Men want their day, talk equality.

International Men’s Day, though yet to get official recognition from the United Nations, is slowly getting more votaries in its favour in India.

Sports icon and Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra feels it’s a good idea, “not just to have another Day but if it is to deal with specific problems of men. Why not?”

Everybody has issues; men too have issues that are specific to them and we must be “sensitive to those”, he added.

Celebrated on different days in different parts of the world, it was the then Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev who first called for an international day to celebrate men in 1999 at the UN in Vienna.

In India, NGOs like Save Indian Family Foundation that advocate the cause of men — on a range of issues like false dowry claims, domestic violence, sexual harassment and torture — want to build international consensus for November 19 to be International Men’s Day.

Fashion designer Rohit Bal is all for it. “Men always get a raw deal, particularly in times of segregation and divorce. Custody of children go to women. I think, in any country, both sexes need to be treated equally.” He added: “This is not a demographic problem but a human problem. We should definitely have an International Men’s Day.”

Fashion designer Jattinn Kochhar said: “The Indian government should establish an International Men’s Day though the day and date could be decided. I will give it full support.”

“On the one hand, we talk of women’s empowerment which is very good. But then a small percentage of men get slaughtered as the government, police and law are with women,” he added.

This year, the day coincides with International Philosophy Day. Head of the department of philosophy at Hindu College, Devasia M. Antony, said: “An interesting but (un)welcome coincidence, one may think so! A glance at philosophical writings show most philosophers were and are men. A case of clear gender bias indeed! One hopes the emergence of more women philosophers would radically alter the way philosophy is taught and practiced.”

UN Information Centre director Shalini Dewan said: “As far as the UN is concerned, men were not the discriminated gender.”

The theme for the worldwide observance of International Men’s Day 2009 is ‘Positive Male Role Models’. Men make sacrifices everyday in their place of work, in their role as husbands and fathers, for their families, for their friends, for their communities and for their nation. International Men’s Day is an opportunity for people everywhere of goodwill to appreciate and celebrate the men in their lives and the contribution they make to society for the greater good of all. Men bring humour into our lives and make us laugh. It may be our fathers, brothers, partners, sons, male friends, neighbours and colleagues. Let him celebrate his day, the Allen Solly Way!!

And a few members of the Save Indian Family Foundation & AIMWA at Bangalore have supported the efforts of Allen Solly in a positive way!

Pamphlets were distributed at various centres in the city including the gates of many colleges like Anna University. The rally of members converged before the Memorial Hall in Park Town and a dharna was conducted when slogans were were shouted to educate the public of the plight of men in India.

The vent was well covered by the media. The following is the extract from a news item that appeared in New Indian Express on 20-11-2009:

Repeal DV Act, say harassed husbands

CHENNAI: Harassed by women, a group of husbands and other men, members of the Association for protection of Men Tamilnadu (AFPM) demanded that the Domestic Violence Act be repealed by staging a protest on the day of World Men’s Day, here on Thursday.

The men claimed that out of total number of cases filed under the DV Act against men, 80 percent of men face false cases. “It is only because of the misguidance of many women SHGs that even small issues at home are exaggerated and are taken to the police station,” said Arulthumilan, association president.

The group’s main worry was that 44 laws protected women and lamented that no law has been constituted to protect men.

Mani Saravanan, an NRI from the US, who married a woman from Chengalpet in 1992 was leading a happy life, when in 2006, his wife suddenly left demanding that all properties be registered in her name. Mani’s wife later filed a case under the Domestic Violence Act, filed for divorce and demanded a compensation of Rs 50 lakhs. “I have two grown up daughters. I came to India with a dream of leading a happy life only because marriage was valued more much here than in the US. But, now it’s all shattered,” Mani who is a yoga teacher said.

Arul David from Tiruchy was one among such who lost his job abroad because is wife complained to the police. “My wife left me, when I was called for an interview abroad. We have never had any big fights except those small problems which every couple face. Still she refused to live with me despite counselling from the police. Now, I am jobless and my wife is demanding Rs 7 lakhs as compensation,” Arul David, who was in the city for the protest, said.

While most men booked under the DV Act have been acquitted, they had all faced some kind of harassment from women police.

