RN Documentary: A Life of Ashes: Widows in India

Part of Series RN Documentaries
Length 29:30
Licensor Radio Netherlands
Producer(s) Dheera Sujan
Formats Documentary, Special
Topics International, Public Affairs, Women
Produced October 3, 2006
Added to PRX October 5, 2006
 

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Summary:

A personal journey of an Indian born producer of a widow to look at the situation of widows in India.

Website:

http://www.radionetherlands.nl/radioprogrammes/voxhumana/060915vh

Tones:

Contemplative, Disturbing, Emotional

Language:

English

Description:

There are more than 40 million widows in India, a country that has a long culture of marginalizing them from society. Women are no longer being burnt on their husband?s funeral pyres, but for some of them, their life is a living sati. A woman?s diet, dress, and even sexuality all suddenly become part of the public realm the moment her husband dies.