Javed Akhtar blames alcoholism for failed first marriage with Honey Irani: ‘I would become a very nasty man’

Javed Akhtar Opens Up About Marriage and Battle with Alcoholism

Javed Akhtar recently opened up about his marriage to his first wife Honey Irani, and his battle with alcoholism in an interview. Akhtar and Irani were married for 11 years before they parted ways in 1985. During the interview, Akhtar revealed how his alcohol addiction strained their relationship.

Advocating for a Uniform Civil Code

Speaking on Mojo Story, Akhtar advocated for a Uniform Civil Code in India, citing his own adherence to such principles in his personal life. He emphasized the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in achieving equality and justice for all. Akhtar stated, “I am living in uniform civil code. I was married to a lady, after 11 years of marriage we got divorced. According to Muslim personal law, I was only responsible to give her alimony for four months but I didn’t think that. She was my responsibility. It is also her choice whether she wants my support or not, but whenever she wanted and whenever she will, or she may not as she is a very self-respecting person, but I’m available for help. I walked out of the house with some books and some clothes. That’s all. And now we are best of friends because of this relationship and this understanding.”

The Impact of Alcoholism on His Marriage

Sharing how alcoholism took a toll on his first marriage, Akhtar revealed, “I started drinking at the age of 20-21 and left when I was 42 years old. I could afford a bottle and used to drink almost a bottle every night. It’s very common for Urdu poets to become big drunkards because they believe that if they are poets and artists, they should be carefree and drink. I think I had those wrong values.”

He further explained, “On the other side, all the tehzeeb that I learned in Lucknow didn’t allow me to use foul language, so all the bitterness was compressed inside me. But when I used to drink, all those barriers would break and I would become a very nasty man and would use foul language. I used to become another person. It was unhealthy, irrational, and causing problems for many people. It impacted my marriage with Honey. If I was a sober and responsible person, the story would have been different.”

Overcoming Alcoholism with Support

Akhtar also revealed that his second wife, veteran actor Shabana Azmi, ‘somehow managed’ his alcoholism for the first 10 years of their marriage. However, at the age of 42, Akhtar himself realized that he might ‘die soon’ if he continued drinking in the same way.

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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. SDGs addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article:

   • SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
   • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   The article discusses Javed Akhtar’s marriage, divorce, and battle with alcoholism, which touch upon issues related to gender equality, reduced inequalities, and the need for strong institutions and partnerships.

2. Specific targets under those SDGs identified based on the article’s content:

   • SDG 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere
   • SDG 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres
   • SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status
   • SDG 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all
   • SDG 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships

   The article highlights the need to address discrimination, violence, and inequalities faced by women, as well as the importance of promoting inclusion, justice, and partnerships.

3. Indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

   • Percentage of women experiencing discrimination or violence
   • Number of cases of violence against women reported and addressed
   • Level of social, economic, and political inclusion of different groups
   • Availability and accessibility of justice systems for all
   • Number of partnerships and collaborations established to address gender equality and reduce inequalities

   The article implies the need to measure the prevalence of discrimination and violence against women, the level of inclusion in society, the effectiveness of justice systems, and the establishment of partnerships to track progress towards the identified targets.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators
   SDG 5: Gender Equality	5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere	Percentage of women experiencing discrimination
   SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities	10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status	Level of social, economic, and political inclusion of different groups
   	10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status	Number of partnerships and collaborations established
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions	16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all	Availability and accessibility of justice systems
   SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals	17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships	Number of partnerships and collaborations established

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: indianexpress.com

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