Why are Indian Women in Politics not as Impressive?
Posted : November 30, 2005 at 10:37 pm [IST]
Four Indians- Indra Nooyi, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chanda Kochhar, and Vidya Chhabria figured in ‘Fortune’ Magazine’s annual listing of the most powerful women in business.
The ‘Outlook’ December 5, 2005 issue provided a feel of fresh air after that special issue on sex status of Indian men and women. Some of the stories of successful women of the country are inspiring and great. About many, I didn’t know beforehand. Cfore researchers survey selected ten favourite role models of Indian women. They are in order of rating- Sania Mirza, Aruna Roy, Ela Bhatt, Preity Zinta, Rani Mukherj, Barkha Datt, Anu Aga, Dr. V. Shanta, Sunita Narain, Chanda Kochhar, Mahbooba Mufti, and Dr Firuze Parikh. While going through the magazine, I came across some other names. They have enhanced the image of Indian women with their hard work and contribution in their areas of activity. Zia Mody, (legal luminary Soli Sorabjee’s daughter) founder partner of the Mumbai-based law firm AZB & Partners, and Anuradha Desai, chairperson of the Rs 13-billion Venkateswara Hatcheries Group, Sulaija Firodia Motwani, joint managing director of Kinetic Engineering are among the successful women of the country.
But the most impressive was the success story of Shakila Bibi. She began her life making paper bags on the pavements of Calcutta. Without entering art school or studios, Shakila’s art was born in the city’sTaltala vegetable market in the early ’70s, when her mentor Baldev Raj Panesar provide this bright-eyed girl with paper. Out of some she made bags; from the rest she created collages. Ripping and tearing at paper, choosing Kali Ma as her motif, Shakila’s work slowly caught the eyes of the art world. National and international awards followed. By 1995, her works were on show in Paris. Shakila, living in her one room-house, is busily preparing a huge 12×8 feet work for her show in Berlin next month.
But after that nice feel, when we think of the present generation of powerful politician women of the country, I get pained. And while I am writing this story, all the News channels are running the live coverage of one such lady, Uma Bharti- her outbursts against the party bosses and colleagues, her lust of power even after calling herself ’sanyasin’ again and again, her suspension and perhaps removal from the party.
Mayavati is another such woman who could become the chief minister of the largest state of the country, but could not retain it because of the weaknesses that comes with getting the chair of power. Mayavati’s known and reported machinations to accumulate properties including the Taj scandal and Taj expressway became a daily feature in media.
Jaylalita, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu and head of AIDMK is another extreme. Her scams and her unique means to handle opposition can never earn a respect from many intellectuals.
Rabari Devi, the former chief minister of Bihar is the extreme case in our democracy where a husband could get his wife with neither interest nor qualification for the post sit in the chair of the chief minister for so long. And now she is the leader of opposition. Why can’t she refuse to hold the office for which she is not capable? Perhaps she can be excused as she appears to be so homely, and she has learnt from her elders only to follow what her husband asks her to do.
Mamta Banerjee of West Bengal is another who is subdued to a great extent these days. She has not been able to realize the ambition to become the chief minister of the state by overthrowing the CPM rulers who have tortured her mentally as well as physically.
All this time I had been thinking why the politician women of India could not made a mark as others listed above have done. Should not these politicians undergo some sort of training or apprenticeship for few days with the successful entrepreneurs?
- Indra
Category: Indian politics |
Leave a Comment