Pratibha Patil has made a slippery start to her presidential career. No one expects magic from her, well to be frank she appears to be another puppet Sonia Gandhi seems to have gotten under her supervision. Sonia Gandhi obviously wanted a person like her who can be wooed when it comes to formation of government. Does this also mean that Sonia Gandhi is gathering support for her Prime Ministerial aspirations in case the Congress manages to somehow stake claim to form the next government? Women at the 2 highest position of governance of India would create history and probably a feat no other country can boast off.
Coming back to Pratibha Patil, her first statement regarding the purdah system prevalent in Rajasthan and then the divine premonition. Not just her but her family members too are being accused of crime.
Prathibha has come under fire after allegations were labeled that her sugar mills had defaulted on loans and that she had shielded her brother in a murder case. Now, damning revelations coming in with documents with RBI proving that the bank set up by Pratibha Patil has been listed as a weak bank.
TIMES NOW has access to RBI’s report of 2003 that suggest irregularities in a co-operative bank led by the UPA’s presidential candidate Patil.
The fresh allegations against Patil pertain to a co-operative bank of which Pratibha Patil was the founding chairperson and later, along with a number of her relatives, was one of its directors. In fact the bank – the Pratibha Mahila Sahkari bank – is named after her. Its financial position was questioned by the RBI in 2003 and the bank was wound up subsequently.
Her personal remarks on purdah system seems to have suggested that the Mughals, indirectly Muslims, are responsible for the backwardness of women in India. Muslim leaders took strong umbrage at this allegation of hers. The premonitions thing gave her critics(the westernized media) another point to target her beliefs. She finally met Muslim leaders in Delhi to sort things out. She is having a tough time managing her heart, which wants her to be open/candid, but then she has responsibility to keep as the, expected, next president of India.
Is being so candid a characteristic peculiar to women? I was wondering why women, in spite of being progressing shoulder to shoulder to men in all fields, have not matched men in the Government of different countries. US, one of the most advanced nation in terms of modernity, never had a women president. Even Europe cannot boast of many. The situation is slightly better in third world countries; Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Philippines and other south American countries.
Is it because women lack the leadership skills? Or is it because they often end up in a mess by being candid? Or is it because they are not tough and are easily overwhelmed by emotions? All these are psychological questions which have to be answered in order to understand this general trend. But I must admit that the reasons mentioned above are definitely a factor in hindering the progress of women in the political arena.
Perhaps Pratibha need to control her emotions better.
Some more questions for Pratibha,
http://indiauncut.com/iublog/article/why-pratibha-patil-should-not-be-president/
I read your blog quite regularly – but I have to say that you never have gotten as sexist as you have in this post, ever before.
Women don’t make it in politics because they’re too candid?! Right, because all the male politicians never find themselves counting their toes in the mouth? Making pointless, absurd remarks isn’t exactly caused by ovaries.
Instead, look at fundamentally patriarchal structures that punish women far more than they punish men. Pratibha didn’t make those remarks because she was a woman, but because she lacks the skills to be tactful. Or because she’s too rich and used to shooting her trap without worrying about consequences.
Institutions are not prepared to function under the leadership of women. And this, very often, has nothing to do with the competency of women. For instance, your own attitude betrays your belief that somehow women are frail creatures that are going to sit and weep at the slightest provocation. Sheeeesh!
Neha,
This post is not to meant to be disparaging or trying to prove male supremacy over females. I was just trying to explore the reasons. And do you think that male politicians who keep talking rubbish make it to the top. There is huge difference between such politicians and those who make it to the top post. At least it has been the case so far..can’t say about the future.
You can never please the institutions, its the skill that matters.
29/06/07
Arun Shouries has written a detailed exposure and Ms.Patil should answer the charges.
it is the misfortune of India that it is being run by the Dynasties over the years, before Independence it was Monarchy which has placed many puppets at higher positions in thier rule just to prevail their will at all cost & after Independence it was Nehru Dynasty which is ruining the fate of India by putting the coetries like Pratibha Patil on the post of President which has been chaired by the personalities like Dr Rajendra Prasad, Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan & APJ Abdul Kalam.
Unfortunately we are still being ruled by the whims and fancies of a particular family even after achieving hard earned Independence, its just unfortunate, Our to be President doesnt have the personality to represent India .
You are clearly being sexist here. You generalize women, and then defend yourself by saying you were “just trying to explore the reasons”. In that case, your line of thought is wrong. If you still defend yourself, you probably don’t understand the meaning of sexism. It’s like calling someone a Shudra but denying casteism.
This line doesn’t make any sense either: “And do you think that male politicians who keep talking rubbish make it to the top.” Can we say that Praveen Togadia or Ashok Singhal don’t talk rubbish? Do you think George Bush doesn’t talk rubbish?
Finally, your idea that the US is “one of the most advanced nation[s] in terms of modernity” is also flawed. Women did not have voting rights and were not admitted to colleges for quite a while in the US. In terms of gender equality and women entrepreneurs, Asian nations have a much better record. They simply don’t have as much opportunity.
WOW!!! Women are emotional! hmmm… I know where this is going… they need to be “protected” too right? Instead of writing about Pratibha Patil why try to link her traits to her sex? are only women guilty of blind faith in a family, corruption, nepotism, inanities? are you forgetting Zail singh? can his traits be linked to his sex?