Recently, the highly ranked Hindu College, in Delhi University, started a women's hostel. Everyone cheered and few asked why it took the 117-year-old college so long. After all, why single it out? This is the story in so many colleges even in the big cities of India.

Anyway, as we know, all proclamations of gender equality are a gift horse that must be looked in the mouth. And here's what a look at this particular gift reveals. First, the fees: R82,000 annually for the women's hostel in comparison to Rs 47,000 for men. Residents cannot enroll in coaching classes or part/full-time employment without prior permission from the warden. Thoda gender, thoda class. Equal treatment of another kind.