Freedom from what?

Mrs Indira Gandhi was famously reported as saying "You were asked to bend a little. You chose to crawl." The Independence Day celebrations at the Juhu campus of SNDT University put me in mind of this quotable quote.

The day is also the birthday of the university's VC. Last year the celebrations (read puke-making display of sycophancy) took place within the VC's chambers. This year, it competed with the solemn observance of flag hoisting etc. The dais was groaning with huge cakes and bouquets, which individual heads of departments brought along as a "mark of respect" from their departments, paid out of their departments coffers.

This year's celebrations also saw the obscene quantum of largesse handed out by our benevolent PM to our hardworking, upright men of integrity, our babu-log. Meaning that work ethic, decorum in the work place, honesty of purpose, punishment for wrong-doing, service to the nation can all be given short shrift.

Under such circumstances, why are we so surprised at our failure to produce sportspeople or academics of acceptable level, forget world class. Why are we so shocked that our babus collude to destroy our coast lines and forests, and that our police force look the other way when a small consignment of RDX is landed? Or enable/allow a kennth Haywood to saunter out of the country?

The mai-baap culture has been the bane of our existence for centuries, and will continue for all time to come.

As for me, I am completely disheartened when I see women replicating the dominant male work culture. After all, feminism's basic premise was that women have a new, balanced sensitivity to bring to the public domain, and that, apart from notions of equitable distribution of power and opportunity, it is this freshness of vision we sought when we fought for universal education and work opportunity, and political representation for women at all levels.

Clearly I should go back to where I belong which is Jurassic Park I guess.

This is a report by Prof. Prabha Krishnan, Mumbai dated 20th August 2008. Comments will be forwarded to her along with your contact details.