Women should rethink their Inheritance | Leila Seth | TEDxGatewayWomen

Summary

In this powerful speech, the first female chief justice of a state high court in India recounts her journey from a financially struggling childhood to her legal career, overcoming gender biases. She highlights the persistence in her pursuit of law and the societal challenges, particularly the dowry system's impact on women's lives and the importance of inheritance rights. She emphasizes the need for awareness, assertion, attitude change, and action to eradicate the dowry curse and promote gender equality, urging for daughters' rightful inheritance instead.

Takeaways

• 📅 The speaker recalls the hardships of September 1942, including the death of her father and the struggles her mother faced to educate her children without professional training.
• 🎓 The speaker pursued higher education in law during her time in England and faced initial resistance from a male-dominated legal profession.
• 🚫 The speaker highlights the persistence required to overcome societal and professional barriers, including the dismissive attitudes of a senior lawyer towards women in law.
• 👩‍⚖️ Despite the challenges, the speaker became a successful lawyer and was appointed as the first woman chief justice of a state high court in India in 1991.
• 💍 The speaker emphasizes the importance of a simple and dowry-free marriage, which she experienced and has maintained for 64 years.
• 🤔 The script raises the question of whether laws can change attitudes, especially in a patriarchal society like India, where mindsets are deeply ingrained.
• 🚫 The Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961 was ineffective in stopping the practice of dowry, as it continued covertly with demands escalating before and even after weddings.
• 📜 The Hindu Succession Act of 1956 granted daughters equal inheritance rights, but societal norms and reluctance to assert these rights persisted.
• 🔗 The speaker recounts an incident where even aware women chose not to claim their inheritance to avoid conflict with their brothers, illustrating the deep-seated cultural practices.
• 🌟 The speaker advocates for awareness, assertion, attitude change, and action as the four key steps to combat the dowry system and promote gender equality.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The script concludes with a plea from a daughter to her parents to treat her equally, nurture her, and allow her the freedom to control her own destiny.

Q & A

What significant event occurred in September 1942 for the speaker?

The speaker's father passed away just a few weeks before her twelfth birthday.

How did the speaker's mother manage to educate her and her siblings after their father's death?

The speaker's mother, without professional training, relied on friends and scholarships to afford their school fees, treating all her children equally.

What opportunity did the speaker take advantage of when she moved to England with her husband in 1954?

The speaker studied law for three years while living in England.

Why was it challenging for the speaker to join Sachin Chaudhary's chambers when she returned to India?

Sachin Chaudhary was initially against women joining the legal profession and tried to dissuade her by suggesting she focus on her family instead.

What milestone did the speaker achieve in 1991?

In 1991, the speaker became the first woman to be the chief justice of a state high court in India.

How did the speaker's marriage differ from societal expectations regarding dowry?

The speaker's marriage was a semi-arranged one where her fiancé and his family did not demand a dowry, and they had a simple celebration.

What historical practice has contributed to the negative perception of having daughters in India?

The historical practice of dowry, where parents had to provide gifts to the groom and his family, led to the perception of daughters as a burden.

What was the purpose of the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961?

The Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961 was enacted to prevent the practice of dowry, which was causing financial hardship and even violence against brides.

How did the speaker's experience as a judge at the Delhi High Court highlight the ongoing issue of unequal inheritance?

The speaker recounts an incident where three brothers wanted to divide their deceased father's property among themselves, excluding their sisters, despite the law stating equal inheritance rights.

What four-word mantra does the speaker propose to combat the dowry system and promote gender equality?

The speaker proposes the mantra 'Inheritance, not dowry' to emphasize the importance of equal inheritance rights for daughters.

What is the speaker's final appeal to parents regarding the treatment of their daughters?

The speaker appeals to parents to treat their daughters equally, nurture them, and allow them the freedom to choose and care for themselves without being confined by gender stereotypes.