Noted feminist smells politics in raising of Halaala, Triple Talaq issues

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 6:  Despite affirming her support to women cause vis-à-vis Triple Talaq, Halaala and Article 35A, noted feminist Kamla Bhasin today alleged more politics behind raising of these contentious issues and also cautioned people against attempts of misusing genuine concerns to target hidden goals.
“It is obvious that if Halaala and Triple Talaq are anti-women, as a feminist, I am against them. But unfortunately, these issues have been taken up by the people  not because they want gender equality, it is because they want to put other religion down,” she said in response to  some queries by the Jammu University students after delivering the Balraj Puri Memorial Lecture-2018 , here today.
Kamla Bhasin, a prominent Indian developmental feminist, poet, author and social scientist, alleged that those talking of equality by raising issues like Halaala and Triple Talaq, become quiet when their own women are subjected to rape and gender inequality. “This all establishes double speak of these people,” she added.
With regard to Article 35-A, Kamla Bhasin opined that if there was gender inequality in some provisions of this clause, then the same must be corrected but that should not be allowing to shoot gun from someone else’s shoulder. “Please don’t try to shoot anything from my issue (shoulder),” she said and refused to be in this politics.
Earlier, while delivering the Balraj Puri Memorial Lecture-2018 on the topic ‘Feminism and its relevance in South Asia, ,  organized by Institute of J&K Affairs in collaboration with the Department of Sociology, University of Jammu, Kamla Bhasin   elucidated her views and understanding of feminism
Stating that feminism was inter-sectional and there was need to work against all the unfair systems, Kamla Bhasin said that biggest attack on women in modern world was capitalist patriarchy. “Cosmetic industry, toy industry, Hollywood, Bollywood, Media sports are glaring examples where women are portrayed as a commodity,” she lamented.
While speaking about removing the gender bias in order to bring in equality, she added that in contrast to other ideologies, feminism starts from oneself and one’s homes as it questions the most entrenched belief systems that distinguish between what is male and what female, who is privileged and who not, who is protected and who not, in the family itself. Therefore, she added, the struggle to create a gender equitious society was much more difficult than other ideologies and both men and women should join hands in this endeavour. “Men should also join feminism, which is not against them but gender inequality,” she clarified and added that gender equality was a win win situation for everyone.
Vice Chancellor Prof Manoj Dhar, who was chief guest on the occasion, said that his own expertise in Life Sciences corroborates the fundamental tenet of feminist ideology that gender differences are not a product of biology but of socialisation. “There is nothing that distinguishes men and women biologically, but families and societies create these differences,” he explained.
Earlier, Ellora Puri, Honorary Director, Institute of J&K Affairs and Prof Vishav Raksha, Head, Department of Sociology, JU, introduced the speaker and spoke about theme of the lecture.
The lecture was attended by University faculty members, members of the civil society, Research Scholars and Students from the university.

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