Veiled choices
Among other adjectives, the Election Commission’s recent order to veil the statues of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati and her party’s symbol is described as “elephantine”. Incompetent though I am to comment upon a political mandate of mammoth proportions, my interest in veils — in India, where everyone from the aam aadmi to its President has a view on veils — is merely to assess their value.
Religions speak of “revelation” that derives from the Latin verb revelare, meaning, to unveil or uncover.
The Judeo-Christian religious tradition holds that God reveals Godself and discloses divine decrees to humankind. Some religionists firmly believe that God requires man — most often, women — to wear some headgear to pay homage to God.
There’s a wide variety of headgear worn by men: mitre, beret, fez, kippah, pagdi, turban, taqiyah and topi. For women, the variety is even greater: veils, scarves, purdah, burqa, hijab, pallu, dupatta, chador, abaya, milayat, charshaf, tichel and so on. A whole spectrum of Biblical images arises from the practice of using veils.
There’s positive value assigned to veils, as in the case of Moses whose face shone so brightly after his encounter with God that he had to veil it as he walked around (Exodus 34:29-35). Similarly, brides-to-be were expected to keep their faces veiled until marriage (Genesis 24:65; Song 4:1; 6:7).
There are also negative nuances to veils as a prostitute’s
attire (Genesis 38:14,19) or as facade of false prophets who use veils to deceive (Ezekiel 13:17-21). Apostle Paul speaks of the “veil that lies over the minds” of unbelievers and of the Gospel “being veiled” to disbelievers
(2 Corinthians 3:15; 4:3).
Paul’s letters contain a passage that’s often quoted to justify women wearing veils and men to remain unveiled (1 Corinthians 11:6-7). Note that Paul lived in patriarchal times, which were very different from ours. So one cannot quote such passages to justify the practice of either concealing one’s head or revealing it.
Today, there’s a politics, a sociology, a history and a theology of the veil. Debates rage worldwide on what headgear one should or should not wear. Most of these voices are male. Sadly, while for women covering of heads is a form of modesty and submission, men don headgear as sign of power and authority.
I don’t like covering my head even in the severest of winters, and I’m happy that there are no religious regulations that require me to be veiled. But, in wintertime, it’s great to see my desi behens so kaleidoscopically decked with veils and scarves. For most, it’s their free choice.
Francis Gonsalves is the principal of the Vidyajyoti College of Theology, Delhi. He can be contacted at fragons@gmail.com
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