CHANDIGARH: For the last four decades, Roshni Devi, 60, had seen the world outside her home only through many hues of her pallu. Purdah was second nature to this resident of Bir Pipli in Haryana's Kurukshetra district, who never went to school.

But on Wednesday, she shed the purdah in public for the first time along with 30 other women, confirming the winds of change are blowing through khapland. Their husbands lifted the purdah in the presence of other villagers at a special function. These women would now encourage others to follow suit.

This is the second major step of social reform in Haryana in a matter of days. On April 20, the Sartol Khap had allowed inter-caste marriages, indicating that some age-old traditions were slowing losing their grip here. Many, however, believe fighting against purdah may be even tougher as more than 90% of women in rural Haryana cover their face.

"I suffered various injuries as I fell down many times because of the chunari on my face," Roshni Devi, who belongs to the Jat community, said. "But my family never allowed me to open the veil. Whenever I tried to avoid it, elders snubbed me. Now, I have removed it so that my children don't suffer like I did."

Mamta Kumari, 47, had not even considered ridding herself of the purdah after she married 28 years ago. This despite having finished her schooling.

"I thought such a step may break the heart of the family elders," Kumari said. "My daughter, who is working in a private company in Noida, doesn't cover her face. I decided to follow in her footsteps. Now, I will urge other women to follow me."

Santosh Dahiya, president of Akhil Bharatiya Mahila Shakti Manch, who encouraged the women to end this regressive tradition, will soon launch a campaign across Haryana to end the purdah system. "We will contact NGOs, religious leaders, officials and politicians to support the movement," she said.

Retired professor of Kurukshetra University, T R Kundu, termed this as a positive step but felt it would be tough task to sustain the campaign.

"The women who have removed the veil, need persistent encouragement," he said. "The Arya Samaj too had campaigned against the purdah in Haryana but could not make any significant change."

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