I am told that women love me. Its one of the things that make me popular. And I am often asked, what do I think of women? I love women. I love an independent woman. One who knows her mind, her choices and who exercises these choices with confidence. I am fortunate to be surrounded by such women.
So it bothers me when men do the things we do. Some men treat their wives as slaves, others harass college girls, men abuse women. And now we have hoodlums in Mangalore, beating up young women. Shameful.
Despite what some men would like to believe, men and women are equal. This is a right, not an option. This means that a woman has the right to vote, the right to work and yes, the right to wear what she likes, drink what she likes and date whomever she pleases. I’m not saying she should or she shouldn’t. I am saying she, and not you or me, has the right to decide.
One of my young fans, 16-year-old Rasna, wrote a sweet letter in response to my column last week. For her, it wasn't my looks or movies that mattered, but an incident in Delhi. “When a 13 year old boy pushed a girl to get your autograph the way you took that boy under you and in the corner and told him to respect girls. That really floored me.” Thank you Rasna, I really hope that the boys in Delhi live up to your expectations.
Now to get back to whether women should be out drinking. Frankly, abusing women or denying women their rights, or harassing a woman while she's out there fulfilling her potential is a bigger threat to Indian society sinking to new depths than a woman enjoying a glass of beer.
{{/usCountry}}Now to get back to whether women should be out drinking. Frankly, abusing women or denying women their rights, or harassing a woman while she's out there fulfilling her potential is a bigger threat to Indian society sinking to new depths than a woman enjoying a glass of beer.
{{/usCountry}}Write to me atjohn.abraham@hindustantimes.com
Tomorrow: Anupam Kher’s second column