MIAMI: This is with reference to Ayesha Siddiqa’s article “Manmohan Singh, Nawaz Sharif and the ‘dehati aurat’ (October 3). I fail to understand what is derogatory about being called a dehati aurat. The whole rural economy rides on the shoulders of the dehati aurat. She walks miles for potable water, toils hard on the fields, tends to the cattle, does household chores, and she does all this with a child or two on her back. She is fierce in her abilities, not self-serving or meek. She finds her way out of trouble with her resourcefulness, yet accepts meagre payback.
A false stereotype has been created about the dehati aurat and is consistently perpetuated. The dehati aurat does not need to change; our views about the dehati aurat need to change.
As far as Manmohan Singh is concerned, nobody can believe he is a dehati aurat. He lacks her gumption and panache. As an Indian, I wish we had a prime minister who was more like a dehati aurat.
Shloka Bose
