Is one rape more vicious than the other?

Not many knew there was a World Summit for Women in New York, last month. It took a 1.47s of retort/rebuttal from an eminent Indian journalist to bring crime against women back into focus, at least for Indians. More than concentrating on what the summit was about, the country was more embroiled in lacerating that foreign journalist for stereotyping India. But the same citizens were protesting the ban of India’s Daughter, when the right wing groups were this time lacerating Leslee Udwin, a foreigner, for potentially tarnishing India’s cultural fabric. Same issue but different views. However, my focus this time is not about the imminent journalist or Leslee Udwin, but about Suzette Jordan.

The country paid glowing tributes to Nirbhaya, rechristening her, naming a law after her, giving money, job and apartment to her family. Also her rapists were swiftly put behind the bar and she had the entire backing of the country and government alike. Though she didn’t live to see all this happening, but it was justice of sorts. What did Suzette Jordan, the victim in the park street rape case, get? Turned away by the police. Mamta Banerjee even labeled the rape as an attempt to tarnish her government’s squeaky clean image. But Suzette Jordan continued her lone battle, without any support. Reason for no support? She was a divorcee, was out partying that night and got into the car with strangers. All taboos in our archaic society and now-defunct culture. Is one rape more vicious than the other?

Three of her rapists were jailed but the 2 other remain at large, even now, 3 years after the rape. While she was called on to talk about crime against women on different forums, including Satyamev Jayate, she was still stigmatized enough not to land a job. Even as she continued fighting, she made a telling contribution. A contribution that the media didn’t find anything tragic, aesthetic, dramatic or melodramatic about. Hence escaped everyone’s attention. Suzette Jordan was instrumental in ensuring 2 finger test ceased to exist. This test on a rape victim was intrusive, agonizing and most importantly humiliating. The test has been banned since.

So why am I talking about Suzette Jordan? Because while we are thrilled about how Barkha Dutt shuts a foreign journalist for stereotyping India, and Deepika Padukone’s hair raising my choice video. Arnab's crass demand for answers Or even Leslee Udwin’s documentary.  But we did little to support Suzette or hail her contribution.  Unfortunately, Suzette died earlier this year. And left behind 2 daughters and a mother. While our government did a lot for Nirbhaya, sadly enough Suzette’s case wasn’t tragic or gory enough for the government to react. So much so it derided and stigmatized her.

As I write, there is another case of a girl dying in Moga, Punjab. Thrown off the bus and left to die. As much as our focus should be on the perpetrators, instead it is on the political family that operated the bus. The opposition demanded the resignation of the politicians, instead of offering relief to the family or ensuring a swifter apprehending of the offenders. The incident in Moga wouldn’t have received as much attention, if it were not for the similarities to the Nirbhaya case or the connection with the political family. Our priorities are so misplaced that we seek sensation over actual content. Nirbhaya got more attention because of the gore and tragic end the girl met with. It was a simmering issue and the events of December 2012 provided it with let out. If not, the case would still be dragging in the courts.

Crime against women is a global phenomenon and there is no shame in accepting that our archaic norms have only propagated and continued to label women as the one who deserves to be oppressed. Acid attacks, dowry, honor killings and female foeticide. Crime enough to cringe anyone. Rape is no bigger or smaller than any of these. A quick search of the word foeticide returns “Female Foeticide in India” as the first result. It is not stereotyping. It is the truth. So before we all raise up and pummel the foreign media for stereotyping us, let us think hard about our issues. No need to compare, because we ought to solve our own issues.

Let’s not change our focus from real issues. Let us recognize real people and their struggle. Let us rally behind the likes Suzette Jordan who fought for real issues.

Don’t have to put the women on the pedestal, put them right beside you. She is no less.