The Horrible Plight of India's Widows

[@aqilamir]

I am Muslim and from Pakistan. ..but my eyes are full of tears after watching this......I wish I could take these old ladies to my home...

[@amrita3000]

Why not take care of the all the talaq yafta women in your country?

[@FareezLovesMe]

Both India and Pakistan are backyards of civilization. Time to make things better for your societies rather than spending time on youtube insulting each other.

[@sadiayub5361]

A B #if you have brain use it..there is huge difference between Talak yafta and old widows.

[@amany247]

Allah bless you brother

[@rammohmad966]

@@amrita3000 there is no talaq in pakistan mam, its only there in india, no other country

[@molarmama32]

Sound quality is terrible. India is truly messed up.

[@Crash64100]

This is definitely NOT a thing of the past. It continues over much of India. It has gotten a little better. But the outcast treatment continues still

[@user-bu7zl9px4e]

Crash64100 British did a good thing by abolishing sati. But the same mentality continues even today.

[@NightRider0101]

@@user-bu7zl9px4e it was Muslim rulers who abolished sati first

[@truthunbiasedunfiltered1428]

@@NightRider0101 what abt halala and hawala then? It was the British who abolished sati system, which had been prevalent in rajasthan, gujarati and bengali cultures. Not every culture have it. Totally absent in southern, Odia and Assamese cultures.

[@NightRider0101]

@@truthunbiasedunfiltered1428 There are royal decrees issued by Muslim rulers banning sati. Learn to accept truth. Stop being a cry baby.

[@truthunbiasedunfiltered1428]

@@NightRider0101 deleting my replies won't change the truth, man. Learn to accept it.

[@siddharthagautama1548]

This is a failure on the state, the Hindu leaders and the community. These women can be anyone's mother, sister or aunt. There must be reform.

[@johnlew8025]

Siddhartha Gautama stupid culture

[@truthunbiasedunfiltered1428]

@@johnlew8025 urs is also a stupid one then, there is death penalty for disbelievers and LGBTQ in ur religion, what's ur say on this?

[@jojotom323]

@@truthunbiasedunfiltered1428 yes be an atheist

[@theosteven3362]

@@truthunbiasedunfiltered1428 on what religion there is death penalty for lgbtq and disbelievers? Islam? Yes. Christians? NO.

[@theosteven3362]

@@truthunbiasedunfiltered1428 and noy to mention, u even failed to distinguish culture and religion. LOL. indeed, dmb people

[@anjelinaidoo5321]

i lost my mom at 17 and wish i could love and look after one of these mothers. what an honor and privilige. I live in South africa.

[@luciddreams6210]

I know how u feel

[@chailatteoreos5094]

People dont know that helping the widow's and the orphan's is very rewarding thing to do.

[@jaimeeclair8999]

Why are these women being punished for something they had no control over? Where are the children of these widows? Even women who don't have children do have nieces & nephews who can take them in. God bless you Dr Giri

[@c0string]

to see the old woman asking for poison was gut wrenching :'(

[@gogodaal7273]

Jesus fucking Christ give her the fucking poison if you can’t help her. Fucking savages

[@QueenJasmine1991]

This is beyond sad. These women gave their life to their kids and family just to be kicked out of the family once their husband dies. They have no control over that. I heard in India the sons are to take care of the parents on old age that's why they rather have boys then girls. I guess this isn't the case for all

[@minhajanwer3659]

+QueenJasmine1991 Now it is much improved,previously there was a "Sati paratha" means sati culture, in that culture widow must die alive in the same set of husband's funeral fire.There was a writer name Prem chandra who raised the voice against this culture then it ended up.But sadly the bad behaviour with widow by relatives and society is still exist in large no.

[@ms0507]

still exist. rare but exist

[@arsheenzahid1972]

@@minhajanwer3659 Allah hidayat de in logo ko Ameen ya rabb 😌

[@subhashreerout6297]

@@arsheenzahid1972 don't tell me about your religion we do not need your allah so called ok .your religion is worst for women

[@tjb70]

God bless Dr. Giri! Any son who would basically throw away his widowed mother deserves as much bad karma as the universe can dish out!

