The myth is in our backyard on women's empowerment....As a community are we really democratic? Do our colony's institutions like our Clubs, Associations etc practice universal suffrage? Do women have equal rights? Well read on...
Its
open season for elections... every section of society in India is gripped with
the fever; all have opinions; what went wrong with the country, what needs to be done to set it right, which party or
candidate would be most suitable to lead the country over the next five years,
Opinions
fly thick and fast, temperatures rise in fiery stand up soap box debates,
fuelled with chai or grog...
At
one of the busiest Mumbai intersections two youths bracing the blistering heat
exhaust fumes, dust and grime, stand steadfast with hand written placards:
‘Please exercise your franchise. Your
vote will bring the change you seek’
‘Every opinion matters, every vote
counts, citizens please vote’
Whilst
we gave them a thumbs up as we drove passed in our air conditioned car, most
others just looked the other way. When one gets a right easily, it’s treated
with condescension, in any case the Indian middle class considered it plebeian
to vote. ‘It’s for the working class I say, old bean’...the anglophiles of
yesteryear would say...
But
times have changed.
The key word is ALL citizens can, and must,
vote as a democratic right. This is called Universal Suffrage or Universal Franchise,
Where universal suffrage exists, the right to vote is not restricted by race, sex, belief, wealth, or
social status. The Constitution of India in one stroke under Article 326, granted
Universal suffrage for all adult citizens over 18 years of age.
· Consequently, shouldn’t the same rule / law apply to
the community we live in? Shouldn't we have Universal Suffrage in Defence
Colony?
Recently
our Club (DCWA Club) held its annual elections, an event to elect honorary office
bearers to run the club on behalf of its members for a year. The candidates all
respected residents of Defence Colony cut time from their working and family
lives; and direct their energies in a constant effort to improving this institution
as a centre of leisure, intellectual stimulation, sport and entertainment for
its members.
So on
this mild spring Sunday morning, ‘election day’ as we call it, with shamianas
festooning the lawns to protect us from the mid day sun, were candidates,
bonhomie, coffee and conversation, in the midst of which the previous year’s
accounts were read out for ratification. A distinctive festive air, but
something was missing.....where were the ladies, Sir, the fairer sex???
The answer
was quite simple actually, as ladies haven’t been enfranchised to vote as
spouse members, they were conspicuous by their absence. Only members, either
male of female (not their spouses) who are eligible to vote under the present
rules, were present.
As the
rule exists, it’s an anomalous situation to say the very least. A hangover from
the British Raj when the ‘Men Only’ clubs disparagingly permitted women in ante
rooms and not bars, restricted them to the library and children’s rooms, but
yet would dance with them in the ballroom till the clock struck midnight...
Indeed
what would our clubs be without our wives, our daughters, our girls and all of
the gentler sex? Well, to say the least, very very boring. Their presence
brings the freshness of spring air, the effervescence of Champagne, the ‘joie de vivre’ of our lives. Their
primacy in our existence has been established from times immemorial when women were
accorded a status higher than men, history & mythology are replete with
stories of women’s supremacy; can one imagine life without women? Yet we as a
community we accord them a status lower than that of men, by disenfranchising them,
by not giving them the right to vote.
Are we a
male chauvinistic society? Well perhaps a little of yes, and a little of no. Do
we need to change this mindset / attitude? A resounding YES!!
Which
brings us back to the original subject of our debate: Should the ladies of our club have the right to vote?
· Considering the Constitution of India grants women
equality in all respects, especially the right to vote;
·
Nations of the world all accept Universal Suffrage
as a democratic right;
·
The Women’s Reservation Bill of March 2010 reserves
33% or more seats in parliament and institutions for women,
Can Defence Colony Club (DCWA Club) be far behind?
The
answer is quite clear; and as the iconic pop singer of the 60’s Bob Dylan crooned:
The
answer my friend is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
As the
winds of change sweep our country, and the old government gives way to new, the
nation looks anxiously forward to a bold decisive new dispensation,
We residents and members of the Defence
Colony Club too, look forwards to our dynamic leaders ushering progressive
change, and granting our women spouse members equal voting rights.
