Not Quite Fair By The Fairer Sex

Uttar Pradesh gave its verdict while the world celebrated Women’s Day and women champions did indeed, lend colour to the political firmament. On the campaign trail in the Assembly elections were former chief minister, Mayawati and outgoing chief minister, Akhilesh Yadav’s wife, Dimple “bhabhi”. Priyanka Gandhi, campaigned for brother and Congress Party vice president, Rahul Gandhi.

Uttar Pradesh has never been wanting for women leaders. It was the first Indian State to have a woman chief minister at its helm between 1963 and 1967, in freedom fighter, Sucheta Kriplani. Half a century later, its women leaders are mostly wives and daughters of politicians, addressed as bahu (daughter-in-law), mother or sister.

As we toured the interiors of Uttar Pradesh during the last Assembly elections, slogans like ‘Vikas ki chabhi, Dimple Bhabhi’, said a lot about her presence in the political space. She seemed the ideal bahu, with little makeup and a bindi on her forehead. Her speeches were more about ‘bhaiya’ (Akhilesh) than herself or the women of Uttar Pradesh. Even Mayawati preferred to speak of her mentor, Kanshi Ram.

As we strode on in search of the voice of the women of Uttar Pradesh, we found more and more people like Vimala of Asna village of Chandauli district. She seemed 55, but did not know how old she was, because – as she pointed out – Vimala was not educated. Her demands, like those of most other women in her village, were simply food and electricity. She has not yet dreamt of development beyond the bare minimum.

A woman from another village – let’s call her Radha – had nothing to say to us. Her answer to every single question we asked was, “Malik jo bolenge” (whatever my husband will say). In this scenario, reports that Muslim women had gone out of their way to vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its stance on “Triple Talaq” is noteworthy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s road show was attended by lakhs of people – but where were the women? Akhilesh Yadav’s rallies were mostly bereft of women too, barring those perched on the roof-tops of neighbouring houses.

Some women were visible at Mayawati’s rallies. The true stature of women in India’s most populous State was best revealed by Benaras Hindu University vice chancellor, G. C. Tripathi, when he said, “We have to take care of our female students because BHU is an open campus and anything can happen after 8 PM. It is an old rule for their safety.” But aren’t we instilling fear in women by such regressive rules?