International Women’s Day : Monika Lewinsky, Diana , Hilary Clinton Vs Ahilya Bai Holkar An Ideal Bhartiya Nari : नारी सशक्तिकरण या भारतीय सुखी जीवन ;क्या चुनें ?
Rajiv Upadhyay
On International Day it has now become a routine to project modern women as an aggressive , highly right conscious, ambitious working women , valuing her individuality and freedom. For a moment let us pause and evaluate the traditional Indian woman by comparing three iconic western women and later consider an option of being a traditional hindu wife in those roles.
Monika Lewinsky was a twenty two year old ,beautiful intern in White House in 1995 . US president Bill Clinton fell in love with her and had sexual affair in White House . He paid for it by facing an impeachment trial and survived very narrowly. But a new series of Jokes evolved called Clinton Jokes. Lewinsky parents had divorced and both got remarried . Monika subsequently tried many things from doing a Masters in Psychology from LSE / London , becoming a cyber bullying activist but ultimately kept black mailing Clintons by wring but not publishing her memoirs .
Hillary Clinton , wife of Bill Clinton , a lawyer , preferred to pardon her husband’s misadventure and save her marriage and was rewarded by becoming New York senator in 2000 and Secretary Of State in 2009 and contested US president’s election twice. She by opting for saving marriage in spite of public humiliation ,saved every one and is today a happy mother and wife and a very influential public figure.
Princess Diana , an incredible beauty , faced same dilemma like Hillary with Prince Charles and chose to be intolerant . She divorced , married an Egyptian muslim tycoon Dodi Fayed , died ignominiously and made UK Royalty a global laughing stock by revealing all juicy tales in public .
She was highly loved by British public up to her death but was she happier than Hillary Clinton ? If she had forgiven Prince Charles and won him in Silsila’s Jaya style by devotion to her husband , would it not have been better ?
Looking at the misery of Clinton , Charles and Monika , is Indian style sexual restraint from childhood not a better option than leaving girls free which promotes pre marital sex ?
In contrast evaluate a totally devoted Bhartiya Nari , Rani Ahilya Bai Holkar . After her husband’s death, she wanted to be a Sati but her father in law Malhar Rao Holkar dissuaded her . She became the most celebrated hindu queen known for her progressive regime , restoration of temples , industrialisation of Indore and establishing many educational institutions .
As we celebrate without justification , the so called International Women’s day , it is time to really evaluate which model will give us long lasting happiness .
My obvious choice is the Indian family. It is a far better option where duty takes precedence over individual happiness and resultant family happiness is enduring and ever lasting.
