Never thought I would be able to form a firm opinion on one of the biggest social atrocities taking place presently in India. But here I am writing my informal views “solely” based on my perspective of this society.
Talking about women protection, the first thing that pops up in our minds is RAPE but not the ministry of women’s affairs or some other women welfare organisation or Judicial system. Should that be a concern? Definitely Yes!
This issue is so sensitive that even I, being a B.Tech graduate hesitated to form an opinion about it. It is so sensitive in our country that almost 70% of the cases go unreported. We all know what happens to the proceedings of those reported cases, if the charges involve the so called high profile people of this society. Well, coming to the point, it is not out of the league of a common man’s apprehension as to why this sensitive issue in the form of a documentary (India’s daughter) had been banned by the government of India when it had been brought forward by BBC.
From my observation, I found the following reasons ought to be the ones leading to the ban.
- Outrageously controversial remarks made by one of the partners in the crime on the status of women in Indian society. Broadcasting this would lead to a severe outburst of agitations demanding the public execution and other such unconstitutional means.
- Documentary being filmed by BBC. The last thing a government of India’s heritage and culture needs is an advise from a foreign organisation for introspection of its own society.
- Documentary being too dramatical at times making it questionable regarding its prime motive.
- It contained controversial views of the defence lawyers on women opining them as flowers, diamonds and seekers of protection from men which are so conservative and obsolete that half of the new generation failed to comprehend. These views coming from elite advocates and the documentary projecting them as core of the judicial system is a questionable act.
- Showcasing India as a conservative society where men are meant to work and women are meant to serve at homes.
The step taken by the government to ban this documentary has raised severe outrage ranging from normal citizens to NGOs.
The increase in the involvement of a common man in such issues is always a welcome change. But this outrage clearly does not reflect the desired change in the society where the support of the citizens is required for the smooth functioning of government policies and decisions.
For the Gandhiji’s envision of this country where,“a woman on her own can move safely on the roads during midnight” to consummate, there are two major players:
Society mindset:
Change in the mindset of society where a woman is considered inferior and feeble is imperative. Everything changes with time and so should the long lasting baseless presumptions. Rape should not be treated as a humiliation which should be concealed, but as a crime that is equally serious as a murder and needs to be reported. For assuring the justice to the deprived in such cases the second factor comes into play.
Judicial system:
Several common voices raised for an increase in the punishment scale for convicted rapists. Clearly the circumstances do not demand such changes, but faster proceedings of the cases should bare importance. In a judicial system which sort of believes in “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird”, the accused is provided with instruments which can drastically slowdown the proceedings. Keeping in view of both these factors special fast track courts have been established. But they failed to make a huge impact. Some introspection is required in this matter. If the proceedings are made faster and the statistics of the verdicts are made public then this will have a double impact. On one side it will incentivise the cases to be reported which otherwise would’ve gone unreported. On the other hand, it will instill a fear in the budding rapists and discourage them to a great extent from involving in such atrocities.
While the above mentioned factors will have a short term impact, instilling moral values in budding citizens through a far better outreach of education will yield unfathomable results in the long run. One can sense the surge in the voices raised against these atrocities. The days are not too far away when the word “women protection” will be suffixed by the efforts of the concerned ministry and judicial system ensuring it.
