In these days
when we are flooded with reports of rape and other savage attacks against women
in India,
we thought people would stop, at least for the time being, blaming the women themselves
for atrocities committed against
them. But we were wrong.
when we are flooded with reports of rape and other savage attacks against women
in India,
we thought people would stop, at least for the time being, blaming the women themselves
for atrocities committed against
them. But we were wrong.
Barely a few hours after the
ashes of the Delhi rape victim (it is unfortunate that we still have to call her like this – without a name) were scattered over the river Ganges, the leaders
of RSS, BJP and other right-wing outfits have come out with their true
colours.
ashes of the Delhi rape victim (it is unfortunate that we still have to call her like this – without a name) were scattered over the river Ganges, the leaders
of RSS, BJP and other right-wing outfits have come out with their true
colours.
Vibha Rao, a prominent leader of
BJP in Chattisgarh, as well as, ironically, the chairperson of Chattisgarh
State Women Commission, had the audacity to claim that “women are equally
responsible” for sexual offences committed against them. According to her, influenced by western
culture women are displaying their bodies, and are indulging in obscene activities
thereby sending wrong signals to men. She also cites proliferation of the
internet and women’s ignorance of Hindu epics as the reasons for sexual offences
committed against women. According to her the incidence of rapes reported from
tribal districts of Chatisgarh, however, are not rape proper but consensual sex – because
tribal women are entering into live-in relationship. But Ms Rao has no comment
to make about tribal women being raped by vigilante gang members in Chattisgarh as
the issue is ‘sub judice’! (The Hindu,
January 5, 2013, Chennai). [Ms Vibha Rao has later denied making these statements and claimed that The Hindu had misquoted her. Rebutting the denial, The Hindu has now uploaded audio excerpts of the entire interview conducted in Hindi]
BJP in Chattisgarh, as well as, ironically, the chairperson of Chattisgarh
State Women Commission, had the audacity to claim that “women are equally
responsible” for sexual offences committed against them. According to her, influenced by western
culture women are displaying their bodies, and are indulging in obscene activities
thereby sending wrong signals to men. She also cites proliferation of the
internet and women’s ignorance of Hindu epics as the reasons for sexual offences
committed against women. According to her the incidence of rapes reported from
tribal districts of Chatisgarh, however, are not rape proper but consensual sex – because
tribal women are entering into live-in relationship. But Ms Rao has no comment
to make about tribal women being raped by vigilante gang members in Chattisgarh as
the issue is ‘sub judice’! (The Hindu,
January 5, 2013, Chennai). [Ms Vibha Rao has later denied making these statements and claimed that The Hindu had misquoted her. Rebutting the denial, The Hindu has now uploaded audio excerpts of the entire interview conducted in Hindi]
Another BJP leader, Kailash
Vijayargiya, a Minister in Madhya Pradesh government, said: “Only when Sitaji
crossed the ‘Lakshman rekha’, she was
kidnapped by Ravan…If Sitaji [woman] crosses the ‘Lakshman rekha’, then Sitaharan
[abduction] is bound to take place as Ravans are out there”. (TheHindu, January 5, 2013, Chennai).
Vijayargiya, a Minister in Madhya Pradesh government, said: “Only when Sitaji
crossed the ‘Lakshman rekha’, she was
kidnapped by Ravan…If Sitaji [woman] crosses the ‘Lakshman rekha’, then Sitaharan
[abduction] is bound to take place as Ravans are out there”. (TheHindu, January 5, 2013, Chennai).
Mohan Bhagwat, chief of RSS which
epitomizes the ideology of the entire Hindutwa
Sangh Parivar, has another take on rapes against women: “Crimes against women
happening in urban India
are shameful. But such crimes won’t
happen in Bharat or the rural areas. You go to villages and forests and there
will be no such incidents” (The Hindu, January
5, 2013, Chennai). He also wants the women to be confined to their home looking after the needs of their husbands.
epitomizes the ideology of the entire Hindutwa
Sangh Parivar, has another take on rapes against women: “Crimes against women
happening in urban India
are shameful. But such crimes won’t
happen in Bharat or the rural areas. You go to villages and forests and there
will be no such incidents” (The Hindu, January
5, 2013, Chennai). He also wants the women to be confined to their home looking after the needs of their husbands.
Let us leave aside for the moment
the continuing demonizing of Ravana, which the legendary Dravidian leader EV
Ramaswamy would have found repulsive. Let us instead ask a few questions to these guardians of the ancient
culture of Bharat:
the continuing demonizing of Ravana, which the legendary Dravidian leader EV
Ramaswamy would have found repulsive. Let us instead ask a few questions to these guardians of the ancient
culture of Bharat:
- Was Sitaji influenced by ‘western culture’ and was
she sending ‘wrong signals’ to Ravana through her inappropriate dress? - Is the traditional ‘sari’ an
appropriate dress for women to wear or should they now be draped in
tent-like purdah that is imposed by Taliban on women in Afghanistan and
tribal districts of Pakistan to get foolproof protection against rape? - How does Mohan Bhagwat explain the innumerable cases
of rape of Dalit women by upper caste men reported from villages across
the length and breadth of Bharat? - Were the hundreds of women and girls who were
savagely raped and murdered in Gujarat in 2002 and in Delhi in 1984 were provocatively dressed
in western outfits tempting the Sanatan
Hindus to no end? - Is the remote village in Orissa, where Sister Mina
Barwa, the Christian nun, was raped by 40 men five years back, part of Bharat or India? - Were these rapists and murderers and their
instigators insufficiently tutored in Hindu epics? Or are they over-tutored?
