Cool Chilli's Views on News of MP Mahua Moitra These Days
A cash for query scam has the Member of Parliament (MP) from the Trinamool Congress of West Bengal Ms. Mahua Moitra in its vice grip. The MP is no stranger to controversy, but she seems to be caught in a unique storm in recent days, a storm that may not easily blow away.
It may all boil down to Moh.
'Moh' Makes The World Go Around. 'Moh Se Yis Duniya...'
It may all boil down to Moh. Moh refers to attachment/ desire/ illusion (as in Maya). Moh-maya is the fuel merrily making the world go around. Our Moh (desire) for a better life, more affluence, more influence, more power, more sexual allure/ prowess or simply Moh (attachment) for our own body and mind. The latter manifests often as ego and/or vanity.
Even The Most Gifted Human No Exception
Vanity/ Arrgance even misled the most gifted and versatile human known to humankind. He stooped to subterfuge to kidnap a defenseless woman in her husband's absence in the belief that he could convince her to marry him. Whether Hiranandani was actually paying Mahua Moitra to raise questions in Parliament (about Adani or other topics) time and investigations may reveal. But Moh is the cause, sooner or later, of our disappointments, if not distress. But Moh is also that illusion that fuels our investments.
Do some of us consider it a waste of legislative privileges if one doesn't push the envelope, leveraging them?
Bankers Ought To Know A Thing Or Two About Investments
As a former investment banker (as an employee of JP Morgan), one supposes Mahua Moitra knows a thing or two about making the right investments. Cultivating the media and the general public with comments, fair or foul, may ensure high visibility. Of course, there are also chances that some remarks may be deemed irresponsible. Do some of us consider it a waste of legislative privileges if one doesn't push the envelope, leveraging them?
MPs & Other Legislative 'Netas' Come In Various Denominations
The percentage of women representatives in Indian legislatures is far removed from the demographics on the ground, though the current Lok Sabha seems to have the highest representation with 78 members. While the benefits of the Women's Reservation Bill will take a while to fructify, it is good if lady representatives raise their profile and prove themselves sterling examples for millions of young girls in Bharat and globally.
On these 78 members or rather on those attending Parliament with diligence, lies the responsibility to ensure that at a fair share of the decibels in Lok Sabha by volume, are feminine, irrespective of whether the Bill is activated or not.
Mahua Moitra Is Surely Trying...
There is surely one thing about Mahua Moitra, that even the lay person may not complain of. That Mahua does not try. Women CEOs in financial institutions in India or Lady Pilots in airlines in India may not even realize this. That they are helping India remain amongst the top in global lists in these domains with respect to gender diversity. Not every domain is so enriched with adequate female representation. On these 78 members or rather on those attending Parliament with diligence, lies the responsibility to ensure that at a fair share of the decibels in Lok Sabha by volume, are feminine, irrespective of whether the Bill is activated or not..
‘Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned' - William Congreve
Increasing Empowerment May Also Facilitate Role Reversals
William Congreve said in a play ‘Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned'. (This line or an adaptation of it, is often mistaken to be Shakespeare's.) With women's education, empowerment and very obvious participation in the organized economy gaining momentum, we are already seeing associated changes and role reversals.
Men As 'House Husbands'
Women whose careers have really taken off whether in employment or other professional pursuits may become the primary revenue generators for the family. Their spouses/ partners may be more responsible for household responsibilities. This may not necessarily be a sad reflection on the man as 'the Lad Of The House'. He may be pursuing a new career or other interests which may not tie him down in a regimented way as regular employment might. Win-Win.
Mahua Moitra's Case Not A Complete Role Reversal
Mahua Moitra's case is not a role reversal in the 'career' sense. Jai Anant Dehadrai is a fairly busy advocate advocate. But if you revisit the above mentioned quote of William Congreve, you may catch the drift and dovetail the 'defamatory depositions' of Dehadrai. Jai Anant Dehadrai's 'kiss and tell' is very telling. It strikes at the very heart of the responsibility and duty that elected representatives and officials owe the nation.
Spurious Claims Of A Spurned 'Spouse'?
It may be tempting to discard Dehadrai's allegations as the spurious claims of a spurned 'spouse'. But then, there is also the curious case of a lawyer representing Mahua Moitra withdrawing from the case. Mahua's advocate withdrew after Dehadrai's claim about the child the Jai-Mahua couple had together reared. Those of us conditioned to stories of women spilling the beans on their former lovers and claiming a lovechild may be amused to realize that times are a changing!
The Lovechild Here Is A 3-year old Pet Rottweiler
It seems Dehadrai had received a blackmail note that the pet he had assumed was stolen would be returned to him, but only if he withdrew the charges he had made against his former live-in partner. Since the Rottweiler is a very dangerous breed, it is not very difficult to deduce the person confidently keeping the pet in his/ her custody as hostage. 'Pet children' left high and dry in the middle of couples' decoupling discussions is another facet of our changing society.
Moh For Mahua?
Cool Chilli is not sure when Jai Anant Dehadrai came to know of Mahua Moitra's alleged actions which if true are not in line with governance principles. He surely has the challenge of proving that he had been unaware till Mahua decided to part ways with him. But if he had been aware of the transgressions much earlier, it just goes to show that we are all victims of 'Moh' in some form or the other. In Jai Anant's case, Moh for Mahua.
Last But Not The Least, Maybe Some Laws Needed...
In ending, maybe a new law is needed to make it mandatory for even spouses (married or otherwise) of elected representatives. Even the spouses may need to take an oath recommitting themselves to the nation first and then to the spouse. This law will force spouses to proactively approach the authorities (with all attendant protection incl identity non-disclosure). This is in case the spouse has reason to believe that the elected representative is up to some mischief, which is not conducive for the welfare of the nation and or its people.
