Last week, a picture kept popping up on my FB feed, of a man and a woman standing close. I didn’t pay much attention, they looked like any other celebrity couple.
It was when I accidentally saw a derogatory term about the woman as the title of a post, that I read.
The woman in the pic was Dhanashree Verma, a Youtuber, choreographer, Jhalak Dikhla Ja participant and wife of cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal. The man was another choreographer, Pratik Utekar.
And the problem with the hundred odd trolls?
‘The two are standing close, and look happy.’
I read a few comments and they were merciless, pathetic. All sympathizing with the cricketer husband. For marrying a slut, to put it softly.
‘Divorce her. Maze le rahi hai. Sharm Karo. Married woman pe kalank hai. Such indecent behavior won’t be tolerated, Sharam Haya Bech Aayi?’
Who are these men to decide?
Gosh. Men of absolutely no relevance, judging a successful woman. As usual.
What irks me further, is that it’s not just some stupid pages. Some media houses had their headline news as
‘Cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal’s wife faces backlash over intimate picture.‘
My question: What is the measure of intimacy in a photo?
And, who are these people who decide how a married woman should pose?
What I don’t understand is, why don’t they address her as Dhanashree Verma? She’s a successful choreographer, a professional in her own right. But of course, she’s Mrs. Chahal first.
And, being married, she’s the custodian of Character and Maryaada. How can she let another man touch her, leave alone posing closely with him?
It’s the 21st century and it saddens me to realize, that we as a society and a country are marching backwards. We might claim that trolls are insignificant, let dogs bark, etc etc. But it’s this backward mindset among young men that’s appalling.
So, as a married woman, the next time I stand next to a male colleague or friend, should I be aware of the protocols of posing, for Sanskari Married Women? Will these trolls please enlighten me?