In the context of the savagery committed
against the young woman in Delhi,
many overlook the fact that in many cases of rape the perpetrators are not
strangers but those who are known to the victims – including close relatives. Indian
Express (January 01, 2013, New Delhi)
reports that “according to data from Delhi Police, out of the 665 rapes
reported in 2012, 189 were committed by family members or relatives”. Many of the victims of rape are minors.
against the young woman in Delhi,
many overlook the fact that in many cases of rape the perpetrators are not
strangers but those who are known to the victims – including close relatives. Indian
Express (January 01, 2013, New Delhi)
reports that “according to data from Delhi Police, out of the 665 rapes
reported in 2012, 189 were committed by family members or relatives”. Many of the victims of rape are minors.
One should be a mental retard to claim
that these young girls tempted their relatives with obscene gestures. Then why is Ms Vibha Rao, a professional chairing an important Commission set up to protect the rights of women, blaming the victims? Is it because she wants to shield the BJP government in Chattisgarh, which has been accused of protecting the members of Salwa Judam allegedly involved in a number of cases of violence against tribal women in the state? Or was she trying to augment her political career by making the right noise acceptable to the Sangh Parivar? Or is it because due to her long-term association with the Hindu right-wing, Ms Vibha Rao has imbibed the patriarchal ethical values of the party she represents – the very same values of Hindutva that inspire the volunteers of Sri Ram Sena, who imposes moral policing in Mangalore and other parts of Karnataka.
But the data provided by the Delhi Police, I am sure,
definitely does not include those rapes which are sanctified by religion and
society, where the parents and heads of caste and religions force girls to
marry against their willingness. These should also be treated as rape –
especially when the girls are of very young age (even if they have just crossed
the age limit prescribed by the law) – and punitive action should be initiated
against the perpetrators – including parents. Most of the time the girls are
forced into such marriages ‘to protect the honour’ of the family and even their
caste. This is done to prevent the girls from marrying a person belonging to a
group that is outside the limits prescribed by their caste and clan. In such
cases the leaders of the Caste-Panchayat too get involved and they force the
family to prevent such marriages from taking place. If not complied with the directions of the
caste/clan leaders, their family is excommunicated – which is a terrible outcome for a
family living in a village. If this is not enough, the caste leaders resort to
violence too. [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121029/haryana.htm] This is the real story of Bharat proper,
which the RSS chief has eulogized in his speech.
definitely does not include those rapes which are sanctified by religion and
society, where the parents and heads of caste and religions force girls to
marry against their willingness. These should also be treated as rape –
especially when the girls are of very young age (even if they have just crossed
the age limit prescribed by the law) – and punitive action should be initiated
against the perpetrators – including parents. Most of the time the girls are
forced into such marriages ‘to protect the honour’ of the family and even their
caste. This is done to prevent the girls from marrying a person belonging to a
group that is outside the limits prescribed by their caste and clan. In such
cases the leaders of the Caste-Panchayat too get involved and they force the
family to prevent such marriages from taking place. If not complied with the directions of the
caste/clan leaders, their family is excommunicated – which is a terrible outcome for a
family living in a village. If this is not enough, the caste leaders resort to
violence too. [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121029/haryana.htm] This is the real story of Bharat proper,
which the RSS chief has eulogized in his speech.
If you think this happens only in
remote villages where the diktats of clan leaders prevail, you are mistaken. In
Kerala, the ‘most progressive’ states in India, for instance, the caste/clan leaders do not
call the shots any more in the sense that they do not unleash violence against
the family or formally outcast them. However, the clannish mentality has
permeated amongst the members of the castes to such a level that they need not require any
such diktats. They obey the clan rules on their own. The victims are, of
course, as usual, the girls.
remote villages where the diktats of clan leaders prevail, you are mistaken. In
Kerala, the ‘most progressive’ states in India, for instance, the caste/clan leaders do not
call the shots any more in the sense that they do not unleash violence against
the family or formally outcast them. However, the clannish mentality has
permeated amongst the members of the castes to such a level that they need not require any
such diktats. They obey the clan rules on their own. The victims are, of
course, as usual, the girls.
I had a close experience of
this hold of caste among the ‘progressive Keralites’ when one of the girls known to me fell in love with a boy belonging to a different caste (rather, sub-caste). The
girl was 20 years old, just out of college. The boy (a college
lecturer) belonged to a caste which the family of the girl’s father considered
nominally inferior to their caste. With the help provided by the modern electronic
gadgets (though not Internet – one of the targets of Ms Vibha Rao), their love
blossomed. Like most lovers, they hid it from the family in the initial days.
