Photo of Thiruvananthapuram Mayor Arya Rajendran Working with Newborn Sparks Discussion on Gender Roles

A recent photograph of Thiruvananthapuram Mayor Arya Rajendran, diligently working with her one-month-old baby on her lap, has reignited a conversation about motherhood and traditional gender roles.

The viral image captures the mayor effortlessly managing her official duties alongside her newborn, drawing admiration from those who applaud her ability to balance work and motherhood. However, it has also sparked criticism over the assumption that mothers should always be the primary caregivers within families. Some skeptics have dismissed the image as a mere publicity stunt.

Arya Rajendran, who married Balussery MLA Sachin Dev in September 2022, holds the distinction of being the youngest mayor in the country, while her husband is the youngest MLA in the current Kerala Assembly. Their joyous addition to the family, a baby girl named ‘Dua Dev,’ was born on August 10. Mayor Rajendran received warm wishes and support upon her return to work last week.

This incident evokes memories of a similar debate from the previous year when IAS officer Divya S Iyer made headlines by bringing her son to a public event and delivering a speech while holding her child in her arms.