India wants to know: Who is Chanda Kochhar's inferior half? - Play Things

India wants to know: Who is Chanda Kochhar's inferior half?

Sidin Vadukut - Friday, December 19, 2008 5:26 PM

We congratulates ICICI's next head honcho on her elevation to power. And clearly, going by Google Search statistics, all of India is sitting up and taking notice of Ms. Kochhar's new assignment. Check out the latest Google Trends report on searches for terms related to "Chanda Kochhar":

See how the frequency of searches have leapt up? Two other points leap to mind:

Point 1: Note how people want to know who the lady is married to. See "chanda kochhar husband" in related searches?

Point 2: The thought provoking "Hotness: Medium" comment that Google Trends throws up.

Hey! Don't expect me to pass judgement on that one!

 

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From Raju Narisetti

December 19, 2008 8:07 PM
Shows rampant sexism, doesn't it? Doubt there were searches for, say, Arun Sarin's wife on news he is a leading candidate for Yahoo or new Maharashtra CM...And after all these years of KV Kamath being the face of ICICI, I doubt most people, including journalists, know or care to know about his "better" half. So much for breaking glass ceilings.

From Abi

December 19, 2008 10:35 PM
Nice catch, Sidin! Inquiring minds have always been sexist, haven't they?

From Sidin

December 20, 2008 1:47 AM
@Raju: Absolutely. And you won't believe the number of people who've been talking about this both inside and outside the office. Many of them women! @Abi: Sexism combined with matrimonial suitability perhaps? "Recently out of work investment banker seeks suitable alliance with head of large Indian private bank..."

From Gunneeta

December 20, 2008 11:19 AM
While its interesting to read that people are interested in knowing about Chanda Kochhar's husband, the word "inferior half" is really not appropriate or called for. The partner of any sucessful person can only be an equal or superior, because it takes a lot of nurturing from the other side for one to grow and succeed. Calling a successful person's partner as an "inferior half" is certainly demeaning and shows the author's own sexist biases. It is natural for people to feel curious about her husband and family. 1. Very few women reach the top positions due to their balancing act for their families. A high percentage who reach the pinnacle are single, so there is a general curiosity to see whether she is single or married. 2. There is no doubt that she is an attractive, elegant lady with brains. Had it been an attractive, sophisticated man with a cosmo charm, there would have been an equal number of searches for his marital status too.

From Aparna Kalra

December 22, 2008 5:43 PM
Well said, Guneeta. Yes, Sidin, curiosity about the personal life of a woman who made it to the top is greater, especially among women. But don't think it is just idle curiosity. Many women treat success stories of women -- including how they managed the personal front (partner or husband, relationships, everything) -- as something to learn from. That's why women's magazines address a sisterhood. Of course, the question that puts the sisterhood to test: how much does a educated, privileged woman have in common with one, say, for instance, working as domestic help?

From S G Chellappa

December 22, 2008 7:28 PM
i am eager to know how she will fit into her new position given the charisma of her predecessor. but one thing is very clear that she is a capable person. Otherwise Mr. Kamath would not have groomed her as his successor as he has been selected by his guide Mr.Vagul. i am hopeful that she will be successful in her new position. we should be curious to know how she will perform her responsibilities to take bank from strength to strength in stead of knowing about her "better half".

From Anand

December 25, 2008 8:51 PM
I don't think this is a reflection of sexism at all. It is simply that people (men) find Chanda Kochhasr hot and want to know whether she is married and if yes then who the luckly guy is! Lets relax and not jump into sexism and discrimination at every turn - some things are just LIFE.

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