Do We Need The Women's Reservation Bill ?

Democracy is at stake here, and it is pitted against the sensitive issue of reservation for women. The Women's Reservation Bill is set to be tabled in the Lok Sabha this month and looks good to be passed. The bill will radically change the way democracy works in India. Dedicating one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha to women will be a slap on the face of all those people who fought for equality for all of India's citizens.
The Constitution was framed by a highly eminent team of intellectuals. They opposed segregation based on any aspect, religion/caste/gender. My reason for opposing the Bill is based on the fact that since the independence the status of women has only gone up; and if it wasn't needed then, there is no reason for it now.
The bill has the cunningness of male chauvinists written all over it. A case in point is this proposed change; 33% of Lok Sabha seats will be set aside for Women, for the remaining seats, women are free to contest and win elections. Nothing could be more out of tune to Indian democracy's plural orchestra. Hard-core feminists are pushing for this draconian law and this makes more moderate feminist betrayers.
The parody in the Indian society could not be more evident. Indian society is most certainly a male dominated one. (It is no where close to America, where a single woman can live at peace) But 2 women, placed at the right positions can pass this bill without much fuss. Sonia Gandhi, the leader of the Congress party has already thrown her weight behind the bill. If she decides to get this bill into a law, there is very little Manmohan Singh can do to stop it. So from the political side things are done. The constitutional demands of passing this bill lie in the hands of the President, another woman, Prathiba Patil. If she signs at the right places, things are done. Add to this the fact that the President was hand-picked by Sonia Gandhi, and there looks like no stopping the bill this time.
India places herself rather uniquely in the world. It has chosen its own independent foreign policy, at a time when aligning with the United States would give more dividends. It has sincerely looked within for answers to the problems that plague it. The result of this is the unique nature of Indian democracy. In no other part of the world can you possibly find a land as divided as India, sticking together. But none of this can justify this unique nature of democracy it has decided to adopt. Division of elected bodies at State and National levels cannot be supported.
What makes my opposition to this bill so caustic is that it seems to be driven more out spite and less out of need. Keep elections unbiased. This model has worked well for the tougher part of the women's liberation movement. Don't hand out gifts to each man's better half and belittle their ability to make a lasting change on our future.

Saturday delight

Yesterday, the 26th of September 09, was another memorable Saturday.

The day began with a regular class in the morning, followed by a typical Saturday afternoon lull. Little did I know that what was in store for me in the evening.

At about 5 PM, the realization that I was to play for a concert in a while dawned on me. I then got my instrument tuned, a typically pleasing routine before every concert. There is a certain amount of indescribable pleasure in tuning an instrument sitting at home. More so, as tuning it on stage is quite a challenge!

The concert was another temple concert in Triplicane, organized by a group of enthusiastic people, associated with some temple or the other, determined to show the fast moving world that “We will take our time”. No offense intended, for they remain the sole ray of hope for emerging classical artistes.
While travelling my dad was reminiscing his childhood days in the same locality we were heading to. It was a joyful conversation, given my inclination to listen to stories. And a long trip became a short one. We reached there well in advance and then, bang came a surprise!! We reached the same street that my dad was talking about. I was to accompany female vocalist for a concert on that very street. The conversation continued and one thing led to another and my dad suddenly lead me to the house he lived in.
My dad walked into the first floor of what used to be 19A, Pillayar Kovil Street, and with what can be described best, as brazenness that one gets only by following one’s instinct, he announced that he lived here as a 5-year old some 50 years ago!

Now, in most places in Chennai, this would be greeted with, “ Dhaa, adhukenna ippa”, but not this one. The lady in the house greeted us rather willing; politely asking us to sit and also have a look at the house. This reaction was something new to me and made me feel warm. They offered us coffee and started talking about my grandfather’s elder brother who used to live here while mustering up support for the then nascent freedom struggle. The elderly lady in the house, her daughter-in-law and my dad spent the next 10 minutes in an animated conversation while I was admiring the rather simple house.

It’s not the simplicity of the house that I was appreciating. The house and more so the stories that were associated with it, appealed to me. I had a look at the room from where the 2nd novel ever to be written in Tamil was written from. It was also in the same place that the several acts of opposition to the British were planned. Nothing big. But for guy like me such small things kindle a fire within. “What is the legacy I am going to leave behind?”

The coffee was rather strong and much to my liking, and on finishing it I certainly felt ready to get back to the stage where the concert would start soon. The elderly lady (didn’t ask for name!) guided us out and we walked off with a feeling of warmth and gentle happiness. Life has its ways of surprising us!
The concert started off and went on rather well (more on my kutcheri experiences later) and I returned home to an intriguing India-Pakistan match. A good way to end one of my rare holidays!