Since ages, men have been considered the heads and breadwinners of the family. Considering the traditional mindset of many Indian families, men being supportive of female family members has often been looked upon with doubt. So when Kamala Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, said he was proud of his wife for becoming the next Vice President of the United States and shared an adorable picture of the two, some women were sceptical and asked – are Indian men as secure and supportive of their wife’s accomplishments as Emhoff?
Please show me the Indian Man who'd be secure enough to be this man. ❤️ https://t.co/46YsknZY6g
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) November 11, 2020
What came next were heaps of tweets sharing examples of supportive Indian husbands who stood by their wives like a pillar. While many shared examples of husbands of politicians and sportspersons, others cited examples from their own lives. Have a look:
Two pics to show you the sense security Indian Men have for their spouse’s achievements. https://t.co/2tw7uAeUPh pic.twitter.com/PkMvzHW300
— ℙ𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕒 𝕡𝕒𝕣𝕕𝕦𝕤 (@healed_warrior) November 11, 2020
Hello @BDUTT. Check at least three proud Indian men.
People of India are far claver than you. pic.twitter.com/emIF8I6oxY— kash_1857 (@1857Kash) November 12, 2020
@governorswaraj , my husband, my brother, a lot of my friends & some acquaintances! Why are you running Indian men down? Why this unwarranted dissing of a country which had a powerful woman as PM in 1966! It’s not OUR fault the US is backward & hasn’t yet had a woman at the top!
— Jyoti Kapur Das (@jkd18) November 11, 2020
My mom is a senior professor , ex Vice chancellor , Dean of an University. My dad is proud of her like all of us .
I am sorry but surely Indian men’s are as progressive as western men or may be more !
Don’t always spread negativity about Indian men . https://t.co/JbzQgPOmt6
— Sumit (@sumitsaurabh) November 11, 2020
Wrong assumption @BDUTT. Ask my mother @drsatyapandey. She married my father young and was a simple housewife. Papa encouraged her to finish her college and then join @BJP4India. She became Mayor of Gorakhpur.
Indian men do it, but are too shy to have such photo-op! https://t.co/hctTZPIAeX— Vikas Pandey (@MODIfiedVikas) November 11, 2020
My dad who stood by mother through hundreds of movies , joining a party when it was in the opposition and very unpopular in AP, and three elections- and didn’t change one bit through it all. Sad to see long history of Indian women in politics forgotten so easily. https://t.co/xSDwsVR7ID
— Vamsee Juluri 🌺🐚 (@VamseeJuluri) November 11, 2020
A better ex. wud have been Kadambini Ganguly’s husband Dwarkanath Ganguly who was 20 yrs older than his wife (2nd wife) & who fought for his wife’s admission into Calcutta Medical College. He defended his wife in court when a magazine called her a w**re fighting for women rights.
— Rahul Sen (@RahulSaysSo) November 12, 2020
My husband who is a Doctor himself has been my plinth of support and has encouraged me all along. But he doesn’t go about to propagate it on Social Media. pic.twitter.com/T21qYJAv0N
— Keya Ghosh (@keyakahe) November 12, 2020
The Indian Man who is my Husband and proudly celebrated my success!
This is just my story,we have 100s more!
Stop considering western validity for everything happening in this world! pic.twitter.com/EzjDsRoyIa— Sneha Makhija (@makhijasneha) November 11, 2020
Devisingh Ramsingh Shekhawat is an Indian farmer, politician who was the First Gentleman of India as the husband of President Pratibha Patil. pic.twitter.com/sDoFwobav1
— Rebel (@neutralist1111) November 12, 2020
Here you go @BDUTT. Meet @subhadipbiswas. He has been by my side – as secure as it gets. Even if it meant leaving his work and moving to a new country to support me during my #ChancellorFellowship so I could represent my country.
It’s been 5 years and he hasn’t changed a bit. pic.twitter.com/zCdL2IWJUD
— Pooja Gianchandani (@theskillspundit) November 12, 2020
Indra Nooyi’s husband Raj Nooyi 🙂 pic.twitter.com/DS9paRteSn
— Mon Tue (@MonTue12) November 11, 2020
Ma’am, India has had, currently has, and will continue to have successful, popular, and powerful female leaders. Please note that there are many Indian men who will be proud to see their wives become more successful than them. Please give the credit when due.
— Lurker (@lurker_equality) November 11, 2020
To make sweeping generalisations about men would be to wrong those who make conscious efforts to stand by women every day, who support them, often nudge them forward, and are truly secure about their success. Don’t you think?