Women's Lib and Global Citizenship 

I had once gone to a Govt Liquor shop in east Delhi for a story shoot. This shop was next to a school and thus a nuisance. There was a bee line of men from a lower socio-economic status, waiting to purchase their quota of liquor for the day. But then I spotted a woman in a saree. She came quietly, went to a separate counter, slipped a bottle of rum inside her pallu and left. I was amazed, and bemused. It didn't matter if she was buying it for her aadmi or herself. I think it was admirable. 

Whenever I cross the Badarpur border on my way to work, I make it a point to notice an old feeble cobbler who always wears a smile on his face in the corner of the road. There is always a middle-aged dusky skinned woman sitting next to him talking. One day, I watched them smoking a beedi together. There was the utmost peace and joy on both their faces. There could not be two people so different from each other, enjoying a moment of unity. 

When I was in Mumbai, working with CNBC-TV18, life could not have been more lonely. Thanks to two college friends---Vijay and Lakshna, it was so much more easier starting out on my first job in the big city, living expensive but being poor. There is a very shady joint behind the Colaba Causeway called Gokul's. From outside it resembles a British Inn. Me and Lakshna went there at the behest of Vijay, and we had the most amazing beer, tandoori chicken and fried eggs, in that smoky joint full of single men having their drinks in quiet corners, away from their wives and the world. This was a moment, that none of us have forgotten. 

So, is there a problem here? A problem in spending time with people you like and eating and drinking whatever you enjoy. Isn't it all about community? Don't all our cultures, have a sense of community? During Eid, we cook. During Diwali, we cook. During Christmas, we cook and drink. During Holi, we cook and drink. 

This is why the attack on women drinking in a pub in Mangalore is a problem. Its not a debate about "pub culture" or "Indian culture". It's a debate about gender insensitivity and gender politics. It's about the equality of the sexes. Throughout history, women have not been allowed to be free to maintain the status-quo of male dominance. The reason why, attacks on women not just in pubs, but in the villages, and streets of our city occur is because of this psychology and social structure. 

It's true, that these get "footage" in the media, when the middle or the rich classes get targeted. It is the "we never thought it'd happen to us" mentality.  

A noted journalist wrote in her blog, that while we oppose the Muthaliks of society, we must also not imitate Sex and the City by sending pink underwear to him. This is a gross stereotype by a woman herself! I do not understand why she would equate modern activism with a commercial film. For me, this gesture of sending pink chaddi's to the scum of a man, is almost similar to bra-burning in the 60's and women's lib. It's an individual expression of a group of people, which include men. The only way to deal with people like Muthalik and his cronies, is embarassment. Gandhi wanted to embarass the British too. 

In today's world, where geographical boundaries cease with the easy flow of information, art and film, is there something wrong in imbibing ways of life that appeal to us? If I can wear Levi's Jeans, made in America, why can't I go to Hard Rock Cafe and have a mug of beer? Or for that matter, listen to African music, eat Tibetan food, and wear kohlapuri chappals.  

Why is there a hue and cry about Danny Boyle making a movie about India when an Indian director, Shekhar Kapur can make a film about an English Queen? 

"Imagine no country.........", sang Lennon. I don't know what is idealistic and what is real. What is plausible, is that we all became Citizens of the World. 

[Photo Credit: Claude Renault]