Equality for Supremacy?!!

The Times of India Editorial on April 13th talked about “Gender bias leaves China with 32 million extra boy babies”. One-child policy with punishment for second child and deprivation of social benefits has not helped. A male baby market has developed in China and kidnapping of male children is on rise. This bias and its severe consequences are pertinent not only for China but for the whole world for two main reasons. One, because China accounts for almost 20% of the world population and two, because other countries (like India) do not seem to be taking the lesson. I promise you the rest of the stuff will not be as boring!

I was thinking what it would be like to live in a world where you have a woman for say every two men. Suddenly I realized that I already have lived in such a world – 4 years at IIT Bombay and 2 years at IIM Bangalore! In fact it was much worse than that, in IITB it was around 20:1 and in IIMB it was around 4:1. And I can confidently vouch for several of my male fellow students that it was definitely not a pleasant state of affairs. So here is the key ironical, ridiculuous and yet sensible argument which is prompting me to write such a long story – if for nothing else, equality of women should be granted to retain the supremacy! (And please, if there is so supremacy or perceived supremacy then there is no point in crying for equality and you can stop reading here).

One of my seniors at IIT Bombay after passing out told me, do not make a girl friend while at college. Please wait till you pass out and you will have the world at your feet. Now, I do not buy is argument completely but the rationale behind it is very relevant to this discussion. The kind of “bhaav” (attention/value) a girl gets at an IIT/IIM (hereby lovingly called IIX) is so highly over the board. This was acutely visible when it was 20:1 and less acutely visible when it was 4:1. But both the times, it was very much there. The power a half beautiful damsel can yield in favorable surroundings is remarkable. Her beauty sort of multiplies by a factor directly proportional to the male-female ratio! I would deliberately not cite examples to avoid getting blasted but surely you all have had you own share of experiences. But most certainly and without an iota of exaggeration, we need to shout for male equality in IIX’s!

To the best of my memory, any decent looking girl would already be committed or very seriously and sincerely be the arranged marriage kind of girl. And hence, there would be a vast male population deprived of any kind of romantic opportunities. It was not uncommon for a girl to have double digit suitors, talk about male supremacy! There always used to be large section of boys with minimal or zero interaction with any girl. Maybe it was out of the gender bias, inability or maybe it was just pure unwillingness. Whatever be the reason, the fact is that the time window was a small portion of their life. What if they faced such a scenario life long? Who would be paying the dowry in such a world and who will get burnt in the kitchen? (The editorial also mentioned that in some parts of India, men are paying a “bride price” for a wife.)

There was lovely movie “Matrubhoomi” on the same issue with a very strong social message. It portrays a population bias but retains the male supremacy of the present. I do not buy the latter part, but I strongly recommend you to watch it. Bottomline – be it physics, relationships or our world, equality is necessary for stability. The further you move, the stronger will be the force of nature moving you back to the equilibrium.