Veteran actor and Rajya Sabha member Jaya Bachchan expressed her displeasure after being addressed by her husband’s name during a parliamentary session. The incident occurred when Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh called upon Bachchan to speak, referring to her as “Shrimati Jaya Amitabh Bachchan ji.”
In response, Jaya Bachchan remarked, “Sir, sirf Jaya Bachchan bolte to kaafi hojata,” which translates to, “It would’ve been enough to call me Jaya Bachchan.” She was visibly irritated by the use of her husband’s name, highlighting her preference to be addressed by her own name.
Harivansh Narayan Singh explained that her official name in the Parliament’s records is indeed “Jaya Amitabh Bachchan,” stating, “Your full name was written here, I just repeated the same.”
Jaya Bachchan voiced her concerns about the broader implications of such address, stating, “This is something new, that women will be recognised by the name of their husbands. They (women) have no existence or achievements of their own.”
Later, Bachchan shifted focus to a pressing issue outside the parliamentary discourse. She addressed the tragic deaths of three UPSC aspirants who drowned in the flooded basement of a coaching centre in east Delhi last week. The incident, which has led to protests by students and a political blame-game, has been attributed to alleged civic negligence.
“It’s a very painful incident and we should not bring politics into the matter,” Bachchan commented, urging a more empathetic and less politicized response to the tragedy.
The deaths have sparked significant outrage, with students blaming the Delhi municipal authorities for inadequate safety measures, and political parties, including the BJP and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), engaging in a blame game. The incident continues to stir debate over the responsibilities of civic and political leaders in ensuring public safety.
Sources By Agencies