But when this was ultimately disclosed, there was a riot in the family. The
girl was asked to stop this ‘unequal relationship’. There of course was an age gap of 10 years between the girl and the boy. But that was not the main
irritant as far as her family was concerned – that was conveniently brought in
only to justify, only for rationalizing, their caste/clan based prejudices.
Since the girl was not willing, for whatever reason, to marry somebody without
the cooperation of her parents, she gave up. But, fortunately, she was adamant
on one thing. She would not marry anybody else soon – even to placate the clannish sentiments of her parents. She wanted to continue her higher education – no
further questions to be asked. On this, she stood her ground. She continued her
education according to her wishes. [True, this option is still not available to
many girls in other parts of India. Kerala, in that sense, can still be proud of its progressive heritage].
this hold of caste among the ‘progressive Keralites’ when one of the girls known to me fell in love with a boy belonging to a different caste (rather, sub-caste). The
girl was 20 years old, just out of college. The boy (a college
lecturer) belonged to a caste which the family of the girl’s father considered
nominally inferior to their caste. With the help provided by the modern electronic
gadgets (though not Internet – one of the targets of Ms Vibha Rao), their love
blossomed. Like most lovers, they hid it from the family in the initial days.
But when this was ultimately disclosed, there was a riot in the family. The
girl was asked to stop this ‘unequal relationship’. There of course was an age gap of 10 years between the girl and the boy. But that was not the main
irritant as far as her family was concerned – that was conveniently brought in
only to justify, only for rationalizing, their caste/clan based prejudices.
Since the girl was not willing, for whatever reason, to marry somebody without
the cooperation of her parents, she gave up. But, fortunately, she was adamant
on one thing. She would not marry anybody else soon – even to placate the clannish sentiments of her parents. She wanted to continue her higher education – no
further questions to be asked. On this, she stood her ground. She continued her
education according to her wishes. [True, this option is still not available to
many girls in other parts of India. Kerala, in that sense, can still be proud of its progressive heritage].
About a century old progressive movements in Kerala however has not yet succeeded in removing the deep rooted caste prejudices in Kerala. If it is slowly losing its strangle hold over the masses, it is primarily because of the rapid urbanization taking place in the state – the very urbanization which the RSS chief now blames for violence against women.
A recent court order
Yet, everything is not gloomy. For
instance, a recent order by Judge Kamini Lau of a Sessions Court in Delhi gives us hope. We
quote the report filed by the correspondent of The Hindu (January 2, 2013) on this important judgement:
instance, a recent order by Judge Kamini Lau of a Sessions Court in Delhi gives us hope. We
quote the report filed by the correspondent of The Hindu (January 2, 2013) on this important judgement:
Jiby KattakayamDismissing an anticipatory bail
application moved by a maulvi, accused of forcing a young Muslim girl into a
wedding with a married man who allegedly raped her subsequently, a sessions
court here has slammed the cleric’s attempt to take refuge in religious tenets
to justify his act.While the prosecution said the
maulvi forcibly performed the nikah, the maulvi claimed that the Shariah
permitted a Muslim to keep four wives at a time and that the girl consented to
the marriage.However, Additional Sessions
Judge Kamini Lau noted that the girl had not signed the marriage certificate.
Her parents were not present, nor were there any witnesses. Further, the girl escaped
from the man, who allegedly raped her after serving her intoxicants, the same
day. The maulvi getting a stamp paper for the girl to sign purportedly
consenting to the marriage was prima facie a “cover-up operation” on
his part for indemnity from legal consequences and awareness of his committing
an illegal act, the judge said.Majesty of law prevailsOn the Maulvi taking recourse to
Shariah to justify polygamy, Ms. Lau said: “The Indian legal system provides
sufficient space for religious freedom but whenever any such regressive
religious practice come into conflict with the rights of the citizens as
enshrined in the Indian Constitution, it becomes obligatory for courts to
ensure that it is the majesty of law and the constitutional mandate which prevail.”The judge also noted the maulvi’s
failure to get the consent of the first wife of the man and to ascertain if he
was capable of financially supporting both wives and their children. Ms. Lau
said: “Jurists are unanimous that in Islamic societies polygamous marriages are
permitted but only in certain circumstances, that is primarily in situations
where a man’s death has left his widows with no means or support… Polygamy is
neither mandatory nor encouraged but merely permitted. The Koran’s conditional endorsement
stresses that self-interest or sexual desire should not be the reason for
entering into a polygamous marriage. It is a practice associated with the
social duty of Islamic men to protect the social and financial standing of
widows and orphans in their community.”On the responsibilities of
clerics, the judge said: “It is equally the duty of the religious heads,
priests, maulvis and all those involved in propagating religion to ensure that
the religious texts are progressively interpreted and to confirm that it is
only those beneficial practices which are in the best interest of all sections
of humanity which are encouraged and observed. However, it pains me to observe
that instead, some of these religious heads/priests like the accused are often found
to be indulging [in] and encouraging practices which are derogatory and
regressive to women (particularly those belonging to the poor sections) which
they do with impunity by seeking the cover of religion.”The judge added: “Any person who
is found indulging in such activities which are a moral, social and legal wrong
and who exploits a woman by taking refuge in religion has to be taken to task.”
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