Challenging a distorted mentality that considers women as property, commodity, and a liability is as much essential as separating a rotten apple from a basket of fresh fruits. The stereotype that is deeply rooted to subjugate women needs to be challenged. Even religion, culture, tradition helped in glorifying the rituals which are to be performed by women for men such as fasting, etc.
‘Kanyadaan’ too is quite praised in Hindu tradition which symbolises the act of giving away one’s daughter as a gift to her husband and her in-laws. It is the culture that celebrates the birth of a boy and associates a girl as a liability.
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data reveals that crimes against women increased by 7.3 per cent from 2018 to 2019. Challenge gives the space for arguments, discussions, debates which pave the way for change. Raja Ram Mohan Roy dared to challenge the immoral Sati system prevailing in India, which finally led to its abolition. Bhanwari Devi, a member of the OBC Kumhar caste, worked as a Saathin (Friend) in the Rajasthan Government Women’s Development Programme to prevent child marriage.
Her fight for injustice led to the formation of the Vishaka Guidelines (protection of women from sexual harassment in workplaces) in 1997.
This helped in forming the base for Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. The “Me Too” movement by Tarana Burke served as a guidebook for the powerful storm against the entrenched power structure. The sharing of journalist Priya Ramani about being sexually harassed by boss reflected the power imbalance in India.
Her courage gives space to other womens to speak up and her acquittal by the Delhi High Court in a criminal defamation suit slapped against him by none other than the accused MJ Akbar celebrates the victory of women like Ramani who came up against injustice to them against all odds.
The court ruled that the right of reputation cannot be protected at the cost of the right to life and dignity of women. The court finally set up a precedent for women to speak up against sexual harassment at any platform of their choice and even after decades. Her case is a reminder that truth can be a more powerful weapon than a brigade of lawyers and people of influence.
The recent wedding of Dia Mirza and Vaibhav Rekhi was solemnized by a female priest (Sheela Atta) which is traditionally being performed by a male priest and their very denial of Hindu rituals of ‘Kanyadan’ and ‘Bidaai’ is itself a step towards generation equality. More so, choosing to challenge is much more important.
(The writer is a Lecturer, Jawaharlal Nehru College, Kuanpal, Cuttack, Mob: 9583337023)