Sexual Assault Cases & Why Logic Takes a Backseat

“Soch badlo, kapde nahin” (change the way you think, not the way you dress) was college student and protagonist Suvreen Guggal’s mantra for a couple of weeks, a few months ago, on Channel [V] India’s youth show Suvreen Guggal- Topper of the Year when Suvreen’s best friend got molested by her ex-boyfriend. In response, the college authorities cracked down on every skirt- toting, shorts-wearing female student and imposed a dress code. Logic? Don’t know what you’re talking about.

But of course, who really takes life lessons out of a Hindi TV serial? Nobody, until a couple of days back. Horrifically relevant to what took place in Guwhati on 9^th July, when a teenage girl was brutally slapped, beaten up, groped and stripped in public view for an inglorious 40 minutes. That’s more than half an hour. That’s more the duration of your daily soap.

She was returning after celebrating her friend’s birthday at a bar, and got into a fight with a couple of boys she had gone to the bar with. But of course, people fighting amongst themselves is the clearest invitation for a mob to join in apparently. A reporter with a camera caught the entire thing on video which has since gone viral on YouTube (Please, don't search it up. Show some respect). A girl just walked out of a pub with two boys? Definitely enough information for everyone from one end of the street to the other to judge her character!

Here is the case broken down into numbers; you can do the math yourself.

·         The girl is from Class XI. What were you doing in Class XI? Are you even in Class XI yet?

·         The incident took place a kilometer away from a police station. A kilometer. 1000 metres. The average person takes 10 minutes to walk a kilometer. Not run, walk.

·          However, the police aren’t your average people. They took a casual 30 minutes to get there. Just another day at an Indian police station?

·         There were at least 50 people in the mob. 11 have been identified, 4 have been arrested. The first arrest was made 2 days after the incident.

·         The group molested her in the police jeep itself. A television camera crew was present and took a video in order to help convict the molesters later. (Not much math in this one, do find it in your heart to forgive me)

The entire nation hangs its head in shame. As it rightly should. However, of course when a highly publicized case such as this one makes it to the media, everyone has something they want to say. My next little segment is called ‘Stars (and I) react’. Do try to take something out of it-

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Kumar- “I regret that victim’s name was revealed by my office but we immediately corrected that mistake and asked the media not to publish her name”
My say- Thanks man, I’m sure she appreciates your grave concern for her and the fact that this mistake can’t be rectified, but that’s perfectly fine!

National Commission for Women Chairperson Mamta Sharma- the police are "shying away from responsibility."
My say- Watch this turn into a blame game, and fast. Speculations of this being used as a political game are already abounding. P.S. The NCW hasn’t done all that much either, earning itself more than a little criticism.

Opposition Leader in the Assam Assembly Sirajuddin Ajmal - "We will go on fighting, go on agitating till very serious and substantial action is taken."
My say- Proves my point above just about beautifully.

Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup District, Ashutosh Agnihotri- “ We are planning to take action against the bar owners if they are not following the norms. The bars are supposed to be closed by 10 pm."
My say- Yes, of course, the bars are completely to blame! You go girlfriend!

NDTV Journalist Barkha Dutt-@BDUTT

Let's keep our eye on the big picture. 50 men sexually assaulted a teen in public view. Only 4 arrests so far. Find the creeps. Jail them
Getting conflicting details on role of the cameraman who filmed #Guwahati sexual assault. Can anyone shed  light on how video was uploaded
My say- Finally someone who’s actually representing the sentiments of the public. Thank you Barkha Dutt! Where her second tweet is concerned, read on

Amitabh Bachchan (via srbachchan.tumblr.com) -"Pro-media comment defends itself by stating that the media's job is to inform and that handling a mob may be the prerogative of a hero in film, but not the reporter! Giving excuse that the recording assisted in identifying the culprits, sounds lame""In incidents such as this, how is it that a TV camera crew comes to know beforehand of a molestation to be taking place - so they could record it as content for the channel they work for"
My say- Fair enough, Sr. B. I’m just overjoyed a Bollywood star is speaking some sense, ignore me here. However, there is truth in your statements that is reflected in Ms Dutt’s tweets as well. There’s something we need to consider- the stationing of the cameraman was in quite the convenient location, wasn’t he?

“Dont let the Mob Win. Dont tell your daughter she can't go out alone at night. Dont restrict the clothes she wears. Teach your sons better”

-@BDUTT

And there we have it. Something I really want to scream out till I’m sick of screaming. Teach your sons to behave, not your daughters to dress. Let’s take a little look at something I discovered this morning-

Young girls in salwar kameez decry jeans and other Western wear as “provocative”, and explain how donning such clothes “invite” trouble from boys. In Muzaffarnagar, UP, “the Khaps seem to have had their way” (NDTV).

I can’t even begin to list the things wrong with that. But I’ll attempt it anyway because I’m relentless-

1.     I’m sorry but I wasn’t aware there haven’t been any instances of molestation and rape of women in sarees and salwaar kameez. Sorry, I must be behind on times.

2.     “Trouble” is going to come regardless of the place and situation. All it requires is a stray thought and unfortunate opportunity.

3.     The bit that troubles me the most- nobody invites this. NOBODY. No girl wants this to happen. No girl looks in the mirror, wears her skirt and thinks “On a scale of '1' to 'provocative' how do I look?”

I’m tired. I’m extremely tired. This article has more than drained my emotions. I am sick and I am tired and I want change. I need change. WE need change. The problem is that this is just one in a billion cases, it just so happened that this was “caught on camera”. In a few months nobody will remember this. The pigs will spend a few months in jail and then walk out laughing. And then repeat.

Wake up. This is happening every single day, and can happen to every single girl.

Soch Badlo, Kapde Nahin

-Lassie

(Some of you might want to consider switching from those saas-bahu shows to more thoughtful ones like Suvreen Guggal. Can't promise it'll be a 100% thought-provoking, but it guaranteed won't be a 100% bullshit)