Sibling Revelry

JYOTI SHARMA / TNN / Aug 28, 2007, 00:00 IST

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Empowered sisters no longer need their brothers' 'raksha' in the literal sense. But Raksha Bandhan still retains its age old charm and celebratory note.

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Empowered sisters no longer need their brothers' 'raksha' in the literal sense. But Raksha Bandhan still retains its age old charm and celebratory note.

Empowered sisters no longer need their brothers' 'raksha' in the literal sense. But Raksha Bandhan still retains its age old charm and celebratory note. Empowered sisters no longer need their brothers' 'raksha' in the literal sense. But Raksha Bandhan still retains its age old charm and celebratory note. Empowered sisters no longer need their brothers' 'raksha' in the literal sense.But Raksha Bandhan still retains its age old charm and celebratory note. Empowered sisters no longer need their brothers' 'raksha' in the literal sense. But Raksha Bandhan still retains its age old charm and celebratory note. doweshowbellyad=0;

SISTER ACT: Farah Khan (TOI Photo)Empowered sisters no longer need their brothers' 'raksha' in the literal sense. But Raksha Bandhan still retains its age old charm and celebratory note Rakhi reminisces
Ask the rich and the famous, and it's not a case of 'no time for love' when it comes to the brother-sister relationship. In fact, many have made big plans for Raksha Bandhan today. We asked a few of them to take us down the memory lane with them, and see what interesting snapshots of Raksha Bandhan they shared with us.
SAJID KHAN, DIRECTOR :
"Once I did not have the money to give Farah so I borrowed money from her and gifted it back to her, with the promise that I shall gift her double the sum next year, which I did. I feel Raksha Bandhan is a reminder that you have to look after your sister. For me, even if she's wrong, she's right. But I believe that everyday should be Raksha Bandhan day, why designate one day in a year to profess your love for your sister? Don't you love her every single day?"

SHAAN, SINGER:
'' A long time ago, we were in London, recording our first album and we never realised it was Raksha Bandhan day. When someone told us, we felt silly and embarrassed, but Sagarika managed the situation by pulling a string out of sofa embroidery and tying it on my wrist. It was pretty emotional. After that, for a very long time, it was my sister who used to tie a rakhi and give me a gift also. I still remember the first gift I gave her. It was a t-shirt bought on discount from the boutique I used to work. It was my first job, and for a long time, Sagarika used to flaunt that tee as 'my brother's gift’.''

Sister Act II
The archetypal Hindi film sister has been edited out of the Indian cinema, and thank God for that. After all, which of the smart young women today would have identified with the mostly sniveling woman whose only contribution to the film used to be singing a rakhi song and being rescued by the hero after first getting herself in a hole? Not Priya Dutt, for instance. The very dignified lady has been the rock for not just Sanju baba but the whole Dutt family. For all his macho reputation, she is actually the 'man of the house' - if you are one to go for cliches.
This, it seems, has been the year of the sisters. While in Bollywood they became the face of the family when bro was not well/facing a break-up (Soha Ali Khan), in politics they stepped in when brother darling screwed things up (Punam Mahajan). But that's the celeb world. Now see closer around you and you will see Raksha Bandhan's 'raksha' part may have become redundant. And brothers well, they can't wait to doff their cap to this sister act.
Says Ashmit Kumar, a third year Hindu College student, "My elder sister has always been my strength. She was my senior in school and would always be there to put those bullies who would mess with me in their place. For others, their older brothers did it but my sister was as good, if not better. Even now, whether it is my career decisions or love troubles, she is the one I go to for advice and help."
And for many girls, asking bhaiya for help in today's empowered times would be anathema. "I have got an older brother who is settled in Norway. As the only child here, I have to take care of my parents and million little things on day-to-day basis. But I am not doing it as a favour or anything, it is just my duty. Why should guys be supposed to live with parents and help them and girls' duty end with marriage?"
This is a question many women are asking these days. "The gender roles are changing and so are the requirements from both. With women earning more and coming into their own, relationships have also seen a sea-change . In most relationships , women are the more assertive party as they refuse to keep their opinions to themselves. So whether it is marital or this bond, 'protecting' a woman is becoming an outdated notion," says sociologist Aparna Nikam.
The opposite is being seen frequently, however. "I never had the courage to face my parents and tell them I am gay. Had it not been for my sister, who is also a close confidante, I may have been married to a girl by now and two lives would have been spoiled. She talked to our parents, gave me courage to come out of the closet and face the world. I will always be indebted to her," says choreographer Gary (name changed on request). "Honestly, sisters are such saviours," he smiles. Now who would want to question that?

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