I am sure everyone has heard about the misogynistic utterings of Mr. Venugopal Dhoot, Managing Director of Videocon Industries. He has the right to, and is welcome hold these views as an individual, but, this assh*le is all set to enter the Rajya Sabha on a Congress ticket, surprisingly with Sonia Gandhi’s support (I think she is a working woman ;) ). Please sign this petition organised by jivha. We have enough people (the likes of Laloo, Mulayam, etc.) trying to suppress Indian women in the Parliament, as witnessed by constant opposition to Women’s Reservation Bill. Hopefully, this will add to the chorus of dissent that is already brewing and Mr. Dhoot’s entry into Rajya Sabha will be stopped.

To: Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, President, Indian National Congress

CC: Respective Editors - The Hindu, The Times of India, The Deccan Herald, The Tribune, The Indian Express, The Economic Times, Business Standard, Business Line, Outlook, India Today, Frontline, Business World

Dear Mrs. Gandhi,

We recently came across a news article in the Times of India titled “Women can’t do Business: Dhoot”(September 29, 2003, URL). The article was an interview with Mr. Venugopal Dhoot, Managing Director of Videocon Industries.

We were appalled to know that one of India’s leading industrialists still thinks that women belong at home, looking after the family. Mr.Dhoot’s views on the “traditional” status of women in India smack of a primitive blend of thinking that almost borders not just on sexism, but active discrimination.

Mr.Dhoot says that “businesses can’t be run by women, especially in India.” Even though some of us believe that responding to Mr. Dhoot’s observations would mean attributing some value to them, yet we cannot also let them remain unanswered.

We wonder if Mr.Dhoot has ever heard of Kiran Mazumdar Shaw of Biocon, Naina Lal Kidwai of HSBC, Anu Aga of Thermax, Shahnaz Husain of Shahnaz Herbals, Amrita Patel of NDDB, Jaswantiben Popat of Lijjat Papad, Sulajja Motwani of Kinetic, and many, many more women in various levels of business, politics, entertainment and every other conceivable sphere of life. The success of each of these women in their own, diverse spheres, in the face of cut-throat competition should serve as a gentle rejoinder for people like Mr.Dhoot.

We are of course, not forgetting the millions of nameless, faceless Indian women who excel in their own chosen areas balancing not just their own lives but that of entire families. Their achievements are no lesser in greatness compared to the women above.

The article also mentioned the fact that Mr. Dhoot was planning to enter the Rajya Sabha on a Congress ticket.

We cannot understand how the Congress Party, itself led by a woman, and with a glorious history of great women leaders like Annie Beasant, Sarojini Naidu, Vijaylakshmi Pandit and Indira Gandhi can allow a person with such antiquated opinions on the role of women in society/business to enter those most august halls of Parliament. It disturbs us when we realize that Mr. Dhoot, if he enters Parliament, will be participating in various discussions and legislations involving critical women’s rights and issues when we all know what he thinks of the stature of women. A person who believes that women should only look after their homes cannot, in our opinion, be expected to speak for the rights of the millions of Indian women whom he will be representing, albeit indirectly.

We appeal to you, as Indians who truly believe in our constitution when it guarantees us equality regardless of “religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth”, to reconsider the decision to grant a Rajya Sabha ticket to Mr. Venugopal Dhoot. As a woman yourself, you would understand the difficulties that women have to face in India growing up, studying, working, and even managing their families. People like Mr.Dhoot not only perpetuate inequal treatment of women, but they also advocate the same, sometimes directly as in the article, and sometimes by their thoughts and actions.

If you, the reader, the ‘common man’, the nameless Indian, the silent majority believe in what we are trying to bring out, then please sign this petition. It will be forwarded to the people mentioned so that they know that Indians will not put up with such blatant discrimination and stereotyping any longer. If we are to become a globally recognized and respected country, let’s start somewhere closer to home.

Also posted on my blog