Here is a news paper report i said a few years ago. Mrinal Sen made a film EK DIN PRATHI DIN. Here, a young working woman, who normally comes home by 6 pm fails to turn up on time. What happens in that house between 6 pm and earning moring when she turns up is the story of the woman. The role of the mother was played by Mrinal Sen's wife.
We will never come to know where she went or why she was so late. All we know is some one drops her home in a car when she comes back. We will never know because, Mrinal Sen said, IT WAS HER LIFE. WHERE SHE WENT IS NOT IMPORTANT FOR ME! My focus is on what happens at home.
In Paris, in a Press Conference, the wife of Mrinal Sen was asked by a reporter; MADAM, YOU HUSBAND HAS PRODUCED A FILM WHERE HE MAKES A STATEMENT ON THE RIGHTS OF A WOMAN. AND YOU HAVE ACTED IN THAT FILM. What was your experience?
She replied, " Well, we used to leave home in the morning together around 9 am. would return by 6 pm. When we come back, Mrinal would say, I am very tired. I need a cup of tea." And i would proceed to kitchen to make tea.
A working woman has to manage three careers - her home, her employment and her children. A non working woman has to manage two careers - her home and herself.
It is difficult to say which one is better than the other. But considering safety to woman, a working woman has better security than a non working woman. But this too cannot be generalised. We in India are in a transition period, so to say, when the number of women working and being economically dependent is on the raise but patriarchal society has not given up!