HHalt, stop there. You have said enough on…Women! Yet, there are lingering doubts. Do women talk all that much as compared to men? Along with the much-written-about ‘fasts unto death’ in the Anna Hazare (a man) style, this kind of protest had not proved to be popular with women. Why? Women may well be able to avoid food and can well observe more ‘religious’ fasts than me. But ask them to keep silent and fast at the same time. They find it more difficult, not the fasting, but observing silence. The history of the freedom struggle mentions many instances of Gandhiji fasting and keeping maun vrat, he was way ahead of women who excel in this double achievement.
These conclusions are drawn after years and years of study of women. Such an experience is invaluable. I was born and brought up in a female-dominated environment both on the paternal and maternal sides. Grandparents on both the sides who lived to ripe old ages, uncles and aunts of the same category, cousins who could not be ignored and four formidable sisters who did not have to pull any punches to prove their superiority. The gesture of my grandparents to feed the entire village and celebrate the birth of a son did not cut much ice with my sisters and female cousins, who, when parents were not on the scene, referred to me as a spoilt brat, though I assure you, I was never one.
My strategy was clear cut, respect the majority and follow the leader. To draw a literary parallel, at the Eatanswill election attended by Mr. Pickwick and his friends, they formed the strategy of supporting and shouting with the larger mob. But, what if there were two mobs, a large one and a small one? Mr. Pickwick came out with the gem of an idea, ‘Follow the larger one’. Effective strategy, which gave me no trouble for the rest of my life, and never failed me.
Mind you, women domination never hurt me. At Reader’s Digest where I worked for more than a decade, most of my American bosses were women and we got along famously and produced some great editions. They took quick decisions (always correct), never interfered with original ideas, and were quick in appreciating good work. This kind of work environment highlighted the tenure of the Indian women political leaders.
I was fortunate to be a journalist at the time of Indira Gandhi who was acknowledged as the only ‘male’ in the Indian cabinet and stood up to the arm twisting of the notorious Nixon-Kissinger clique and the khadi-clad hypocrites who thronged the Morarji crowd of supporters. At the dozens of journalism schools and colleges where I taught, almost 90 per cent of the toppers were girls. At the job market, the situation remains the same. The news rooms of publications are again packed with girls. The situation is the same in business schools, medical colleges…. And I am made to wonder, where have the boys gone? Mind you, some of these avenues were not even open to women. Even in progressive homes, parents were reluctant to allow girls to opt for journalism and advertising where they had to interact with boys and stay out till late hours. At least in cities like Mumbai, the walls had crumbled, though the other cities have not done much for women’s safety.
The urban Indian population is marching ahead, the question of competing with girls is almost a dead issue. Sometimes it is difficult to give a satirical twist to the Man-Woman issue. Mind you the battle is very much on. Women are ready to take their roles as fighter pilots, submariners and several other skilful and risky jobs which were not open to them. In future, when they are joined by their rural sisters, the sky will be the limit for them.
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V. Gangadhar
The writer is a well-known satirist.[/column]