Bengali actress and politician Nusrat Jahan gave birth to a baby boy last Thursday. While both mother and son are healthy, there is a new twist that’s captured the minds of the Indian audiences.
After declaring her previous marriage to Nikhil Jain as ‘invalid’ in the beginning of 2021, the 31-year-old was admitted to Neotia hospital in Kolkata by her current live-in partner, Yash Dasgupta. However, the actress has refused to name the father of her child and wishes to raise him as a single mother. Her bold move has garnered a lot of appreciation from single mothers and women all over the country.
Credit: Instagram/NusratChirps
The politics of patriarchy
Giving birth as a single mother can be a challenging task within the Indian ecosystem. Not only does our infrastructure heavily rely on the presence of the father in such a situation, but also actively judges women for having the guts to do it alone. It’s only time that changemakers like Nusrat make it a point to steer the conversation towards a healthier, more equal direction.
Credit: Instagram/NusratChirps
Speaking to the Times of India, visual artist and single mother Alina Banik said, “Being a bit superstitious, I didn’t want to reveal my pregnancy. I didn’t need to mention the father’s name in the hospital, but I faced some issues while getting my daughter admitted to school.” This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the judgement thrown at single mothers.
East or west, single mothers face difficulties
Even in more progressive societies, there are still a lot of issues faced by women who choose to make such a decision. Hollywood producer, actress and screenwriter Mindy Kaling also chose to not disclose the identity of the father of her two kids. Not only has her decision stirred up conspiracy theories about the father but has also revealed the intolerant side of society.
Credit: Instagram/MindyKaling
It’s time laws and social diktats changed to accommodate the modern woman. After all, we’re just demanding equality!
Lead image credit: instagram/NusratChirps