Patrick M Francis, a bank employee, claims that he and his parents faced harassment from women police.

This event has also been covered by Deccan Chronicle:

Males moan their fate on Men’s Day

Nov. 19: “Protect us from women,” was the rallying cry of hundreds of men who joined hands on Thursday to mark World Men’s Day, and voiced their protest against ‘biased’ laws which favoured the fairer sex.

They demanded that the government set up a national men’s commission to protect them from anti-dowry law and ‘false’ complaints. From IIT graduates and IT professionals to lawyers and businessmen, men from all walks of life were present in the group that assembled in front of Memorial Hall near the Chennai Central railway station on Thursday morning. Most of them claimed to have been harassed by women, particularly by wives.

“All laws are concerned about women and nobody is bothered about the pains of men,” said Mr M. Francis, divorced software professional and a member of the All India Men’s Welfare Association. “Our main aim is to get a national commission for men,” said lawyer, Mr D. Arulthumilan, president of the Association for Protection of Men in Tamil Nadu.

The participants at the demonstration also opposed the idea of all women police stations. Dr Sahaya Grinspan, a mechanical engineer from IIT, Madras, said that women often misused laws to extort money from their husbands. Most of the participants sought gender neutral laws.

No album found.

The photos were shot by T.R.Partha, an active member of AIMWA and SIF.

November 19 is the International Men’s Day and Allen Solly is bringing it to prominence. This is the best chance to prove how much you love and care for him on his special day. For the first time, an apparel brand is taking an initiative to celebrate International Men’s Day in an exceptional way.

Through this promotion, Allen Solly targets women and urges them to gift their men things which are extremely important to them, which however are met with disapproval from their partners. Things like TV time, time to hang out with Friends, the freedom to have a few drinks and time to play sports / games!!

Allen Solly has introduced collectible kits which have permission cards for all these items which give a man freedom to pursue these activities for three hours after presenting these cards. This is treated in a humorous and funny manner and is in line with one of the Allen Solly values of freedom.

The theme for the worldwide observance of International Men’s Day 2009 is ‘Positive Male Role Models’. Men make sacrifices everyday in their place of work, in their role as husbands and fathers, for their families, for their friends, for their communities and for their nation. International Men’s Day is an opportunity for people everywhere of goodwill to appreciate and celebrate the men in their lives and the contribution they make to society for the greater good of all. Men bring humour into our lives and make us laugh. It may be our fathers, brothers, partners, sons, male friends, neighbours and colleagues. Let him celebrate his day, the Allen Solly Way!!

Available at all Allen Solly stores in NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Pune

International Men’s Day is an international event celebrated on 19 November every year. It was inaugurated in 1999 in Trinidad and Tobago and was supported by the United Nations. The objectives of celebrating an International Men’s Day include focusing on men’s and boy’s health, improving gender relations, promoting gender equality, and highlighting positive male role models. It is an occasion for men to highlight discrimination against them and to celebrate their achievements and contributions, in particular for their contributions to community, family, marriage, and child care.

Allen Solly

The aim is to create an awareness amongst the members of the society at large and the powers that be in particular of the need to take a hard look at the problems faced by the men of India. It is high time the law makers and law enforcers understand the necessity to wake up and make correction of all the anti-male draconian measures taken by them over the years in order to placate and appease certain vocal elements who have a vested interest in creating an anti-male slant in the body politic, lest the results of billowing disgruntlement may be catastrophic for the whole society!

The following are some of the placards to be displayed on that day.

PRESS RELEASE

International Men’s Day – 19 November 2009

Men and women across the world will be celebrating International Men’s Day on Thursday, 19 November 2009. International Men’s Day was celebrated for the first time in Trinidad and Tobago on 19 November 1999 and was supported by the United Nations. The event received wide support from men’s groups in USA, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. Speaking on behalf of UNESCO, Ms. Ingeborg Breines, Director of Women and Culture of Peace said, “This is an excellent idea and would give some gender balance”.

Objectives of International Men’s Day include a focus on men’s and boy’s health, improving gender relations, promoting gender equality, and highlighting positive male role models. It is an occasion for men to highlight discrimination against them and to celebrate their achievements and contributions, in particular for their contributions to community, family, marriage, and child care.

