Tag: Gender Justice

Melinda – The Pivotal Philanthropist

Melinda – The Pivotal Philanthropist

By Kunal Bose

When two individuals – a woman and a man – take the vow, they understandably do so in the hope of sharing common interests apart from remaining faithful to each other till death do them part. The global experience is that contrary to their original pledge to remain partners in all pursuits, as time passes by more and more couples in developed and developing countries are drifting apart leading to divorce. Mercifully, far more people get married every year than divorced. Who is not aware of the saying, which continues to gain in currency that half of all marriages in the US end in annulment. A bit of exaggeration there since only 43 per cent of first marriages will fail leading to dissolution. But when it comes to second and third marriages, dissolution rates are horrifyingly large at 60 per cent and 73 per cent, respectively.

Why only third! For someone like media Moghul Rupert Murdoch (93) age is not a bar for new romance or a new marriage. Not many were surprised when earlier this year in June, Murdoch married for the fifth time, tying the knot with Elena Zhukova (67), a Russian born retired molecular biologist. Murdoch, who finally ceded control of News Corp and Fox News at 92 in favour of his son Lachlan, was engaged immediately before his fifth marriage to conservative radio host Ann Lesley Smith but that was not solemnised. In life as in work, Murdoch is in a class of his own.

In the Forbes ‘Billionaires 2024’ list, Rupert along with his family has a net worth of $19.5 billion making him the hundredth richest in the world. The power and authority that comes with the ownership of the world’s most influential media group – The Times, The Sunday Times and The Sun, all in the UK and Wall Street Journal and Fox News – has allowed Rupert to indulge in all the quirks. For the kind of Rupert Murdoch with enormous money and social power, indulgence in peccadilloes leading to marriage break-ups is not uncommon. But their behavioural pattern has no relevance for others.

Here we are to discuss giving the example of the celebrity couple Bill and Melinda Gates, who after 27 years of marriage called it a day in May 2021, how parting of ways after a long union could prepare ideal condition for the estranged partners to make their own weather. What must be said at the outset is that Melinda Gates who has nicely transitioned into Melinda French Gates following the divorce has all through been a substantial person – a bachelor degree in computer science from Duke University topped up by an MBA – being initiated early in public service when at a Catholic school in Dallas. The spirit of service that the Catholic nuns instilled in Melinda became stronger as she went through different phases of life being a professional, wife, mother of three children, co-chairing Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and finally her own investment and charitable firm Pivotal Ventures.

Both Bill and Melinda have all through believed dating back to their pre-marriage days that they have too much wealth, which must be given away among carefully chosen targeted groups in poor countries. She like Bill being a voracious reader, Melinda must have been aware of the enormous work that Professors Amartya Sen and Jean Dreze have done backed by extensive field studies that investment in women by way of education, health and pregnancy planning is an effective way to raise whole communities out of poverty. This we have seen happening in Kerala and also in Bangladesh, thanks to relentless efforts by Grameen Bank founder Muhammad Yunus (disenfranchised since by prime minister Sheikh Hasina to settle political score) to encourage women to borrow for productive purposes.

A long article on Melinda that Time has published in its July 15 issue gives credit to her for BMGF’s growing engagement with gender equity and women’s health. These besides, the foundation’s other major involvement includes climate, education, water and agriculture. While she was cochair at the foundation, Melinda made it an inviolable practice that anyone making a presentation for any new programme to be approved must convince that it would “provide dignity, equity, and access to tools and funding for all the people they were working with.”

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Sensible people will never say much about reasons for marriage dissolutions. But in this particular case, Bill’s affair with a Microsoft employee, which became a subject of internal investigation and his meetings with serial sex trafficker and paedophile Jeffrey Epstein must have left Melinda devastated. She told Belinda Luscombe of Time: “Getting a divorce is a horrible thing. It’s just painful. It’s awful when you realize you need one.” She thereafter wanted “horrible thing” to be toned down to “hard thing.”

What is remarkable is the way Melinda addressed the three crucial issues of “me, the kids and the foundation” and ensure that these “pieces remain intact” while negotiating the heart-wrenching subject of becoming single. Her divorce and then after three years her leaving the foundation are not to end her involvement in philanthropy activities with unwavering focus on women empowerment in all areas from politics to business to media and technology. For most people it would be a big challenge to transition from being cochair of the foundation with an endowment of $75.2 billion and which has given away around $76 billion in the past 24 years to running her own Pivotal Ventures bringing to play the comparatively modest sum of $23.8 billion, including her own $11.3 billion and the $12.5 billion that she received from the foundation for philanthropic work, as divorce settlement.

Melinda claims to be not bothered by what looks like inevitable downsizing of work for her in the wake of funds to play with shrinking. Unwaveringly she tells Time: “I don’t see it honestly as a downsizing. I was just ready to be able to have full decision-making control about where all the funds go.” The causes that she wants to support becomes clear the way she is distributing the first billion since dropping the Gates surname.

Two subjects that more recently got her goat are women’s constitutional right to abortion, which the US Supreme Court overturned by reversing its five-decade old decision (Roe versus Wade) and need for federal policy on family medical leave. She is very vocal about using her resources “in a huge way” to promote the two causes. Interestingly she admits she is influenced in upholding the causes by her daughters. On abortion right abrogation, Melinda has this to say: “To see that my granddaughters will have fewer rights than I do? That doesn’t make any sense.” Abortion and health are conjoined in many cases.

Finally, will there be an occasion at any time in future of Bill and Melinda collaborating in philanthropic work? The answer to this is anybody’s guess. But Gates has this to say in a written statement to Time: “I’m grateful to Melinda for all her contributions to the Gates Foundation, where she was instrumental in shaping our strategies and initiatives. I’m certain she will have a huge impact through her future philanthropic work. I’m impressed with many of the grants she’s already announced for women’s health and economic empowerment, and hope we have the opportunity to collaborate again in the future.”

