I am so delighted that our Mallika Sarabhai has jumped into the fray - finally!! It may be twenty years too late, but what the hell. She has done it! Good for her. Mallika has led her life on her own terms and occasionally paid a pretty stiff price for some of her unconventional decisions. But that has never stopped this feisty woman from putting herself on the line and taking on the likes of Narendra Modi - on his own turf! I have known Mallika forever. I appreciate what she stands for. I love 'amma' , her mother Mrinalini, who continues to be a babe, even now in her eighties! Mallika 's opponent will be the mighty L.K. Advani. A few months ago, I found myself sharing a taxi with Mallika in Paris at some ghastly hour. She was on her way to Boston, and I was headed home. Dressed in lime green khadi silk pajamas and a flowing jacket, Mallika cut a pretty striking figure at Charles de Gaulle airport, where the rest were predictably and uniformly clad in dismal winter greys and blacks. Mallika stood out - she always has.
I heard her on Arnab's show as she tried her best to spell out her agenda while a BJP spokesperson challenged her every utterance. She remained undaunted, if a little vague. She has boldly taken the plunge as an independent candidate ( I respect that). She says it is not about victory, but she definitely intends putting up a tough fight. She is all over the newspapers this morning talking about democratic principles, women, criminalisation of politics etc .etc. It is a brave decision. Mallika - go for it!
Wow! Two attractive, articulate and outspoken ladies, both gunning for Modi. The other one is Nandita Das whose film 'Firaaq' has opened to brilliant notices. Narendra Modi must feel flattered! Coincidentally, the last time I met Nandita was also in Paris. We bonded on a bateau, discussed life, her father Jatin (whose work I've lways admired), and her film. Nandita and Mallika have a lot in common. I wonder if they know just how much. These are the sort of women who can hold their own anywhere in the world. Maybe Nandita should also announce her willingness to take on a neta in the coming elections - why not Modi himself ??