BY ASHWINI V. LOTHE 

 

 

IT’S a hot summer day, and I, as an assistant Architect, was travelling to Bilaspur along with my boss. We had many sites going on here, and I am visiting this city after a big gap of 6 years. As our vehicle entered the city, we were invited by one of the clients to have a breakfast with him, and so we reached his lavish house, designed by us only! As we sat at the table, lady of the house came out, smiling graciously and carrying out dishes. Domestic helps hovered around, doing everything as being told by her. And she herself served us, all the while standing beside her husband. We were all talking with each other, but the lady was standing there, intently looking at our plates, ready to refill. She didn’t leave his side until he got up and washed his hand. I left stunned by this display of affection and care by a lady in front of all the guests. This lady belonged to a highly privileged family, and she could have simply order the maids to serve us all. Yet there she was, looking after us and especially her husband/s needs. She didn’t stand in the kitchen and send out the dishes through domestic helps, as is customary in many parts in our country. She wore her feelings on her sleeves and stood on her ground, not caring about the male guests sitting around the table. Breakfast over, we have our meeting there, and proceed towards the residence of a second client. He was a multi-millionaire, with many properties scattered around the city.

 

This was our first meeting with him where he escorts us in his huge drawing room. “I want to construct a bigger house,” our client said. “But it should be constructed according to the wishes of ladies in my house.” Saying this he called out to his wife, his daughter and his daughter-in-law, and all the ladies joined us in discussion of their future residence. As we leave his house, our host said, “Everything I have is because of my wife. If your design makes her happy, then I won’t demand anything more. She’s my lady luck.” As we smile back in assurance, I realised that I had just got another shock of my life. It was just because I wasn’t simply used to seeing the ladies of the house getting so much respect by the male members, along with equal rights to voice their needs. How strange it is that none of us get surprised to see a woman being abused by her husband, yet it’s a surprise when a woman gets reverence from her spouse. Later that evening, we checked in at a local hotel, where I got my third jolt. Most of the staff members, including the hotel manager and the attendant who accompanied us to our room, were women! Even more surprising was that whatever room service the guests ordered, the female staff only served it.

 

“Here, the Government has encouraged the private sector to include more tribal ladies in their companies,” my boss explains to me. “This way, they get a secured future.” I simply hadn’t expected such an advanced thought and implementation from a relatively new State of Chhattisgarh, yet here it was. Giving a new vision to the thought of women empowerment. What’s more, people had wholeheartedly accepted it, because the ladies seemed totally confident to serve male guests in their hotel rooms. Even in local restaurants, those ladies moved smartly, wearing shirts and trousers, taking orders from the customers. The next afternoon, as I left the hotel, I realised that I have learnt so many facets of a society that has recognised the importance of position of women in it. It’s a society where women can freely express their love and get love and respect in return. Where they can move confidently without fear and express their needs openly. “Thank you for visiting”, says the manager with folded hands and smiles on face. I smiled back at her and replied, “No. Thank YOU!”