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‘Women Reservation Bill Must Not Be Reduced To Mere Tokenism’

By LokMarg

Soma Mazumdar, a seasoned school teacher in Greater Noida West, says we must demand concrete actions on gender justice from our leaders. Her views:

I have always been passionate about educating young minds on the values of equality, justice, and democracy. Over the years, one issue that has consistently grabbed my attention is the Women Reservation Bill. This proposed legislation has been a subject of extensive debate and discussion in our country, and I often find myself pondering whether it’s a sincere effort for gender justice or merely a political gimmick.

The Women Reservation Bill, first introduced in the Indian Parliament in 1996, aims to reserve one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) and State Legislative Assemblies for women. The rationale behind this bill is to address the glaring gender disparity in the Indian political landscape, where women continue to be underrepresented. On the surface, this appears to be a noble initiative towards gender justice. After all, shouldn’t our democracy reflect the diversity and aspirations of our entire population?

However, as a teacher and a citizen who closely follows the political developments of our nation, I cannot help but question the sincerity of this effort. While the bill has been repeatedly tabled in Parliament, it has faced consistent roadblocks and remains un-implemented to this day. This raises a critical question: Is the bill a genuine attempt to empower women politically, or is it merely a tool for political parties to score points with female voters?

One cannot deny the inherent challenges in passing the Women Reservation Bill. Indian politics is marked by deep-rooted patriarchy and resistance to change, making it difficult to secure consensus on such transformative legislation. Yet, this should not be an excuse for the continued delay in its implementation. The lack of progress suggests that some politicians may view this issue as a convenient tool to make promises during elections rather than a genuine commitment to gender justice.

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Moreover, it is disheartening to witness the tokenism that often accompanies discussions about the bill. Women’s representation in politics should not be reduced to a mere numbers game. It should be about empowering women to participate in decision-making processes, contribute their perspectives, and influence policies that affect our nation. Reservation alone cannot ensure this; it requires a broader cultural shift in our society’s attitudes towards women in leadership roles.

Another aspect that raises doubts about the sincerity of the Women Reservation Bill is the absence of comprehensive support systems for women in politics. To truly empower women in politics, we need initiatives that address the challenges they face, such as gender-based violence, lack of resources, and societal expectations. Passing the bill without creating a conducive environment for women to thrive in politics would be akin to putting the cart before the horse.

Additionally, the Women Reservation Bill’s periodic reintroduction and subsequent shelving have created a sense of disillusionment among the citizens, especially women who have been waiting for meaningful change. It’s important to recognize that political gimmickry can erode trust in the democratic process itself.

As an academic, I believe that education plays a pivotal role in shaping the values and perspectives of our future leaders. It is our responsibility to teach our students about the importance of gender equality and the need for sincere efforts to achieve it. We must encourage them to critically assess the actions of their elected representatives and demand accountability.

In a nutshell, while the Women Reservation Bill may have started with noble intentions, its repeated failure to pass and the lack of complementary measures raise doubts about its sincerity. As a society, we must hold our leaders accountable and demand concrete actions that promote gender justice, not just empty promises. Only then can we truly bridge the gender gap in our political landscape and create a more inclusive and equitable democracy.

As told to Deepti Sharma

‘Reservation Bill is First Step Towards Gender Justice & Equality’

By LokMarg

Shweta Agarwal, a Chartered Accountant based in Lucknow, says the women’s reservation law will lead to an environment of gender equality for coming generations. Her views:

In Hindu scriptures and belief-system, a woman symbolizes Shakti or cosmic energy. According to Indic theological discourse, judicious use of this Shakti manifests an all-round welfare of mankind. A society cannot be successful unless women have a strong voice and effective participation. It is in this light that I consider the Naari Shakti Vandan Vidheyak (Womens’ Reservation Bill) as a historic step.

However, the fact that it took several decades for our political leadership to implement such a legal provision reflects poorly on our electoral college. I congratulate the Narendra Modi government that it showed the courage and will to take the women’s reservation law to its logical end.

I am confident that besides increasing the representation of women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, it will also help in bringing the issues related to women on public platforms. As half of the country’s population consists of women, the reservation of 33 per cent will not only find a substantial representation in the assembly, but the voice of women will become more effective at the highest institutions of democracy. This recognizable share in political representation will also help in increasing their representation in other sectors of importance.

Though the votes of women play a decisive role in forming governments, they are often left behind when it comes to being elected to the legislature bodies. With the passage of this bill, it will be easier for women to take their concerns to Parliament and state assemblies, enabling us to actively participate in the country’s progress.

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Enhanced women representation in Parliament will prove to be a transformative move in upholding the right to participation for women and gender equality in India. This is an important step towards implementation of the sustainable development goals as well as India’s obligations on various international platforms like the United Nations. For, if you empower a woman, you empower a family.

I was dismayed at the reaction of some of the political parties, especially the Congress, on the passage of this bill. On one hand they tried to steal the credit by calling it ‘apna bill’ and on the other they were cherry-picking provisions in it to criticize the ruling government. Now, it is raising questions about its implementation (the process will start after delimitation and population census). Little do they realise that it is this never-ending habit of opposing everything put up by the central government that exposes their real intent to the electorate.

There could be some drawbacks in the bill, which will crop up at the time of its implementation. But all such downsides can be fixed by bringing suitable amendments to the law with time. Let’s at least start the process and put our best foot forward for half the population of the country. This is only the first step towards a journey which leads to an environment that has gender equality. This is not merely legislation, it is a tribute to the countless women who have enriched our nation with their sacrifices, resilience and contribution.

As told to Rajat Rai