The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Women's Voice keeps men on their toes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 10, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Women's Voice keeps men on their toes

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: Be warned all ye men who heaved a sigh of relief that another Women's Day has passed into history and ergo they can get on with their "normal" life.

The Right Livelihood Award winning activist, Ruth Manorama, who heads Women's Voice, can be quite "ruthless" if she catches any of them conveniently forgetting the existence of the Domestic Violence (Prevention) Act.

The presence of a few men at the celebration of Women's Day organised by Women's Voice inspired Ms. Manorama to tell them — and the women too — about how the tables had turned.

Struggle and revolution have driven the long drawn out battle for women's empowerment, and they are still getting there.

But meanwhile, the men had better stop having delusions about being the master to the wives' subservient, subordinate place in the "pecking" order.

"Be nice to us, and we'll be good to you. There are no yajamanrus, we are yajamanis too," she said, giving them notice of who is boss now.

Obviously the woman hasn't heard of the Prevention of Cruelty to Husbands Act 2007.

Authored by Venkatesh Kulkarni, on behalf of Henpecked Husbands Association, it does admit that it has the authority of the Central Board of All India Wives' Association!

And how could she, for the Act was passed on December 31, 2006, in "the dreams of henpecked husbands".

Just their luck, the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act is no figment of the imagination.

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