[@marysimas1792]

Widows are cast out for the same reason they have been murdered at their husbands' funerals. These widows are murdered for their property by those who do not want them to have what they would otherwise inherit.

[@johnparbhu5128]

Holy moly!!! What kind of heartless & cruel culture is that. Can't the state help by having laws to protect them? So sad.😥

[@dolmapradhan9008]

Same reason in some cultures they have been accused of being 'witches' and murdered.

[@NightRider0101]

@@johnparbhu5128 They resist reform saying govt shouldn't interfere in their "customs and traditions"

[@truthunbiasedunfiltered1428]

@@NightRider0101 same can be said about any community, if there would not have been any law in Quran about killing of disbelievers and LGBTQ people, many would not have become apostates or murtads frm islam and criticize it.

[@NightRider0101]

@@truthunbiasedunfiltered1428 I am not sure if you are really ignorant or deliberately spouting lies. Muslims are ordered to kill non believers in war time when non believers have waged war on them.

[@Lucailey]

Oh, goodness this is heart breaking! I just want to give these elderly people a hug. How can families do this to them?

[@pikapoo18]

this was so depressing. smh.

[@FareezLovesMe]

at 6:26.......how doesn't that break one's heart ? To all the Indians watching this video - whatever your race, caste or religion - please do something if you can to help them.......nothing is too little.

[@antanoh]

makes me absolutely ashamed to be indian

[@sahalmohamed3477]

. 231. And when you have divorced women and they have fulfilled the term of their prescribed period, either take them back on reasonable basis or set them free on reasonable basis. But do not take them back to hurt them, and whoever does that, then he has wronged himself. And treat not the Verses (Laws) of Allah as a jest, but remember Allah's Favours on you (i.e. Islam), and that which He has sent down to you of the Book (i.e. the Qur'an) and Al-Hikmah (the Prophet's Sunnah - legal ways - Islamic jurisprudence, etc.) whereby He instructs you. And fear Allah, and know that Allah is All-Aware of everything. 232. And when you have divorced women and they have fulfilled the term of their prescribed period, do not prevent them from marrying their (former) husbands, if they mutually agree on reasonable basis. This (instruction) is an admonition for him among you who believes in Allah and the Last Day. That is more virtuous and purer for you. Allah knows and you know not. 233. The mothers shall give suck to their children for two whole years, (that is) for those (parents) who desire to complete the term of suckling, but the father of the child shall bear the cost of the mother's food and clothing on a reasonable basis. No person shall have a burden laid on him greater than he can bear. No mother shall be treated unfairly on account of her child, nor father on account of his child. And on the (father's) heir is incumbent the like of that (which was incumbent on the father). If they both decide on weaning, by mutual consent, and after due consultation, there is no sin on them. And if you decide on a foster suckling-mother for your children, there is no sin on you, provided you pay (the mother) what you agreed (to give her) on reasonable basis. And fear Allah and know that Allah is All-Seer of what you do. 234. And those of you who die and leave wives behind them, they (the wives) shall wait (as regards their marriage) for four months and ten days, then when they have fulfilled their term, there is no sin on you if they (the wives) dispose of themselves in a just and honourable manner (i.e. they can marry). And Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do. 235. And there is no sin on you if you make a hint of betrothal or conceal it in yourself, Allah knows that you will remember them, but do not make a promise of contract with them in secret except that you speak an honourable saying according to the Islamic law (e.g. you can say to her, "If one finds a wife like you, he will be happy"). And do not consummate the marriage until the term prescribed is fulfilled. And know that Allah knows what is in your minds, so fear Him. And know that Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing. 236. There is no sin on you, if you divorce women while yet you have not touched (had sexual relation with) them, nor appointed unto them their Mahr (bridal money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage). But bestow on them ( a suitable gift), the rich according to his means, and the poor according to his means, a gift of reasonable amount is a duty on the doers of good. 237. And if you divorce them before you have touched (had a sexual relation with) them, and you have appointed unto them the Mahr (bridal money given by the husbands to his wife at the time of marriage), then pay half of that (Mahr), unless they (the women) agree to forego it, or he (the husband), in whose hands is the marriage tie, agrees to forego and give her full appointed Mahr. And to forego and give (her the full Mahr) is nearer to At-Taqwa (piety, right-eousness, etc.). And do not forget liberality between yourselves. Truly, Allah is All-Seer of what you do

