Let's Take a Moment to Appreciate Heena Sidhu’s Husband

Shooter Heena Sidhu’s husband lifted her in his arms after she won a gold in the women’s 25-metre Pistol event at the ongoing Commonwealth Games. A heart-warming picture of the couple is making rounds of the social media for all the right reasons. While we cannot stop gushing over Sidhu’s achievement, our pride and joy don’t come close to that of her husband's - Ronak Pandit. He proves that Indian husbands are also capable of stepping over the wall of ego and insecurity, and root for their wives.

Pandit, who won the gold medal in the Men's 25m Standard Pistol (Paris) in 2006 Commonwealth Games, is also her coach. The man could barely contain his excitement on his wife’s win.

According to a report in The Indian Express, the training period was a different matter altogether. Pandit would taunt Sidhu on her skills in front of his students, as a part of her pressure training. However, Pandit's gesture shows a lot of emotional investment and dedication to his wife’s success, on his part.

There is a thing or two which Indian husbands can learn from him, when it comes to backing their wives.

Ego and insecurity keep many husbands from rooting for their wives. It’s still a struggle for married women in India to make a dash for our dreams. The shackles of patriarchy constantly trying to put our dreams and aspirations on the back-burner and become “devoted” to our new household and families.

What kind of heartless woman leaves elderly family members and children untended at home, and chases pay cheques and acclaim? Isn’t it her duty to put her family first? Men, on the other hand, are groomed to believe that their dreams and comfort are of utmost importance. Women around them; mothers, wives and sisters should prioritise their desires and bow to their command.

Most husbands have come a long way from being firmly rooted in conservative believes, to being mildly supportive of their wives, as long as they don’t have to trade the couch for the kitchen. The new age husbands are supportive of their wives, at least on the surface. She can have a job, as long as she comes home on time and takes care of the household.

A wife can only have dreams and aspirations, as long as they don’t trample her husband's ego or comfort.

The patriarchal system of our society has cultured husbands to think of themselves to be akin to a god. This god-complex has diluted over years, but their ego is much harder to get rid of. The minute she becomes more successful or popular, Indian husbands begin feeling threatened. They lack the will to give up their upper hand and face social and familial consequences of their wives' success.

This is why Pandit’s joy is so endearing. Not many husbands manage to let love and companionship conquer their egos and insecurities.

Few root for their wife’s success. They are afraid of how it may change the power dynamics both inside and outside the household. It takes a lot of effort to get out of the comfort zone. Wives deserve this unconditional support, because they have been extending it to their husbands for ages. We can only hope that Pandit's gesture and commitment to his wife's success will motivate Indian men to return this favour.