It’s strange that some of my friends think I lean right and some think I am a centrist. For the strangest of reasons, many of them also think that I aspire for a career in politics. I have often wondered what makes them think so - it requires way too much hard work and I do not have the stamina for that; it’s easier being an arm-chair activist and a laptop opinionator. The truth is that I do not have any strong political leanings and when something good comes out of the politics in the country, it must be appreciated. So, kudos to Shri. P.M.!
In appointing Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman as the Defence Minister in the recent Cabinet reshuffle, Shri. P.M. has won the hearts of many an Indian feminist. Women constitute about 50% of the electorate in the country, and while one might rue that enough has not been done in having this gender represented in the Parliament and in the Cabinet, the Prime Minister has shattered the glass ceiling by appointing Smt. Sitharaman. There shall now be two women as part of the prestigious Cabinet Committee on Security!
Come to think of it, this shouldn’t come as a surprise in the land that has been home to the likes of Rani Lakshmibai, Kittur Chennamma, Razia Sultana and Onake Obavva. I think our country was far less patriarchal then, than it is now!
Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman takes over at a time when India is facing unrest in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, the continual problem at the LoC and the imbalance in Sino-India relations. We have witnessed how Smt. Sushma Swaraj has done a fine job with the MEA and hope that Smt. Sitharaman will bring along the feminine grit to problem solving in the MoD. With the army all set to welcome women in combat roles, I don’t think they would have any problem in taking directions from a lady-boss. Attitudes are changing and we need the best feminists to propel that change.
Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman now joins 15 other Defence Ministers from the rest of the World.
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