[@MadhumitaRoy-ky1bf]

@Lal King yes death to the caste system. But please don't call Hinduism a racist religion. Things are changing here and with more education things are bound to change.

[@MadhumitaRoy-ky1bf]

@dreamland the caste or Varna system was based on occupation. It has nothing to do with color as far as Hindu scriptures are concerned. And it's not that I am getting offended by it. I myself want caste system to end and I am sure in future it will end.

[@MadhumitaRoy-ky1bf]

@dreamland defining Hinduism simply as a racist religion is I feel oversimplification. And just like Hinduism there will be some faults in every religion.

[@MadhumitaRoy-ky1bf]

@dreamland more over Hinduism is a cultural practice. It does not come in the strict sense of a 'religion'

[@Automedon2]

Whenever you think you've heard of every cruelty originating from India, you discover another hideous custom

[@MadhumitaRoy-ky1bf]

You will find cruelty in every civilisation.

[@MadhumitaRoy-ky1bf]

@dreamland India of course. Yes back in the 18th and 19th century and even before that life was hard for a widow. And the way widows were forced to live back then was a social evil. But as I said things are changing here. I am sure our generation will be different.

[@MadhumitaRoy-ky1bf]

@dreamland after all it's all patriarchy which needs to be blamed for this

[@anacoloma3854]

A daughter is more precious than a son.I have watched a documentary about dowry system.The father killed his own daughter just not to give dowry in the future.My heart broke seeing mothers abandoned.Indian women,you need to fight for your rights.You too are human.I'm a Filipino and we never stop fighting.Teach your son to love and care their parents.Be a Christian.

[@idontknowatall]

today my teacher was tellingus about this and i waz sooo amazed. i was in near tears. i am so glad to live in canada because if i were there i would be nothing if my husband died :(

[@hatchixnana]

It's horrible how these women are treated like

[@wolfiesworld9361]

I see this changing...thankfully. Many ( mostly younger) Indians want peace and equality. Let us wish them well....(Change comes slowly, I know.)

[@erc814]

This documentary is a classic...the topic is tragic but the presentation is superb...and thet music is so melanchronic...

[@sikandarjamshaid2604]

this the so called asian super power the incredible india

[@curtisneilson5829]

The British should of stayed much much longer

[@ABHINAVNR]

Curtis Neilson Yeah right, and foster a much greater state of hopelessness and destitution!

[@curtisneilson5829]

Many are still destitute because they yearn for the caste system..

[@ABHINAVNR]

Curtis Neilson No different to the horrendous system of class that existed for many centuries in Britain. Yet, in the absence of external intervention Britain managed to avert the horrors of that system and offer a certain level of restitution to those sections of society that were gravely affected by the aforementioned social arrangement. Consider the present state of Iraq and it's sectarian woes that had exploded out of control following the Western intervention in 2003!

[@curtisneilson5829]

Iraq is a creation of the west as Isis is a creation of the leftist malaise

[@ABHINAVNR]

Curtis Neilson You haven't addressed my point. Well, your racist mindset will prevent you exercising any form of objectivity!

[@dhruvgodara]

Man this is sad....I pledge to do something meaningful for them.

[@Grancie48]

I would LOVE to see some interviews of these women's children, especially the two sons who dumped their mother after their father ran off with another woman. I would like to see their reactions to the lives their mothers are leading.

[@rajucharles2957]

Shame on Hinduism!

[@amrita3000]

You are a low caste convert LOL.

