Illustration for The Hindu
Illustration:Satheesh Vellinezhi
| Photo Credit: Satheesh Vellinezhi
Everyone’s talking about the best show on any OTT out there. It’s called ZTV (Zelensky Trump Vance). ZTV has captured the hearts and minds of people from all walks of life. From the rich to those even richer. Yet, few know the series (what you guys have seen so far is just the pilot) is directed by an Indian-origin American. You know the ones who were allowed to stay in America, last week. His name is Balkrishna Madurai — the III (the third). What a wonderful concept he has created! Sadly, it missed the Oscars deadline by just a few hours, which led to Trump deciding to cancel the Oscars for 2025; but that is another story.
In fact, let me begin this article again, with two important words — fooled you. Quiet, please, let me explain. ZTV is not the subject of the article; beg your pardon, but I just had this desire to mislead the public. I know, I know, that rarely happens in India. Anyway, while I have half a column space left, let me get to today’s subject. Oh, and the subject is (hold for relevant music) women.
Now I know that doesn’t sound right, (er… nothing wrong with women), so let’s give the full title International Women’s Day. Oh, I have just been informed it’s Women’s Day Week. Sorry, that too has been rectified its Women’s Day Week, All Month. Yet the fundamental question remains unanswered. ‘What is a Woman’? Sadly, that will continue to be left unanswered. However, we may, with the help of a few friends and AI (Artificial Intelligence) be able to trace the origin of this — Women’s Day Week, All Month — concept.
According to Shiv Kumar Santoshi, who may or may not be veteran filmmaker Raj Kumar Santoshi’s brother, Women’s Day was the brainchild of a man. This man organised the very first Women’s Day, as he was severely depressed after his wife ran away with another man. He engineered the concept to meet other women. This erroneous misrepresentation of the concept is still prevalent amongst many men, across cultures and nations, even today.
However, with the rise of the women’s liberation movement in the West, and some parts of China, activists fought for separate rooms, separate bathrooms, separate swimming pools, separate vehicles, separate roads, separate cities, even separate countries.
Unable to achieve some of these objectives, they settled for a single day for Women. That became the first Women’s Day. Initially, the two committees that had been set up fought over which specific day was to be allotted. The women committee demanded Friday, while the male committee said, ‘take Tuesday, as Friday is boys night. (As you know, boys night is when really old men go out as a group, and eventually land up staring at unknown women in dimly lit bars). This, people, is how this awesome movement started.
Now, if you will excuse me, I must go and wish my wife Happy Woman’s Day Week, All Month. Ladies, wish you the same.
The writer has dedicated his life to communism. Though only on weekends.
Published – March 07, 2025 04:07 pm IST
