That there exists a deep gender divide will be agreed upon by everybody. But majority explain it away thus : “that is natural (i.e. biological and immutable), that it was always so and will be always so.” Many even argue that there is no reason to complain. The woman is as well off as the man. Now, we know that this is not true. A woman occupies an inferior position. She is exploited, burdened with work, subjected to sex harassment and assaults, denied of opportunities to participate, kept invisible. To say that there are no reasons for them to complain show high level of insensitivity. Further this has not been always so. There is ample evidence to show that this gender divide came into existence at some point in history. Of course not at the same time in all societies. There exists, even now, societies where this has not yet set in. There is, also, a sort of a general agreement that the ‘woman’s fall’, the oppressive gender divide began with the evolution of “family and private property.”

A DAY BEGINS

I woke up suddenly. Yesterday I had gone to sleep quite late. There was no electricity and so could not put on the fan to drive the mosquitoes away. I was afraid that it was already late in the morning. Unless I go there before 6 O’ Clock I may not get any milk. Thank god, there is electricity now. The fans are running. I switched on the light and looked into the watch. Twenty minutes past five. Went out and got two packets of milk. Switched on the small electric heater. Gas cylinder has been empty since three days. It may take a few more days before I get a new cylinder. There is kerosene stove. My wife uses it. For a cup of coffee this small heater is sufficient.