With some recent occurrences, we’ve drawn out attention to certain issues without looking at them wholistically. We belong to the epoch where we are constantly fed with information without the actual need to cognize it. Whether it is a research paper to simply clear your term, a project for school or an elocution speech, we conveniently resort to ‘Google’, our Bible! With social media, we’re turning into a virtually know-it-all soul that constantly likes being updated about the recent furore with the need to ensure that people around us acknowledge our insights and respond to them.
The latest outburst has been that of India’s Daughter, Nirbhaya, as baptized by The Times Of India. Just for those of you who are still lost in their own world, the documentary is about the most hideous issue seen in mainstream media in our country. As the media titles it, the rape of a medical student in the capital city. Post this incident, young people went out on the streets, participating in protest marches, many of them changed their Facebook profile pictures to a black spot (I still don’t understand what that signifies) and so on. BBC made a documentary on the same, interviewing one of the rapist who with a tinge of remorse in his eyes, perpetually states that many have performed worst crimes and that their intention was as naïve as possible. Rape. That is it. The way he says it, it sounds like their idea of fun.
The defence lawyer constantly swanks his ‘mardangi’, thanks to our patriarchal society. Such people are lawyers and why am I not surprised! Men like him make me thank the men around me. To the females who are related to men like him, I am sorry for you.
The documentary was then banned which resulted into a bigger outburst on social media channels.
Having seen the documentary, read about the protest marches, the media coverage and so on, a few questions are raised in my head.
For some reasons, although I call myself a social media geek, I am pro the idea of banning the documentary. The government had their own reasons. I am an Indian citizen, living in the United Kingdom. I know, my society is flawed and imperfect but honestly, I wouldn’t want to introduce these morons to the world. No, I am not ashamed of where I come from. The entire globe knows, we’re yet a developing country. There’s nothing to hide. However, I wouldn’t want the world to judge India based on these few men in our country. Although I don’t have faith in the judicial system of my country, I would want the law to take care of these culprits. That is how it is supposed to be. The idea of dragging the culprit on the streets and hanging them or handing them over to the masses is worth a long debate but certainly not an idealistic idea.
These issues and the statements of these men such as the defence lawyers, the rapists and some of our infamous politicians make me question what sort of a bad thing are they smoking for their breakfast! We live in a country which is infiltrated with bastards and assholes. Yet, as responsible citizens who swear to be different and with our heads on our shoulders, isn’t it equally important that we think this through?
We, as a society should be able to take collective responsibility for things that are happening around us. We, as responsible and educated citizens should be able to impart our knowledge to people around us, educate them animals without being side-lined by the perspective of our very biased media. As much as I love globalization, I am protective about my country and wouldn’t want s third country judging my country and the men of my country sitting in their ‘on-time’ tubes. Why must a chosen few allow someone to judge my father or my brother or my friend or my neighbour?
When will we take the responsibility of what has happened? A collective responsibility where we address the problem and work towards it in our own small way instead of working towards the government and against the law?
If I, as a sister can teach my brother how to respect someone else’s sister. If I, as a daughter can gather enough respect and trust from my father.
I am not denying the fact that protest marches have enabled to probably speed us the process while dealing with these cases but is that the only solution we have? Can’t the solution be more focused towards educating our men? Can’t we focus on not loathing these lawyers and rapists but instead focus on where they come from, what sort of an upbringing they have received and instead, focus on changing that from the root of our society?
Are we looking at the actual bigger picture or are we simply viewing the images through a rear-view mirror?
Stop blaming. Stop complaining.
The latest outburst has been that of India’s Daughter, Nirbhaya, as baptized by The Times Of India. Just for those of you who are still lost in their own world, the documentary is about the most hideous issue seen in mainstream media in our country. As the media titles it, the rape of a medical student in the capital city. Post this incident, young people went out on the streets, participating in protest marches, many of them changed their Facebook profile pictures to a black spot (I still don’t understand what that signifies) and so on. BBC made a documentary on the same, interviewing one of the rapist who with a tinge of remorse in his eyes, perpetually states that many have performed worst crimes and that their intention was as naïve as possible. Rape. That is it. The way he says it, it sounds like their idea of fun.
The defence lawyer constantly swanks his ‘mardangi’, thanks to our patriarchal society. Such people are lawyers and why am I not surprised! Men like him make me thank the men around me. To the females who are related to men like him, I am sorry for you.
The documentary was then banned which resulted into a bigger outburst on social media channels.
Having seen the documentary, read about the protest marches, the media coverage and so on, a few questions are raised in my head.
For some reasons, although I call myself a social media geek, I am pro the idea of banning the documentary. The government had their own reasons. I am an Indian citizen, living in the United Kingdom. I know, my society is flawed and imperfect but honestly, I wouldn’t want to introduce these morons to the world. No, I am not ashamed of where I come from. The entire globe knows, we’re yet a developing country. There’s nothing to hide. However, I wouldn’t want the world to judge India based on these few men in our country. Although I don’t have faith in the judicial system of my country, I would want the law to take care of these culprits. That is how it is supposed to be. The idea of dragging the culprit on the streets and hanging them or handing them over to the masses is worth a long debate but certainly not an idealistic idea.
These issues and the statements of these men such as the defence lawyers, the rapists and some of our infamous politicians make me question what sort of a bad thing are they smoking for their breakfast! We live in a country which is infiltrated with bastards and assholes. Yet, as responsible citizens who swear to be different and with our heads on our shoulders, isn’t it equally important that we think this through?
When will we take the responsibility of what has happened? A collective responsibility where we address the problem and work towards it in our own small way instead of working towards the government and against the law?
If I, as a sister can teach my brother how to respect someone else’s sister. If I, as a daughter can gather enough respect and trust from my father.
I am not denying the fact that protest marches have enabled to probably speed us the process while dealing with these cases but is that the only solution we have? Can’t the solution be more focused towards educating our men? Can’t we focus on not loathing these lawyers and rapists but instead focus on where they come from, what sort of an upbringing they have received and instead, focus on changing that from the root of our society?
Are we looking at the actual bigger picture or are we simply viewing the images through a rear-view mirror?
Stop blaming. Stop complaining.
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