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Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Women and I

This essay was written 21 years ago. It lays out, as clearly as was within my power, what I used to think about women then. I have changed my views considerably, and I am going to write hereafter how and why. But maybe not yet.

1 comment:

Saikat Chakraborty said...

Dear Sir,

In 1995, you wrote that 'asking people to think about likely consequences of freedom…doesn’t make one a MCP' .
In 2008, you wrote that 'you are not an incorrigible MCP'.
And in 2012, you wrote that 'no women, please, I am a MCP' .

I think you have accepted, with much reluctance, bitterness and sorrow, that women are squandering whatever freedom and equality was achieved over a huge span of time through much hardships and struggle. And if the sphere of your professional activity and the years of experience are a measure, you are certainly not wrong to think so. The Satyavatis started it, the Subarnalatas carried the battle forward, and the Bakuls enjoyed some freedom, were grateful for it and stayed true to the course. After that, it was all lost.

As for the first part of your essay, I agree wholeheartedly about the rights and freedoms. To quote Jefferson-‘Nothing is unchangeable but the inherent and inalienable rights of man’ and they should never be taken away.

You have noted that it is not just coincidence that women’s movement progressed when men were scarce and demoralized- this is an interesting perspective. Vulnerability probably drilled sense into men that things can be better together or women decided to strike the iron when it was hot- either way the results were fruitful.

The second part of your essay lists the responsibilities and the actions and I cannot agree more. However, can we blame women for abusing the freedom any more than Afro-Americans (as you have written) or well-off people who take advantage of reserved categories in India or the vast number of Muslims, who as a civil society, doesn’t strongly condemn terrorism (I am not denying that extremists are lacking in other religions)?

Sir, thanks for posting this excellent essay and I will look forward to the upcoming one.

With regards,
Saikat.