As the lone woman judge of the Supreme Court lists her unmarried daughters as 'liabilities', TOI speaks to some celeb moms to learn whether they approve...
When she was registering the details of her assets and liabilities, Justice Gyan Sudha Mishra won't have imagined in her wildest dreams that she'll have face so much of flak.
The first woman Chief Justice of Jharkhand and now the only lady judge in the holy precincts of the Apex Court, Justice Mishra has opened a can of worms and created a furore by listing the pending marriage of her two daughters under the column titled 'liabilities' on the court's website. As women's rights activists create a hue and cry against these 'regressive listings', NT speaks to some of the enlightened celebrity moms to learn whether they also look at their daughters in the same light...
'Madam Judge, please reply!'
Sonakshi Sinha's mother Punam Sinha gets to the point straightaway and says: "I and my husband Shatrughan firmly believe that Soankshi is our biggest asset! She's our first priority in life, and the best thing to have happened to us!" Ask her if she would categorise the money to be spent on her daughter's marriage as a 'liability,' as stated by Justice Mishra, and Punam immediately counters: "No ways, it would be my privilege to celebrate her wedding ! And I'd really want to ask Justice Mishra, if she was also treated as a liability by her parents when she was about to get married?"
'Better than sons!'
Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal's mother Usha Rani is speaking seedhe dil se when she says: "I've brought up Saina and her elder sister Chandranshu with the conviction that they are better than sons! Today, when Saina is the world number two player in badminton and earning so well for herself, can anyone even imagine calling her a liability? Woh mera hee nahin, saare desh ka abhiman hai! And the gifts we give to our children, give us immense pleasure! Those are our blessings, so how can we think of them as a financial burden?"
'My pride!'
Amrita Rao's mother Kanchan is "appalled" at the mere mention of the word 'liability', when used in the same breath as a daughter. "We are Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmins, and in our community, a girl child is rated much higher than the male child. The wedding expenses are shared by both the sides and there's no question of any demands made by the groom's family! So, for me, my two daughters are my biggest pride! Even my mother-in-law is so proud of her granddaughters! And those, who list the expenses occurred on them as a liability, deserve my wrath," says she.
'Budhape ki lathi!'
Television's original Balika Vadhu, Anandi, aka Avika Gor's mother, Chetna, has a point when she says: "Avika's our only child and she's made us proud be carving a niche for herself so early in life. I know just like the Anandi of telesoap Balika Vadhu, she will take care of me and my husband! Woh hamare budhape ki lathi hai. A son generally moves on emotionally after his marriage, but a daughter is always attached to her parents & I pity those who treat their daughters as liabilities!"
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