India celebrated International Men’s Day for the first time in the year 2007. This year, India celebrates International Men’s Day for the third time along with Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Australia, United States, Singapore, United Kingdom, Malta, South Africa, Georgia, New Zealand, Moldova, Germany, Holland and Brazil and other nations around the globe.

Men’s and fathers’ rights groups across the country are planning activities on International Men’s Day 2009 to recognize and honor the selfless sacrifices of men and to celebrate men’s invaluable contributions to families, communities, and society. On this occasion, bike and car rallies will be conducted in all major cities in the country like Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bangalore, Lucknow, Nagpur and Delhi, to reach out to the public and encourage them to celebrate this day.

At Chennai volunteers of Save Indian Family Movement and Men’s Rights Organization will jointly distribute flyers and organize an avareness dharna in front of Memorial Hall, Park Town at about 11-00 AM on 19th November 2009.

The problems faced by men in day to day life is of greater intensity than that of women. These include physical and emotional health issues, work related stress, financial difficulties, problems with family and relationships, and more serious problems like domestic violence, harassment at workplace and sexual abuse. In addition, they suffer legal harassment, financial abuse and forced separation from children through biased women-centric laws.

Men are conditioned to stifle their emotions and endure pain without complaining. Men hesitate to express themselves for the fear of being ridiculed or discredited. International Men’s Day is an occasion to remind ourselves that men are human, that they experience pain, emotions and tears, and that they deserve our love, care, protection and support every day.

Improving gender relations:

For the last several decades, governments across the world and society tacitly approved the propagation of anti-male sentiments, condoned the resultant diminution in value of men’s lives and supported blatant violation of men’s rights through discriminatory laws and policies, all in the name of women’s rights and empowerment.

This has resulted in a gender war, and led to a steep rise in divorce rates, number of fatherless children, violence against men and number of men ending their own lives. International Men’s Day is an occasion to remind everyone of the need to restore stability in the society by promoting harmony between men and women.

Promoting gender equality:

Women’s empowerment and gender equality are two oft-repeated phrases today. It is sad enough that there are many who take great pride in wearing these labels while remaining completely oblivious of their true import. What is worse is that radical women’s groups and vested interests have successfully subverted the real meaning and purpose of women’s empowerment and gender equality, and are promoting discrimination, injustice and serious human rights abuses in the name of gender equality.

Domestic and social harmony will prevail only when women AND men are ensured their rightful, honorable place within and outside the home. International Men’s Day is an occasion to commit ourselves to ensure true gender equality in the society and under law, so that gender relations are improved, litigations are reduced, legal terrorism and extortion through misuse of the law is eliminated, and our human and financial resources can be employed to ensure a better society for ourselves and future generations.

Highlighting positive male role models:

It is commonplace to idolize movie stars and athletes as role models everywhere in the world. While being overzealous about celebrating and honoring famous personalities, we tend to ignore that every day,

• Men render many services that make the society comfortable for everyone.
• Men make many contributions to science, technology and health of all.
• Men perform the most dangerous and difficult jobs in the world.
• Men take risks and die to save other lives during calamities and war.
• Men bring humor into our lives and make us laugh.

International Men’s Day is an occasion to highlight and promote positive role models in all walks of life. It is a day to remind ourselves to honor all men – academic achievers, social leaders, champions of the environment, artists, comedians, soldiers, farmers, fishermen, fire fighters, and those more humble males who, on a daily basis, clean our streets, build our houses, fix our vehicles, police our streets, deliver newspapers and milk, care for children, and dedicate themselves to others. It is a day to remember that we must celebrate all men in our lives – our fathers, brothers, partners, sons, male friends, neighbors and colleagues.

On this great and joyous occasion, we request all members of the print and electronic media to join us in spreading our message to the entire world.

Organizations observing International Men’s Day in India:

All India Forgotten Women, Andhra Pradesh Mothers-in-law Protection Association, Mothers and Sisters Initiative, Children’s Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting, All India Men’s Welfare Association, Gender Human Rights Society, Save Indian Family Foundation, Pati Parivar Kalyan Samiti, Save Family Foundation, Save Family Harmony Foundation, Bhavya Foundation, Rishtey, All India Mothers-in-law Protection Association and Hridaya Foundation.