I didn’t get why all that fuss over the BBC documentary about the ‘Nirbhaya Gang rape and Murder’ that shook the whole nation back in Dec 2012, totally for the wrong reasons. All those ‘Conspiracy’ theories and illogical statements by political leaders (The so called leaders…don’t know why should they still be called ‘leaders’!!) and even by ministers in the government…. What the hell is wrong with these guys??
I couldn’t find the actual documentary on internet, but got this NDTV debate show with the maker of the documentary Leslee Udwin, Kiran Bedi, Parents of Nirbhaya, Vani Tripathi and others on YouTube and found it quite interesting and educating. The debate opens up many issues ranging from the mindset of Indian men, cultural bias, sociological & psychological reasons, shortcomings of law, delay in justice & many others!
As I understand, this is what the documentary probably contains: few interviews of convict and the defense lawyers – wherein, one of the convicts of that ghastly crime, recounted his crime, showing no regret or remorse at all, and held the victim herself responsible for her rape and murder. He even went further and said that the victim should not have tried to fight back, as that made the gang to inflict more sever beating causing her death later. Also the defense lawyers made similar remarks, after reading some of them, made me think are they humans or animals? To give a sample, read this:
" Woman is like a diamond, or a flower..very soft, whereas man is like a thorn, strong! A flower always needs protection. If you keep sweets on the street then dogs will come and eat them. Why did Nirbhaya's parents send her with anyone that late at night? He was not her boyfriend. Is it not the parents' responsibility to keep an eye on where she goes and with whom?"
These lawyers looked like & talked like the villains of a typical Bollywood movie, rather than real life personalities. It simply shocked me, to know that such lawyers (rather villains) exist. I have to admit now, that Bollywood’s claim is true, that they only show what happens in the real world!
If this is what the documentary contains, and I am sure BBC or for that matter any other Indian or International broadcaster of the civilized world would never ever defend or justify, these interviews or the views expressed in them. So where is the question of convicts getting a platform to justify their crime etc etc…the fear these politicians are worried of?? If the reality is this, then let them show that to the world!
I don’t understand what has happened to all these MPs and MLAs, even the women MPs/MLAs are asking to ban the documentary! And the reasons, they have given to justify ban, are indicative of the mental retardness of our representatives and hence it is worrisome.
Instead of congratulating the filmmaker for her research & initiative, instead of making this documentary be shown on each and every TV channel to spread it in every nook and corner of the nation, instead of bringing law and police reforms, instead of sensitizing lawyers and police to handle crime against women, instead of facilitating an initiative of debate and dialogue within the society on gender inequality so predominant in India since ages, look what these politicians are doing!! The BJP Government had an opportunity here to show to the women of India, that they care and they are concerned about the gender inequality and the prevalent biased mindset of lots of Indian men, if not all! Perhaps PM could have told his ‘Man ki Baat’ on this issue to his fellow Indians!
Sometimes I feel, what the hell…..what are we so proud of…what kind of a culture?? At one hand, I remember mugging up an ancient Sanskrit Hymn ‘Yatra Naryastu Poojyante, Ramante Tatra Devataha’ (Literally meaning, ‘God is found or God likes to be there, where Woman is worshiped’) when I was in school, and at the other hand growing up with, witnessing around the society in general, ‘Purdah’, ‘Ghoonghat’, ‘Dowry and bride burning’, ‘Female infanticide’, ‘rapes’, ‘Honor Killings’, ‘Eve Teasing’!!
I wonder what the ‘Pooja’ or worship is for? I don’t think any girl has ever asked for that…! We are not giving her even the minimum respect and consideration, but showing off in the temples and in other rituals that we not just respect but worship women! What a farce…!!
In western countries like UK or US, they don’t worship women like us, but they practice equality… in all sense…be it gender, color, creed, or religion. Yes stray incidents happen there too, no body is denying that fact, but based on my personal experience of living for 3 and a half years in UK, I can surely say it is a much better place for women than India even if we consider only the safety and respect aspects of it.
But I am still not able to understand this anomaly, “how did things ever get so far? It is so unfortunate…so unnecessary!” (In words of Don Vito! All ‘Godfather’ fans would remember the scene! :-) ).
I am an avid listener of Indian classical music, and feel that it is so spiritual and so perfect & complete as a music genre, as compared to other world music traditions. Similarly the ancient Indian Yoga and Ayurveda traditions are now spread allover the world, as a much more complete and natural way of healing. The ancient texts and scriptures talk of ‘Swayamvar’ wherein the girl had the authority to choose her husband. Similarly ‘Kamasutra’, the unapologetic and bold work dealing with sexuality in days when today’s developed world considered it a sin to even talk about it!!
If I try to put all these threads together, it makes me wonder, how such a civilization, complete in most areas of life, could have become so ignorant and abusive for half of its population??
Nevertheless, I want to believe, in that India was not such a bad place for women in those times, and hence I want to believe in that we can once again get our sense of equality back…specially the gender equality. Amen!!
