon destroyed". There are many many goddesses within Hinduism, a few to list are: Parvati, Durga, Kali, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Sita, and Radha. Hindu scriptures say that Durga came to kill the asuras or demons. Male gods had failed to control the demons and she was created. She had the powers of all the male gods combined. Saraswati is the goddess of speech and learning, of the science, arts and music. Lakshmi is considered the epitome of everything good and prosperous in the world. 

Now consider the current rape case in India, which became international news within weeks. A women and her friend boarded a bus after a movie. She was raped and beaten by a group of men, and her friend was knocked unconscious as well. They were both thrown from a moving bus, and she died in a hospital from extreme internal damage and organ failure. 

Even know some of the goddesses of Hinduism are portrayed as "the perfect and obedient wife", they still portray the importance of women. This brings up the question: If women are so worshiped and praised in Hinduism, why are they treated so badly in Indian culture? 

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This post serves as something to think about, we are not pushing feminism or any other political concept on anyone. Thank you