Amitabh Bachchan is the long reigning king of Indian cinema. He has played the angry young man, in his youth. And now, he tends to play the sometimes strict, sometimes friendly but always cool grandfather. In his real life, though, Amitabh Bachchan is the coolest grandfather ever. His recent letter to his granddaughters is proof of that.
Grandpa Bachchan wrote a letter teaching is granddaughters why they don’t need to conform to men’s opinions of them.
Mr. Bachchan, in his letter to Aaradhya, daughter of Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and Navya Naveli, daughter of Shweta Bachchan Nanda.
T 2369 – I write … a letter .. because I wanted to .. !! pic.twitter.com/l2xUPf1TBa
— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) September 4, 2016
Mr. Bachchan says, “don’t let anyone make you believe that the length of your skirt is a measure of your character.”
He reminds his granddaughters that while they carry years of legacy on their shoulders, their clothing choices and the people they meet and when they meet them, cannot be dictated by anyone. No one should be able to tell girls what their boundaries are, especially in this day and age.
He also reminds them, not to get married unless they want to.
Women, especially in our desi culture, are subjected to so much pressures. Shaadi possibly being the biggest one. Girls are brought up with the singular task of becoming perfect lucrative rishta baits. Daughters are sent off to medical schools, not because they can be productive members of the community and become doctors who can do breakthrough research into health and medicine of the local communities but because a doctor bahu is the most desirable.
Mr. Bachchan, tells his granddaughters, and granddaughters all around the world, not to conform to these orthodox ideals of society because no one has a right over them or their bodies other than girls themselves.
This is the letter, in Mr. Bachchan’s own handwriting:
And here is Mr. Bachchan, himself, reciting the letter for everyone:
Now, that, is grandpa goals.
Cover image via: indiatimes.com