Bharatiya Nari

This one ranks at the top among the many mind-numbing cliches that Indians are fond of. I recently read a cover story about how the Indian women perform exceedingly well in all the fields from arts, science, communication technology, education and what have you. They are asserting themselves firmly, demanding their space and last but not the least, are equally demanding in their sex life.

I differ. What or in which part of India this survey or the cover story based on I may not know. Perhaps some select pockets of Mumbai may suit that specific journalist's appropriation. The rest of India? Well, even in the Indian urban scenario, (I'm talking about Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, et al) the Indian woman has to struggle to gain her space. Worse still, categorically refused the space.

Let me explain. As Shaila, my friend accuses me, I'm quite fond of examples. When was the last time you saw a woman-oriented movie? I don't know much about TV soups but all I hear is about women's domestic problems being portrayed in a heart-wrenching drama. In the workplace, a career woman is still frowned upon and some of my own friends wear their male-chauvinism in their sleeves.

That a woman is still a glamour object in the movies, that a women magazine talks more about cocconut soufle recipe, that a woman still quits her job and follows her husband, that most of our workplaces still lack day-care centers talk volumes about our attitude towards women.

Virginity is still worshipped. widow-marriage is still a taboo in our movies. The weight of divorce falls more on women. Still a woman can't smoke in public places (Bangalore and Mumbai an exception). The rape cases are still talked in hushed tones, if they're ever talked at all. Most of the guys can't conceive of a female boss (My friend Mahesh hates this idea with relish). Still strangely and almost in medieval style, our heroes in the movies talk at length about the duty and responsibility of a woman in upholding our culture, by wearing traditional attires, by worshipping the mangalsutra, by obeying her husband, by giving birth to and bringing up his children.

Some emancipation this.