[@ABHISHEK_RATHI_2.0]

Bro our people know the value of loyalty for their late life partners Not like ur bloody bitches that even cheat their husband even when their husband is alive

[@PriyaCreationsFun]

@@ABHISHEK_RATHI_2.0 loyalty ? Then why husbands easily get married even after being widower? And why women cant be remarried after getting widowed

[@ABHISHEK_RATHI_2.0]

@@PriyaCreationsFun hey Not all get married after their wife's death. Every religion has cops and corns. But we are proud to be a Hindu and also proud to follow the world's oldest religion🙏🙏

[@saharnouri8110]

The Lord (no matter how you worship him Hindu Christian, Muslim or Jew) gave us a brain and a heart and conscience. If you use all of them you will always do what the lord wants. And always find the right way and the truth. And this inhuman attack on widows is not right. If you are not completely possessed from evil your heart will cry for them.

[@danialzainun2971]

bringing tears to my eyes.....

[@Mohamedali-ph5dk]

i am ready to take a wido has my life partner , no religion, only as a human, women has to respected, for they brought us to this world,

[@phoenixnoah8384]

my heart goes to this women........................

[@newgeolem]

wow... this is sad....

[@johnparbhu5128]

Sad. Culturally, I wonder if they ever had a single day of happiness.😥

[@uqabrehman1541]

Such horrible picture of Hindu society

[@ChoctawNawtic4]

So a man can leave his wife for another woman, but a woman can't, and even if her husband dies she is screwed.

[@FareezLovesMe]

How can a family send their mother, sister or aunt to this place knowing that they might have to be begged for their daily needs ?

[@kehewwoman]

OMG 😢 This is so sad and unfair. They are separated and thrown out from a home they've known...And cannot see family, that's just wrong

[@byegirl5573]

indians judge other cultures on how they treat their elderly, but if your an old woman from a poor background over there....you are screwed

[@wannabedesi]

This cannot be generalized though. While widows do not remarry, not all are abandoned, and I know many young Indian men who would die before their mothers were cast out. I didn't know these cities are in Bengal...at least the two women who came for their dying mother were Bengali. India must get to a point where all of its people are given respect if it hopes to become a truly great nation. If India, beautiful as it is, could get to that point then wow, it will blow the world away.

[@Playerone1287]

Surprising that hindu nationalists still haven't called this as propaganda in the comment section

[@SweetCaramel7983]

well at least they're not killing the wives when the husband die anymore

[@lucyinthesky16]

The world needs more hearts like yours!

[@danadugenet]

Let alone my mother, even the person I know should not have to go through these inocent widows, it brings tears to my eyes to see them helpless. SAD SAD SAD. I wish i had a power to make them very confident ladies. I am sorry!!!!!!!!!

[@jaelzion]

I know we're supposed to respect all cultures, but I have a problem with a culture in which it's accepted to throw your mother out in the street. Absolutely shameful.

[@phillippahart2422]

I could never make another human, as myself, be my "guru". like really though.....he is human like us. not a God.

[@POWERJFROMLA]

i dont know why but when ever i go somewhere and there is a indian person they stare at me.

[@robinmcunknown1025]

Thanks for sharing

[@flywithmeamerica]

this is sick. I'm Indian. I'm Hindu. My parents, painstakenly take care of my grandparents. This is all man made crap, god, Krishna loves everyone. Anyone who doesn't doesn't deserve to be hindu, or a human.

[@Zeldarw104]

This is so damn, sad, I need a drink to keep from crying. 🤨😑

[@kellyannabama]

This is just sad what kinda of society do you have where children grow to hate the women that made them... Sad just sad

[@aeriaMage]

smart doesnt always mean sympethetic and caring

[@ChoctawNawtic4]

So they are treated like shit if their husband dies anytime in life??? Soooo sad...and I thought Indians respected their elders!! Bless all the people who help these women.

[@joannenugent8495]

That is so sad.I thought in Asia older people were better taken care of.

[@shlokavedya]

so sad to see them.....

[@LonLonCake]

This is heartbreaking....abandoning their mothers like that...disgusting.

