The Iron Lady
Margaret Thatcher passed away today quietly in her sleep. Over the last decade I have heard several British friends and work colleagues express a dislike for her and her policies. However my impression of Britain's first woman prime minister was of a formidable lady and an astute stateswoman.
My first memory of Thatcher is from the 1980s when I was growing up in India. I recall her being mentioned as a fine politician respected by world leaders. Around that time Indira Gandhi was India's first woman prime minister. Thinking back now, here were two women from very different backgrounds ruling two large democracies. Both courted controversy and both took tough decisions undeterred by the fear of becoming unpopular to large parts of society.
Their policies were completely different. India, at the time, was a relatively young country and the founding fathers of independent India had seen a form of secular socialism to be the best way of governing the diverse nation. This was a very different style of social and economic development to the capitalist-model that Thatcher was promoting in the UK.
By all accounts the two women connected at some level, having made their way up the political ladder in male-dominated environments. Sometimes it doesn't matter which half of the globe you are in, east or west, the patriarchal roots of ancient society still rear their heads up. Maggie's beliefs and actions caused her to be booted unceremoniously out of Number 10 after 11 years at the top. Indira's caused her to lose her life while still in power. Both of them have changed the course of history in their respective countries and perhaps the world.
Perhaps the fear of losing their hard-earned power made them surround themselves with people who were less that trustworthy. Was it the hubris that stopped them from seeing what lay ahead, or was it the knowledge that a path once chosen must be followed till the end?
More about these women in this Indian newspaper.
Photo source: The Hindu Archives, April 15, 198
Post-script (9th April, 2013)
I just read this paragraph on the BBC website today:
"It is astonishing to think that when Margaret Thatcher first joined the cabinet in 1970, the Wimpy hamburger chain still banned women from coming in late on their own on the bizarre grounds that only prostitutes would be out at that time of night."
________________
My first memory of Thatcher is from the 1980s when I was growing up in India. I recall her being mentioned as a fine politician respected by world leaders. Around that time Indira Gandhi was India's first woman prime minister. Thinking back now, here were two women from very different backgrounds ruling two large democracies. Both courted controversy and both took tough decisions undeterred by the fear of becoming unpopular to large parts of society.
Their policies were completely different. India, at the time, was a relatively young country and the founding fathers of independent India had seen a form of secular socialism to be the best way of governing the diverse nation. This was a very different style of social and economic development to the capitalist-model that Thatcher was promoting in the UK.
By all accounts the two women connected at some level, having made their way up the political ladder in male-dominated environments. Sometimes it doesn't matter which half of the globe you are in, east or west, the patriarchal roots of ancient society still rear their heads up. Maggie's beliefs and actions caused her to be booted unceremoniously out of Number 10 after 11 years at the top. Indira's caused her to lose her life while still in power. Both of them have changed the course of history in their respective countries and perhaps the world.
Perhaps the fear of losing their hard-earned power made them surround themselves with people who were less that trustworthy. Was it the hubris that stopped them from seeing what lay ahead, or was it the knowledge that a path once chosen must be followed till the end?
More about these women in this Indian newspaper.
Photo source: The Hindu Archives, April 15, 198
Post-script (9th April, 2013)
I just read this paragraph on the BBC website today:
"It is astonishing to think that when Margaret Thatcher first joined the cabinet in 1970, the Wimpy hamburger chain still banned women from coming in late on their own on the bizarre grounds that only prostitutes would be out at that time of night."
________________
Comments
Post a Comment