#241

As they say, one should be gracious in victory and generous in defeat.  So, let me be generous enough in admitting that this sledgehammer of a verdict in favor of Narendra Modi is a massive endorsement of the kind of politics the BJP represents, with which I will never agree.  But then, I can only speak for myself.  However, I am also realistic enough to see that a substantial number of people in this country at the moment have internalized the ideas of muscular nationalism, Muslims being put in their place, Hindutva, anti-intellectualism etc etc.  Even if you know that in the long run, these are recipe for disaster; but don't they say that in the long run we all are dead?  Anyway, I should not be churlish, but should rather offer my congratulations to all the friends and families who have always blindly rooted for Modi no matter what.  Today, people like us will have to find other distractions.  Tomorrow is another day.  There will be other elections.

Not many people realize, but the 9th of May has to be a red-letter day in the annals of women's emancipation. For it was on this day in 1960 that FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in the U.S. finally gave its stamp of approval to the use of birth control pill across the country. This singular act, to my mind, contributed most to the feminist movement and women's empowerment in general than any amount of sloganeering, marching and bra burning could ever have done. Suddenly, women not only in the United States but all around the world had a sense of autonomy over their own bodies. They were in the position to decide when to have children and how many. Because now, they could have sex without fear of getting pregnant, it also paved the way for the sexual revolution of the 70s. The world is a better place because of that.