The existential anxiety and ontological insecurities of the current era is leading people to the search for collective identities, resulting in thousands of new religions and modern Gurus. The current paper focuses on critical examination of one such 'New Religious Movement,' the Satsang organization of Sri Anukulachandra, with special emphasis on women.
The movement with the mystical words of Anukula turned well known in no time. Among his several sermons, one would feature women gaining a special position in all human existence, where her role appears crucial to either making or breaking a society. For society to function smoothly, women must be perfect. Hence, the all-Hindu women rule book, 'Nari Nitti' was written in Bengali , translated into English and many Indian languages which directs all the dos and don'ts in a woman's life, ranging from her birth to death.This book, which epitomizes Satsang culture, reshapes the most needed emotions (bhava) in women, which can not only force men to the right path, but can, alter the world. It provides a rigid protocol for female members to read one stanza from the book every evening after their normal prayer to the Guru. It encourages women to be the kindest, most tolerant, and selfless in dealing with any type of male (from abusive to infidel husbands) with selflessness. By outlining their traits and posing the age-old duality of good and evil, the book begins with a passage that asserts women are entirely accountable for any form of contact; positive, negative, or abusive in their life.
In a much nuanced approach of emotions; devotion, submission, charisma, this book reinforces traditional patriarchal values and promotes women have no independent self. Critically, the book depicts excessively misogynistic and abusive attitudes towards women while re-establishing partial and unequal cultural standards.
