Why This Punjab Village’s Ravana Has No Arms: An Old Lesson on Respecting Women

A photo of an armless crowned Ravana statue led the author to revisit Kahnuwan near Gurdaspur, recalling Ramlila performers, surviving shrines, and disappearing bazaars. The visit highlighted fading village spaces, lost shops, and memories tied to old houses. Elders say the armless figure warned would-be predators, a protective symbol passed down through generations.