[@blondecat666]

@Jamwock You are so right. Though I would never put my parents in a 'nursing home', it makes me a different person that looks at life in another way. What happened to the ancient Greek thing where we were admiring old age and wisdom? Today, we are so obsessed with youth (regarded as stupid many years ago) that we so through surgical procedures to look younger, when we don't, we just look the age we are, having had surgical procedures. Lot of women don't understand it, they think they look young

[@mesatop5]

How very, very sad.

[@filizhunters4452]

What a disgrace!

[@shalinitiwariscorner5210]

It still happens in conservative rural and suburban areas of India. This is outlawed by law by people still do it.

[@naaookametoola]

India will get better and better, blessing the people

[@aanandgoyari1489]

How shameful for us we can't even take care of one mother......

[@mbpk7]

this is sad but it tells u what happens to widows in india....so sad...

[@ellasterling3487]

I would never marry if I lived n India.

[@flowersandgifts]

This is very sad----shames on their children and their family

[@adriannepeterson6347]

So terribly tragic- bless these women

[@christcs]

betrayed son and daughter,what the hell with all of this,sob and angry in my heart

[@82abhilash]

Sigh. I have been here as a tourist. The guide shows us all the temples and then brings us here makes us walk through the whole depressing place then made us all sit somewhere where he asked all the tourists for money to run that place.

[@mooninquirer]

@giriisindahouse INDIA, under Hinduism, treats its women worse than a sub Saharan African country. Exceptions are the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and that is because of the current civil war there, causing a surge in rapes. But the abuse of women goes back for centuries in India with the dowry system, and Sati ( suicide of widows ). And there are also a lot of rapes in India. Dowry deaths in India are often not even prosecuted or punished.

[@neshamon]

its a heart breaking reality of the women..... i blame the unliterate society for leaving the widowed women in such a pain........... god bless them.......

[@53Playmate]

this is sad

[@peacerebelgirl]

you're misinformed - dowry is alive and well in all parts of india, and flourishing in the upper caste where it is used as a way to gain status.

[@tyronsimpson2143]

Bless their souls dear Lord God

[@45deepa]

If you are in US search for "Indian restaurant locator"

[@MDYOUSUF-tl8sk]

Shame on those people who leave their mothers to fend for themselves in a manner as shown in the video. Hindu scholars must preach citing reference to Hindu religious scriptures about the status of mothers, widowed or not and sons and daughters duties towards them. It is sheer stupidity and gloomy superstition to associate inauspiciousness with widowhood. In Islam, the heaven lies at the feet of mother. There are clear messages in Quran about duties towards parents. 'Don't even say ouch/ough (while expressing displeasure to parents in their old age because of their irritable temperament due to old age) There are many Hadith where Prophet Muhammad has given clear direction about duties towards parents.

[@junesri1086]

What’s a weird logic thinking of this people? I feel so sad for all widows in India.

[@wolfiesworld9361]

Any Indians watching: It is ok to love and care for your mother. You know what is right in your heart. You are defeating the caste system! You can defeat any old, cruel customs!

[@mariabaptista-pt]

There is no need on saying horrible things here, i am Portuguese and i dnt like no1 to say negative things about my country. No1 likes. Thing here is that things that are wrong should be corrected as we all deserve to live with respect and dignity, so therefor widows are human who deserves that! If there is widows dying without dignity someone should help them, however what goes around comes around and life its too short. My concern here is the true of the widows... concentrate on that...think

[@Freetrain]

very good documentairy.

[@Av80r13]

Which holy books do you speak off? Just curious. And yes it does sicken me as well.

[@yesterdayitrained]

“Mistreatment of women in India”?!? It’s dehumanizing *abuse* How can a person be “thrown away”? No one loses their intrinsic value as a human being if their spouse dies. And what about men whose wives die? I imagine their lives are much different.

[@ausking11]

whats the flute music played?

[@superCatia]

How ungrateful children are in India to their elder mothers! It makes me sad.

