Pioneer-Dilli-Billi-22nd.May.2011-"New Mantra Of Politics"

"New mantra of politics"

Empowerment is all about helping other women to better their lives & achieve a certain status for themselves

Women empowerment is the new mantra of Indian polity — from the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to Mayawati, Mamata Banerjee and Jayalalitha. The one thing that is common in them is their determination, patience and no nonsense approach. However, as far as their personal life is concerned, they are very different from each other.

Sonia Gandhi, Jayalalitha and Mamata Banerjee have come to power after much struggle. Sonia Gandhi had a family name and backing. Jayalalitha also had a Godfather. Mayawati, too, had a Godfather when she first rode the Elephant symbol in Uttar Pradesh. Mamata Banerjee is the only one who had no Godfather — no backing and yet, she has made it to the top.

But these women are fast learners and rule with an iron fist. They might have an off day once in a while. We are all well aware of the tantrums of Mayawati, Jayalalitha and Mamata Banerjee.

However, for me empowerment of women is not about these women. A woman is a woman’s biggest enemy it is said. There are jealousies and insecurities. Women are much wiser, craftier and quicker than men and can be all sweetness when needed. To me empowerment is when a woman has won Zila Parishad or Panchayat election and helps other women — be it to help them to find a way to earn a living or to tell them what is the correct age at which they should get their daughters married.

This is possible when there is education and awareness. Do our women leaders deliver this? Do they go out of their way to make sure that women in the villages are taken out of their poverty ridden houses and are made selfsufficient? Are the women no longer dependent on the men of their family? Can these women stop the mental harassment a working woman endures at the hands of her in-laws for not being a good daughter in-law? We live in a country which is burdened with caste, religion and superstition. Whatever be our GDP, 80 per cent of our population still lives below poverty line.

I admired Margaret Thatcher and Indira Gandhi. I admire Sonia Gandhi because she has kept herself away from all scandals and brought up two children who mean well. Mamata Banerjee’s win is something that she has worked for years but let’s face it the Left had to go out of power sometime. To rule for 34 years was testing the public’s patience for too long. Jayalalitha’s sweeping of Tamil Nadu should ensure that the corrupt pay for what they have done without falling into the same trap.

A woman, if given power and responsibility, will do her duty with diligence. There is no doubting that they are hard working. Hopefully the newly appointed Chief Ministers will not be moody, erratic and bad tempered as their reputations have been earlier.