A Woman Activist fighting for Men’s Rights in India, Dr. Indu Subhash
She is a woman’s voice against the ‘Gender Biased Laws’ in India. And for years she is been fighting for men’s rights. While some eyebrows are raised, but there are many people including educated women who supports her. And today, she is a strong voice advocating for the formation of a National Men’s Commission in India. While most of the activists are fighting for the women’s rights, why is she even advocating for men’s rights? What makes her the woman she is today?
Meet DR. INDU SUBHASH, our guest of the fortnight in our series WEAVING DREAMS* by DIGILOOM..
No discrimination as a girl child in the family
Born in a middle class family, Indu Subhash has fond memories of her childhood. While most of her siblings went to hostel for their studies, she remained with her parents during her childhood. “My father was a disciplinarian and a very loving father. He never discriminated between me and my brothers. In fact he always motivated me to dream and work for it”, says Dr. Indu.
Raised in the hills of Uttarakhand, Indu Subhash learned about Sanatan Dharma and its rituals from her mother. “My best moment of the day use to be the story telling session with my mother while preparing Chhaj(Butter Milk). This is the time when she use to narrate the stories from our vedas. And the victory of good over evils fascinated me”, remembers Subhash. As a child she saw her mother always helping the poor families. So social work was a sort of norm in the family. “I am really thankful to my parents for all the values they taught me when I was young” says Indu Subhash.
Kitchen is Gender Neutral and NOT Gender biased
“Right parenting is very important for a child’s overall growth. In today’s world when both the parents are working, it is very important to share the responsibilities of raising a kid”, suggests Dr Subhash. For example, if the mother is preparing the breakfast for the whole family, father can make the kids wear the uniform. If the mother is teaching the child in the evening, father can prepare the dinner. According to Dr Subhash, “The biggest problem is, most of the couple thinks Kitchen work is only for women. So it becomes very difficult for working mother to cope up with both Kitchen and office. And this leads to stress. And it ends up in fights between the parents and the child is the ultimate sufferer”.
“So husband can take a lead in this area. Whenever he is free he can prepare the food while the wife is with the kids. Remember, Kitchen is a gender neutral place”, suggests Dr. Subhash.
Care for Senior Citizen
Growing up Dr. Indu Subhash was very close to her grandparents. Their love and care gave her that emotional stability that a child needs. It was back then, when joint family was idiom of the society. So grandparents and grandchildren lived together. But in today’s scenario how do we build that rapport between these two generation? “Opt for the quality time. Even if the senior citizen does not live with you due to any reason, do mention about them in the conversation with your child regularly”,says Dr. Subhash. She understands that for many families it is next to impossible to be with with their elders 24/7. “So the quality time matters. It is important to know how you engage with your elder members in the family rather than calculating how much time you spend with them”, suggests Subhash.
No wonder! she is a part of many Golden Age Home (She prefers this term rather than old Age).
Fighting for Men's Rights
Dr. Indu Subhash is known for her fight against “gender-biased laws” in India. “All laws are gender-biased and spoiling the lives of men. There are a number of men who commit suicide as laws, which should ideally be building families, are becoming the reason for their breakdown,” said Subhash.
She strongly believes that if the laws are made “Gender Neutral” it will surely help in women empowerment. “If as a wife I am secured today, I am not secured as a Mother-In-Law or a Sister-In-Law. So these laws are not made for women empowerment but only for wife empowerment. Women are not only a wife, she is a mother and sometimes a sister too. Also, I am fighting for my brother and for him, I am ready to take bullets on me.”
“The laws in india today, divides we the women into two categories i.e, the wife and the mother in law. And our laws protects and empowers only the wife,” says Dr. Indu. And this is one of the reason, why she strongly demands for Men Commission on the line of Women Commission.
Dr. Indu Subhash has her own helpline number for all the causes she stands for including:
- Senior Citizen/Families who are being harassed in false cases and family disputes.
- Eye Donation and Organ donation
Pan India Toll Free Helpline Number: 18001800060
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Humari sabki pyari DIDI
She indeed is everyone’s loving DIDI
She is the iron lady of this era
Yes!!! We all can learn so much from her
Very energetic activist, I had met in a seminar at Lucknow .She is a great Personality
Absolutely right.