[@RoninMiyamotoMusashi]

@kifagi You cannot generalize from these few examples shown in the video, most elderly people are taken care of by their sons and daughters. Taking into account the size of the population, I would say only a very small fraction of the elderly are treated this way. And another thing, it's also an economic issue as others have said - India is a developing country not a developed one.

[@lucyinthesky16]

everyone has a right to be proud of their culture. What's "gross" to one is beautiful to another.

[@Bumblybee256]

Amazing. Women shunned in yet another way. Because we live longer. What a crime.

[@Hukamsingh008]

Jai Shri Ram

[@bostafffighter]

This is sad but history has shown that a culture,race that has become progressive, liberal and women gets more rights and freedom disintegrates, gets superseded by other cultures that are more rigid and male dominative. From ancient rome to modern west this is what happening. this is sad but ironically true.This is what preserved indian culture to survive for so long.Though seemingly liberal the core of indian culture is conservative and traditional.

[@Meerabobeera]

i loved that movie!

[@Love2TravelAway]

By the end of this video I was in tears. These woman have live for so long after being widow they could have been and Aunt, Grandmother, Sister and most a mother for a long time. Its just horrible, what happen to the GOOD KARMA love and respect. So what would happen it Airashawy if she was a widow

[@sikiladi]

disgusting! How can a woman be treated like this. My mother and mother in law both are widows but thankfully they are very much within the family and are treated as elders of the family in all respects.We are Indians too but do not believe all this crap of discarding widows.Shame on those sons who did this to their mothers.

[@tjb70]

How could ANY son/daughter abandon his/her own mother? G-d help these women!

[@lahoriplaya]

There is only one God. The LORD our God is one LORD. Worship him and only him. Nothing is worthy of being worshipped but him. All glory to him, all praise to him, there is no God but him, God is the Greatest. Worship God with all your heart, mind, and soul

[@eulopaezofficial922]

bottom line they are not family oriented...love one another as you love yourself.

[@donzeleighjones]

This saddens me. In our society we would never shun a woman for losing her husband. But who are we to say this is wrong. I mean its not about right and wrong its about beliefs. And these people's faith and beliefs are strong. At the end of the day its all some of us have. This is a 2000 year old practice....its not going anywhere. So instead of belittling thier beliefs....try to understand it. We may not agree with it but we should respect it. 1000's of years ago were we so different.

[@JimmieABES]

My apologies for that offensive comment. I have been praying for those women, and yes, I understand that judging is a sin. I have prayed for forgiveness and I believe He has forgiven me already. But that doesnt make my comment okay. Honestly I apologize to all who have read that stupid comment. God help me.

[@wannabedesi]

Considering the fact that there are 1 billion people in India, and culture dictates that elderly parents live with the eldest son, I'd say they are a comparitively small minority. The two widows I know work, and are loved and accepted by the community surrounding them. When the older one is too old her son will bring her to his place and provide for her. The sons who leave their mothers are either pigs, or too poor themselves to provide well for their mothers.

[@varunAdhikari]

nice video nd concept....... nd i want tooo help them

[@sofiad9775]

Sick nation

[@metrolady72]

so much injustice in the world, i feel for these women.

[@voiceharp]

Dear friend, I thank you for your kind reply. You might have been defensive and unkind;however, you chose a gentle approach, and I am grateful. I am sorry if I might have misinterpreted the importance of the video. I know in my own Southern American culture how many things may be misinterpreted by outsiders. So I can remain open-minded. It is possible this video was produced by some who wanted to make Hindus look bad. Thank you, Oldtimesinger, USA

[@rabeetqureshi6772]

What kind of customs are these in which a women who serves her whole life caring all the people in the house suddenly left alone and no one even Their children never look after them... no religion teaches such things to treat ur parents or elders specially women’s like this.... just by watching these poor ladies make me suffocated how they spent their whole lives in such places with so much pain inside them... this is sin to leave ur parents or elders like this...

[@myhomelandSA]

I thought in Hindu custom children look after their parents. This is very cruel.