Bollywood actress Bhumi Pednekar has once again utilized her platform to address pressing social issues, this time focusing on the safety and respect of women in society. On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, Pednekar penned a heartfelt message that challenges traditional notions and calls for broader social reforms. Her powerful words come at a time when the nation is grappling with the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, an incident that has fuelled widespread outrage.
Bhumi Pednekar, known for her choice of socially relevant roles in Bollywood, took to social media to voice her concerns. Acknowledging her own fortunate encounters with supportive men in her life, she expressed gratitude, stating, “Happy Raksha Bandhan! I’ve been fortunate to have had brothers and men in my life who have been my allies. Thank you!” However, her message went beyond personal gratitude as she sought to highlight the persistent issue of gender-based violence and the outdated customs that fail to shield women adequately.
In her evocative post, Bhumi wrote in Hindi, channeling the collective trauma experienced by countless women: “We have been hearing since childhood—So-and-so’s sister is beaten badly by her husband. But the poor girl cannot leave him. Her sister met with an accident; it seemed like it was a dowry case. Her sister was about to go to college, but some boys harassed her so much that she had to stop going. Someone threw acid on her sister. Boys would harass her; she raised her voice, and this happened. Her sister was returning from work in the evening and got raped. She accompanied her friend on a bus and got raped. She was on her way to school and got raped. She was working in the fields and got raped.
. She was working late at night in the office and got raped.”
Pednekar’s harrowing enumeration of these incidents serves as a stark reminder of the daily threats women face, regardless of their environment or time of day. It is a narrative that has haunted Indian society for far too long, and Bhumi’s message is an urgent call for action.
Reflecting on the need for protection and questioning the reliance on male guardians as per traditional customs, she stated, “It’s 2024, why do we still need protection from our brothers? How many times and from how many people will our brothers save us? All those men who committed these crimes against women were someone’s brothers. When they did such heinous acts, did they not think about their sisters and mothers? Where is fear? Where is humanity? This Raksha Bandhan, raise your voices and fight alongside your sisters and daughters. Teach your sons good morals, and educate them so that the next generation doesn’t hear the same stories.”
Bhumi’s assertion interrogates gender roles and underscores the importance of instilling respect and moral values in boys from a young age. She emphasizes that the protection women need is not just physical but societal—a change in mindsets and an educational overhaul that fosters respect, empathy, and equality.
On the professional front, Bhumi continues to engage with themes of justice and protection through her work. She will be seen portraying a cop in the upcoming web series ‘Daldal’, directed by Amrit Raj Gupta and based on Vish Dhamija’s ‘Bhendi Bazaar’. Additionally, she is part of Netflix’s ‘The Royals’, featuring a star-studded cast including Zeenat Aman, Ishaan Khatter, Sakshi Tanwar, Nora Fatehi, Milind Soman, and Dino Morea.
Amidst her thriving career, Bhumi Pednekar continues to leverage her influence to shine a light on societal issues. Her Raksha Bandhan message this year is not just a customary greeting; it is a rallying cry for transformation. By urging society to tackle the root causes of violence against women and highlighting the importance of moral upbringing for boys, Bhumi calls for a collective responsibility to build a safer, more equitable world.
As the discussions surrounding women’s safety continue to evolve, voices like Bhumi’s play a crucial role in pushing for substantive changes. It is a reminder that while traditional festivals like Raksha Bandhan celebrate the bond between siblings, there is a pressing need to reexamine and expand the meaning of protection and care to ensure it encompasses societal and systemic safeguards for all women.
