Shared Chores with My Wife in the US, Says Minister Nara Lokesh
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh HRD and IT Minister Nara Lokesh on Monday called for a societal shift towards gender equality, revealing that he and his wife, Brahmani, used to share household chores equally while living in the United States.
"This is a change I strongly wish to see in every home in our society," Nara Lokesh stated while addressing students at a state-level seminar on 'Moral Values' at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram in Vijayawada.
The minister emphasised that respect for women must begin at home, recalling how his mother, Bhuvaneswari, taught him to respect everyone irrespective of caste, religion, or region. He criticised the continued use of derogatory phrases in society, such as asking someone, "Are you wearing bangles?" and called for a "full stop" to this demeaning attitude. Nara Lokesh added that he has discussed with the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister the need to eliminate scenes and dialogues that disrespect women in films and web series.
As Education Minister, Nara Lokesh said he noticed that school textbooks exclusively depicted women doing household chores. "We immediately had those pictures changed. We have now included new photos showing a 50-50 ratio of men also participating in housework," he explained, adding that this change must extend from books to mindsets.
Sharing his political journey to inspire students, Lokesh spoke about his 2019 election loss in Mangalagiri. "I was disappointed for only a day. That defeat fuelled my determination," he said, highlighting his subsequent victory by a margin of 91,000 votes in 2024. He advised students to face challenges with courage and not resort to drastic measures over academic or personal setbacks.
"This is a change I strongly wish to see in every home in our society," Nara Lokesh stated while addressing students at a state-level seminar on 'Moral Values' at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram in Vijayawada.
The minister emphasised that respect for women must begin at home, recalling how his mother, Bhuvaneswari, taught him to respect everyone irrespective of caste, religion, or region. He criticised the continued use of derogatory phrases in society, such as asking someone, "Are you wearing bangles?" and called for a "full stop" to this demeaning attitude. Nara Lokesh added that he has discussed with the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister the need to eliminate scenes and dialogues that disrespect women in films and web series.
As Education Minister, Nara Lokesh said he noticed that school textbooks exclusively depicted women doing household chores. "We immediately had those pictures changed. We have now included new photos showing a 50-50 ratio of men also participating in housework," he explained, adding that this change must extend from books to mindsets.
Sharing his political journey to inspire students, Lokesh spoke about his 2019 election loss in Mangalagiri. "I was disappointed for only a day. That defeat fuelled my determination," he said, highlighting his subsequent victory by a margin of 91,000 votes in 2024. He advised students to face challenges with courage and not resort to drastic measures over academic or personal setbacks.