In 1982, the film “Nikah” was released in India. It was a story of a muslim woman whose marriage is dissolved when her husband says “Talaq, Talaq, Talaq.” Talaq literally means divorce. This film focused on the way in which divorce takes place in a Muslim marriage.

According to the latest census of 2011, the sex ratio in India is 917 women to 1000 men. This means theoretically, that 917 will have a female partner, but that 83 men will be left out. Alarming isn’t it? Still, it is a shame that many Indian households celebrate when a boy is born into the family, but are unhappy when a baby girl makes an entrance. Debarati Mukherjee speaks out from India.

“I shudder each time when I hear of the Taliban’s heinous activities. Malala Yousufzai’s story reminds me of the thousand crimes this extremist and ferocious group has perpetrated. None of these have any justification.” Marina Zaffari on the Taliban and the women of Afghanistan.

Medha Patkar (centre) is the leader of the popular anti-dam movement, the Narmada Bachao Andolan in India

The recently proposed bill by the Government of India to pay wages to housewives as recognition of their household labour has created a furore in the country. Debarati Mukherjee had a chance to speak with prominent social activist Medha Patkar about her views on the proposed bill. Here is an excerpt of the discussion.

“Living in the country I live in, especially when you want to be ‘yourself’ as a woman, especially when you choose for yourself, when you become the God of your own life and when you try controlling your own body, can be difficult”. Women Talk Online reader from Pakistan, Rukhsana Shama pleads her case.

“… A tall, dark, handsome guy earning a six-digit salary. Should have the qualities of ‘Lord Rama’ because my parents have trained me to be like the goddess Sita.”

Apparently, an ideal wife looks best when paired with an ideal husband! But Tanushree Sharma Sandhu believes the ideal daughter should be assured of an equally good husband, on her own terms.