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. 

India's Daughter

Every day, for the past week, I have just been waking up to why India’s Daughter shouldn’t be banned. There is also a counter argument on why it should be banned, albeit fades in numbers compared to the former. Excruciatingly disturbing, as it was to read about the outrage in the winter of 2012, it is equally painful to know that the case still drags on in the courts. I am not writing to state my allegiance if the documentary should be aired or not. But I would like to know the very thought behind why there exist these two warring factions, who have woken up from a slumber after the events of the December 2012.

The government, as soon as it learned about the airing of the documentary, decided to ban it. We may never know the real reason behind it. But they sure have cited legal breach as the reason. Any material written or screening of a sub judice case cannot be allowed, for it can influence the court’s decision. For example, the accused parties in the 1993 bomb blast case had appealed to the court to stop the screening of the movie Black Friday, while the case was still in the Bombay High Court. By that logic, it makes sense for the government to react the way it did. The government’s stand could also be based on trying to save its face after drawing flak for the deteriorating law and order situation. I won’t be surprised if it’s the latter, for I pretty much know the politicians could stoop to any level.

In the same vein, there are some supporting the ban for a completely different reason. These are the pseudo nationals who blame the external forces for trying to portray India in a poor light. These are the ostriches of the society, who think they uphold the cultural, moral fabric of the country. I think the documentary shows what the truth is. Whether it is produced by BBC or NDTV. It states the fact, and shows the convoluted and perverted men behind the ghastly act. So to ban the documentary because it shows the country in bad light is plain ludicrous. I think Indians have done enough damage to the country and its values, and it doesn't need a foreigner to come and do any further damage.  If these people can and have the balls, first gag Mulayam Singh, who called rape as a playful act for boys.

Now to the educated elite who have been crying hoarse the day the documentary was banned. Stating that every man should watch it to know how the girl was raped and left to die. I don’t believe in the argument, personally. The documentary though gut wrenching will not change the attitude of a rapist or a non-rapist, for lack of a better term. If it indeed did, the two lawyers wouldn't have spoken the way they did. They have been associated with the case in close quarters and know the gory details of the case. And at this point they are fighting for a reduced sentence for the convicts. And mind you these are educated men. Men rape on two accounts. Lack of respect for women and the sexual rage. Does the documentary address any of it? No. So to state that every man should watch it, for it would change their view about Rape is myopic. If a man harbors any of the above two reasons in his mind, he will rape. No matter what.

It is also cited that Jyoti’s parents agreed to participate in the making of the documentary. And hence the documentary should be allowed to go on air. The parents are fighting for justice, and they will go to any length, even if it is help from foreign media. The makers paid Mukesh Singh, the convict, to go on air to state what he did, was in bad taste. If the journo indeed believed in responsible journalism, she wouldn't have paid him for it. I have watched documentaries all my life, such gory details are often shown as texts. But then to gain viewership, one would stoop to any level. Mukesh Singh’s fate is sealed. There is no point in giving him a platform to state his reason behind the rape. Whatever his reason be, RAPE can never be justified. Some men who don’t hold women in high regard, will only feel vindicated with the lawyer and the convict’s view.

Rapes, unfortunately, are a universal phenomenon. Gender equality and respect for the women folk need to be taught from birth, and that to a large extent will reduce the instances of rape or violent crime against women. A deterrent would be swift and just punishment to the perpetrators. And since it cannot be completely eradicated, rape shouldn't be treated as a stigma. For then the scar of the act is bigger on the psyche of the victim than the perpetrator himself. Most women and their families, in fear of being stigmatized and vilified, don’t report these violent crimes, and that gives enough chutzpah for the rapist to commit the crime. And without a report, they would never be a conviction and the rapists are well aware of it. 

Gender equality, swift justice and non-vilifying. This women’s day, I hope these happen. Women need to be adored, not devoured.