Two Minutes of Fame
Another
controversy has blown up on our faces, this last week. An icon of the film
industry decides the physical stress of preparing for his latest flick leaves
him “feeling like a raped woman” and the news media and social networks go berserk.
To give credit where it is due, the star, immediately knew he had put his foot
in his mouth and apologized. He even requested the journalist interviewing him not to use it. And
the journalist responds with a chuckle. But of course they are going to use it.
If they don’t then what happens to the TRPs?
So
the interview is strategically made public and the media circus
starts, as the man behind it quietly boards a plane out of the country to
perform at an awards ceremony. So we have everyone, from politicians and women
groups to self-proclaimed political activists baying for his blood; demanding
an apology. News channels go through their usual prime time news with screaming
headlines and discussions. Experts are called and they do their bit trying to
out shout each other. Social networks go into overdrive as the fans and the
people calling for apologies try to outdo each other with memes and trolls.
And
then? Then what? Brexit happens and the media has more hot news to fill your
screens and the newspaper headlines with. All the hype of getting an apology dies
down and we all go about our business.
Do
we as a society really care about what the raped women really feels? How about
we talk to the survivors of such brutalities? How about we talk to that 13-year
old girl, who was raped twice, more than a week ago, in Jamul in Bihar, by a
rich brat? This guy not only rapes her but returns two days later, with his
family members and brutalizes her publicly by inserting sticks into her
private parts, leaving her fighting for her life. How about we ask the parents
of this girl who witnessed this brutality and yet are helpless to do anything
as the police refuse to accept it as rape. The police have dismissed it as an
affair gone wrong. And all this news gets, is a small mention in the newspapers. This, my dears, is not breaking news.
Anyone thinking of calling the police and asking questions of them? NCW? Women’s rights
activists? The ooh… so vocal politicians who appear on the TV news panels?
Anyone for justice for this little girl? Anyone bothered that this has become a ‘normal’ thing in our country? How many more Nirbhaya’s and Jisha’s before we realize the problem is not
solved by asking someone to apologize? Our indifference to women being treated
as such is deep rooted, even callous. We still bring up our boys to think they
are somehow superior. It shows in the way the family members came along to
complete the humiliation of the girl and her family. It shows in the way the
cops are treating this case.
And while we may think this is a phenomenon in our country, let's have a look globally. Isn't the woman who is violated made to believe she is at fault everywhere? Look
back at how many politicians and people who want a quick ticket to fame and
news headlines, make crude remarks on women in the past few years. Politicians make such remarks routinely. It ensures they stay in the limelight. Media
catapults these low-level intellectuals to instant fame. It is discussed,
protested against and the end-goal of these individuals is served, without making
any difference to the woman who has suffered. If anything they feel even more
violated. There are always people ready to ride this wave for their own
benefit.
There
are still Nirbhayas’ being humiliated in the worst possible way, in our society
every day. They still face the shame and the mental torture of being violated
every day. The violators roam free, shamelessly. And for others life goes on
unmindful. So, controversies any one? Fame anyone? Simple, make a crude
statement about women in public and the media will lap it up and as they enjoy
the TRP’s, you will enjoy your two minutes to fame.
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