Will women ever grow mustache? In India mustache symbolizes the honor of a man. Warriors used to grow handle bar mustache which was the sign of their valor & self respect.

Having lived in metro although my life in an upper middle class society, I never had the misfortune to see crime against women in person but even in my small little world I have seen women suffering silently the oppression of men in terms of fidelity as well as financial exploitation.

In my student life I used to read that democracy is a big joke in India as a vote to a women means two vote to a man. Till recently in all official documents women was required to give her husband’s father’s name.She is required to change her surname after marriage by convention it will be blasphemy if the husband does the same

Despite being independent, women keep fast for the well being of her husband no such compulsion for husband. Even highly qualified lady has to submit to her husband in law’s decision regarding her working post marriage. I can understand the situation when a women was supposed to be only a home maker but now when all spheres women has proved herself to be equal to if not superior to men her tolerating the injustice by men cannot be excused & has no rational.

I know a family where the husband had a roaring affair with a neighbor & the wife could not walk away because of her being financially dependent & with young girls. In another case the son of a respected professional had an affair with a Muslim girl because of parental objection could not marry her & instead went for an arranged match with a Hindu girl & had children from her.

His earlier girl friend meanwhile got married & divorced. My neighbor left his wife, converted & got married to his girlfriend. His ex wife remained with her in laws took up a job & is bringing them up her single status has been imposed upon her for no fault except lack of courage to move away & get married again. May be it will be difficult to find a suitable match who can accept her with children.

In another case husband, a well to do businessmen was a debauch the wife unable to walk away had to put up with her infidelity & was beaten both by husband & son unable to cope she took her life & nothing happened to the husband.

Another neighbor got widowed while in her twenties with two children but can not find a match as no one is willing to accept her with children.

A friend of mine an attractive and intelligent professional got married to a graduate. The husband stopped her from working. She was a victim of violence left husband while pregnant, came back to parents, set up a practice but had to leave every thing & go back to husband.

One last case a girl with below average looks and intelligence from a not so well to day family got married to a mentally retarded husband left him, came back to parents had to go back with in laws & runs a small business.

Despite being married for all practical purposes she is single. I am sure all of us are having similar tales to share. It is no coincidence that but for a large private bank very few women can be seen in the top in corporate world.

Harassment & abuse of women has become an every day news item. True cases like Jessica Lal or Priyadarshani Matoo or Tandoor case get media attention & the guilty is punished but it is more of an exception.

Justice is delivered by default & not in due course. The point I am trying to make is that rights are not received in alms if required one has to fight for them & struggle to retain them else others will usurp the same.

Hope some day women will be courageous enough in large numbers & will grow both mustache & a beard to match & men will learn to wear bangles.

Amen!