Luck is a strange virtue which follows women like a shadow, becoming a quality or a drawback, whether we want it or not. For centuries women have carried the appellation of being bearers of luck. We bring wealth and prosperity into a household. We ensure good luck and health of all our loved ones, by merely existing in their vicinity. But there is a drawback to this title conferred upon us. When things do not go well and when hardships and ill-health befall those around us, the onus finds its way to us.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Actor Priya Anand got labelled bad luck because two of her co-stars from past projects died.
- For centuries women have carried the appellation of being bearers of luck.
- These monikers stick with women for the rest of their lives.
- They hurt their matrimonial prospects, they may lead to discords and in case of superstitious employees, they may also cost someone their job.
When things do not go well and when hardships and ill-health befall those around us, the onus finds its way to us women.
This is exactly what happened with actor Priya Anand who got trolled on social media and called bad luck because two of her co-stars from past projects died. A twitter user wrote, “Sridevi acted with Priya Anand in English Vinglish. Sridevi B Kapoor is no more now. JK Rithish acted with Priya Anand in LKG. JK Rithish is no more now. Whoever acts with Priya Anand, they are dying. Is Priya Anand a symbol of bad luck for her co-stars?”
Anand however refused to take this jibe and responded, “I usually don't respond to people like you. But I just want to let you know that it is a very insensitive thing to say. I get that it’s easy to get away sounding dumb on social media but you my friend have it an all time low! I'm not going to respond by bringing you down.” Further adding, “But please know that what you say can really trigger a lot of pain in people. So before you make such comments I hope u take a second and practice having some empathy and restrain from such petty frivolous behaviour.”
Being an orthodox industry, the film world is rife with superstitions and incorrect spellings. The double Ms or Is or Rs in the names of film stars or in film titles prove that.
Anand has every right to get agitated about this tweet. Of the hundreds of people who worked on these films two died and since she was a common factor, the blame of their death befalls her. Being an orthodox industry, the film world is rife with superstitions and incorrect spellings. The double Ms or Is or Rs in the names of film stars or in film titles prove that. Such a tweet thus could cost Anand work or reputation. But she isn’t the only woman who’ll suffer from a largely held orthodox belief that women can bear luck or bad omen for other. Because we aren't humans, we are lucky charms to be adorned in homes and offices when we work in favour or thrown out of the house if our effect shows signs of weaning off.
In many homes, the events following arrival of a new daughter-in-law are closely watched by people and good or bad incidents which befall the family are inevitably tied to her feet. If her husband gets a promotion, it is not because he worked hard or deserved it, but because his wife brought him good luck. On the contrary if there is a death or serious sickness in the family following her arrival, then it not due to a virus or poor personal care but because she brought bad omen to the family.
These monikers stick with women for the rest of their lives. They hurt their matrimonial prospects, they may lead to discords and in case of superstitious employees, they may also cost someone their job. The last thing we want is to spread such senseless beliefs on social media, where they can spread like a wildfire. In 2019, we are fighting battles against discrimination, inequality and harassment, which are miles from the regressive beliefs like omens, that we thought we had already conquered. But they keep resurrecting every now and then reminding us that our battle is far from over.
Picture Credit: IANS/Twitter
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Yamini Pustake Bhalerao is a writer with the SheThePeople team, in the Opinions section. The views expressed are the author’s own.
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