We are becoming conservative: Ratna Pathak worries India is turning into Saudi Arabia

Actor spoke about how women in the 21st century are still observing age-old traditions like Karwa Chauth

Actor Ratna Pathak Shah feels India is gradually shifting towards becoming an extremely conservative society and drew parallels with Saudi Arabia. According to Hindustan Times, Ratna believes every conservative society clamps down on its women. She also said that India could become like Saudi Arabia as it is “very very convenient”.

Ratna spoke about how women in the 21st century are still observing age-old traditions like Karwa Chauth, a Hindu ritual in which a woman fasts and prays for her husband's long life. She also said that she was asked for the first time last year if she would fast for her husband, actor Naseeruddin Shah.

"Nothing has changed for women or very little has changed in very crucial areas. Our society is becoming extremely conservative. We're becoming superstitious, we're being forced into accepting and making religion a very important part of one's life. Someone asked me for the first time last year if I'm observing Karwa Chauth. I said, 'Am I mad?' Isn't it appalling that modern educated women fast to pray for the long lives of husbands?”

She continued, "We are moving towards an extremely conservative society. The first thing a conservative society does is clamp down on its women. Look at all the conservative societies in this world. Women are the ones who are most affected. What's the scope of women in Saudi Arabia? Do we want to become like Saudi Arabia? And we will become because it's very very convenient. Women provide a lot of unpaid labour within the home. If you have to pay for that labour, who will do it? Women are forced into that situation."