Journalist Jyoti Shelar’s article headlined "The conflict within: Parsis and gender rights” published in The Hindu’s Bombay edition on May 22, 2017 has won the 2017 Laadli Media and Advertising Awards for Gender Sensitivity, instituted by Population First, a communications and advocacy initiative. The article highlighted the conflict between liberal and orthodox viewpoints on women’s equality and referred to, among other issues, the largely patriarchal traditions of the anjumans in India; the efforts of Prochy Mehta and her daughter Sanaya Mehta Vyas in appealing to the Calcutta High Court to determine who has the right of entry to that city’s only agiary; the struggle of Goolrookh Gupta for her and her siblings’ right to be allowed entry to the Valsad Tower of Silence in the event of their parents’ demise; the male-members-only rules of the Ripon Club. The story can be read on
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/the-conflict-within-parsis-and-gender-rights/article18520582.ece
Jyoti Shelar (second from l) with, from l, Cecilia Cost, P. Sainath, Dr A. L. Sharada
The awards were presented by renowned development journalist P. Sainath and other leaders from the media and development sector on September 17, 2018 in New Delhi. "The Laadli Media Awards prove that even in the worst situations and cynical time there is hope. There is hope because there are many who are being true to their profession in journalism, showing great sensitivity and compassion, raising critical questions about gender inequalities, discrimination and violence and showing (a) mirror to our politicians and all of us,” said Dr A. L. Sharada, director of Population First.
More than 1,500 entries were received in various categories from across the country. Eighty-two media professionals writing in 13 languages were honored for their efforts in highlighting gender concerns from across the county.