Rethinking Lajjā: Shame, Virtue, and Social Life

Abstract

Lajjā, often translated as “shame” or “modesty,” is a central yet under-theorized emotion in South Asian contexts. Drawing from classical texts, philosophical traditions, and ethnographic accounts, this article examines lajjā as both an embodied practice and a moral compass. In Hindu philosophical discourse, lajjā emerges as a paradox: excluded from the Nāṭyaśāstra’s list of primary emotions yet indispensable in scriptural traditions such as the Bhagavad Gītā and Durgā Saptashatī, where it regulates conduct and affirms dharma. Ethnographic studies from India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh illustrate how lajjā is embodied through modest comportment, caregiving, and relational shame, disproportionately shaping women’s experiences while also extending to men’s negotiations of sexuality and honor. Feminist critiques highlight its role in policing female bodies and sustaining patriarchal hierarchies, yet other accounts emphasize its ambivalence as both a disciplinary mechanism and a cultural resource for resilience, negotiation, and ethical growth. By synthesizing textual, cultural, and psychological perspectives, this article argues that lajjā is best understood not as a direct equivalent of Western shame but as a dynamic cultural system that regulates moral life and sustains social order in South Asia.