New Delhi, Aug. 12 -- Now and then, there is a lecture given to men about how they must read, chiefly novels. And why the fact that most of them don't read novels is yet another reason why they are not better people, like women.

A few days ago the New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd wrote a column entitled, 'Attention, Men: Books Are Sexy!' This headline portended a genre of advice to men-that if they did what women did, they would be more attractive. You may have also come across articles that say, 'Men: Doing chores at home is sexy' and 'Men: Listening is sexy.'

Once, on a Goan beach, I was practising yoga, or what I think is yoga, when two Western women nodded in appreciation as they walked by. What made me laugh in the warrior pos...