Draping Rape Mentality?

By the time you start reading this blog, reams of papers, hours of airtime on news channels and the ever-expanding world of social media will have covered the topic – that too at great length. Yes, I am talking about the social documentary made by BBC on ‘Nirbhaya-episode’. It is interesting to notice how this documentary has affected people in two completely different measures. On one hand, it managed to hit the consciousness of people and made them reflect over their other side while on the other hand, the film simply rubbed off so-called custodians (Political representatives and Law Enforcement Bodies) of our society the wrong way. Quite apparently and sadly enough, majority of the latter didn't even bother to go through the movie once before forming the ill-judged opinions.

The latest on the news section is that the documentary has been taken off the YouTube channel for it has the ‘potential’ to weaken the very foundation of our 2000-year-old rich culture. It is feared that our sensitive social fabric can fall apart if the naïve people are exposed to the interview where a rapist is voicing his thoughts. It will boost immorality and depravity in society. Really? Is the electorate of this country that fickle-minded? Are they stupid enough not to tell a right from a wrong? Please don’t kid me as now is not the right time. At least, I am not ready to buy this theory because I know for a fact that we are talking about the same electorate that, in 2014, had voted out a 15-year-old government that was screaming corruption and have set the other one right recently because it had started to show signs of arrogance and laxity.

Another stupid argument against the broadcast of the video doing the round was the fear that it would add insult to the rape-victim posthumously and her name should not be maligned further anymore. Wait a minute. Now, Please. Wait. For. A. Minute. Jyoti (Nirbhaya) wasn't insulted on the fateful night of 16th December. Her name didn't turn to mud because of what the rapists did to her. It was the failure of OUR society as a whole. The harrowing incident only highlighted how hollow our social system had become. Nirbhaya succumbed to the rape-inflicted injuries and left us all with many questions the answers to which we haven't been able to find ever since. So, it would be really sad if we ban the documentary on such flimsy grounds. It will be like draping over the rape mentality instead of laying it bare before the society. The need of the hour shouts out do the latter because now, more than ever, the society really needs to look into the mirror to notice that a part of them is fast turning into a monster.  

I will be lying if I say that I wasn't expecting the ban. Haven’t we witnessed the similar episodes earlier too? Episodes where things that didn’t appeal to the mindset of our so-called moral brigade ended up being censored! I won’t blame you if it reminds you of what recently happened when the AIB Roast went viral but I don’t want to digress here as we are dealing with a bigger (and a lot more serious) issue.

Why is there so much of intolerance, resentment and haste in our democratic society? If you ask me, the haste with which the custodians of our society resented over the entire episode first and then made efforts - showing the low threshold of intolerance - to get the video taken off the social media has taken me by surprise. Here, I am not using the word ‘shocked’ deliberately as the expression has already exhausted its true relevance and meaning long back to explaining what transpired on the night of 16^th December, 2012. I consider using the same to convey feelings for emotions other than that completely useless. Today, at this very moment, I feel anger, frustration, pain, sadness, numbness and listlessness. And I am sure I am not the only one reeling under such strong emotions.

If this documentary doesn’t evoke strong emotions in you, consider yourself a zombie! Take a look. Mukesh Singh (the convict) reportedly said, “a girl is far more responsible for rape than a boy”. He further defended the heinous act by saying, “When being raped, she shouldn’t have fought back. She should have just been silent and allowed the rape. Then they would simply have dropped her off after ‘doing her’, and only hit the boy“. I mean just hear out not just what the convict is saying in his defence but also what has largely gone unsaid. Look at the thoughts and language the defence lawyers are using to counter the allegations. It speaks volumes for what briefing they would have given to their ‘innocent clients’. More so, it reflects the parochial attitude of our patriarchal society. Shamelessly and conveniently, the two defence lawyers have put the blame completely on the victim (now deceased). Their sick mindset and even sicklier thoughts would rankle in your mind. This may also give you a sense of déjà vu. Simply because you must have already heard similar voices (thoughts) before….from the ones who are part of your social circle. Sickness, we must admit now, is deeply rooted in our society’s collective psyche and it’s about time efforts made at the grass-root level to bring about a positive change. But, the first step towards change is a little difficult because it begins with 'acceptance'. We need to accept first all that is rotten in the society. The next steps, comparatively, will be easier to take. Right education is what is required. Families and schools will have to play a major role in bringing about this change in the stinking mentality and laying the foundation for right attitude. If it happens, well and good. Else, we don’t need to worry too much about the future. As it is, our nation has already gone to the dogs!

P.S. – While I was in the throes of writing this blog, one celebrated clown on Times Now channel during ‘prime time’ was crying himself hoarse on how NDTV Group (on BBC Documentary) has sacrificed journalism at the altar of voyeurism just to gain TRPs. Case of pot calling the cattle black?