Being locked alone at home as a kid taught this Bengaluru man about gender equality. Here's how

A Bengaluru-based professional, Partho Bandopadhyay, has sparked discussions on parenting, gender equality, and resilience through a heartfelt LinkedIn post recounting his childhood experience. He shared how being locked inside his house every afternoon in Dhanbad shaped his perspective on life and leadership.

Childhood Memories of Being Locked Indoors

Partho, who is now the Managing Director and Board Member at KPMG's Global Delivery Centre (GDC), wrote, "Growing up in Dhanbad, every afternoon, I would be locked up in my house all alone." His mother, a doctor, had to leave for work after he returned from school, while his father, a professor at IIT ISM (Indian School of Mines), would come home later in the evening.

With no babysitter or house help available, his mother had no other option but to lock him inside. However, Partho found a way around it. "But honestly, it wasn’t all that bad -- I had my own mechanism to escape through the window grills and go create a ruckus at my best friend’s house," he revealed.

Witnessing True Equality at Home

Beyond his childhood adventures, Partho reflected on the values he absorbed from his parents. "There was no such thing as 'Mum takes care of the house, and Dad takes care of things outside.' They both shared responsibilities equitably," he shared. His father prepared breakfast, made tea, and packed his lunchbox, while his mother handled other household duties.

His post also recalled his mother's sheer determination in the face of adversity. "My mom hardly conformed to any stereotypes about women being soft or weak. Once she was surrounded by a hostile militant trade union gang, refusing to let her go until she approved an illegal decision. Their shouting and aggression would have sent shivers down anyone’s spine," he recalled, adding, "But 8 hours later, the person to budge was not my mother but that trade union leader."

Partho acknowledged that these childhood experiences shaped his approach to leadership and daily life. "Once I firm up my mind about something, I don’t budge. And when I visit my friends’ homes, I start washing dishes after dinner. Most people think that I imbibed the former trait from my dad and the latter from my mom," he wrote. "Actually, it was the other way round."

Social Media Reactions

Partho’s post resonated with many social media users, who praised his upbringing and the values he inherited. One user commented, "What a lovely story, Partho. I completely relate with it. My parents led a similar life and ensured they didn’t pass on any stereotypes. My brother learnt cooking at the age of 13 and so did I."

Another user wrote, "Amazing way to highlight these little but fundamental things that shape our personality and who we are. Thank you for sharing this."

The story, which originated from a locked door, has now opened minds across the internet, sparking meaningful conversations on equality and parenting in modern society.