When a documentary becomes national shame

“A woman is to blame for rape!”

“They provoke men with their short clothes!”

“They wouldn't dress up if they didn't want to be raped!”

“Don't resist rape– it would be simpler for you!”

Is the mentality ever going to change? Every few months we hear these statements from the perpetrators of rape in the country, and then the politicians follow. Even god-men have their opinions about how the woman should have called the rapist her 'brother' to avoid rape.

Two years after the horrific December 16 gangrape, here we are, debating whether a documentary on it should be banned or not, while one of the men who was responsible for the atrocity is still up and about giving us 'gyaan' on film, with not a shred of guilt in him. Apparently imprisonment hasn't changed a thing in him.

I wish I could see the documentary before I outraged over what he said. But snippets of it have already shown me the hopelessness of it all. But why, I ask, is anyone surprised? Isn't this what many of our leaders have said time and time again? Haven't political leaders threatened to rape and murder people in their opposition, as if raping and murdering someone is not a big deal?

'India' is more ashamed of a documentary on the Nirbhaya Rape case than the rape itself. Yet, steps to change laws, make their implementation faster have not been taken. The tragedy is now that the convict has said that she should not have resisted – the men with the sick minds will glorify him and use his statement as an excuse. And no amount of death penalty and stricter punishments will deter these would be criminals unless justice is guaranteed – and fast.

The documentary, from what I perceive, presents the harsh truth that most people in India think like Mukesh ( the convict featured in the documentary). Educated, modern men and women have said that the girls need to understand what they wear makes men 'excited' – rape, it seems, is the obvious next step for these men. Obviously, we human beings have not evolved enough to keep our carnal desires in our pants.

If there is an outrage on social media and in parliament – there should be. Not to ban the Nirbhaya documentary, but to take all steps necessary to stop these crimes. There need to be support groups to help and rehabilitate women who have been victims of these heinous crimes and don't get accepted by their own families. There need to be fast track courts, and not just in name. We need to immediately take action against leaders, men and women who decide to blame the victims instead of taking responsibility.

The film needs to be seen by as many people possible – simply because we need to know what depraved minds such as these think and the people who defend them can be made to shut up once and for all. The glorification of the convict however could be curtailed if the media just uses a little bit of self censorship. A fact that we all know for a very long time, but can't resist sensationalising of a brutal crime.

The focus has shifted again. The film has been banned. The culprit still sitting and smiling inside the safety of his cell. For once, to my mind, public lynching of this sick sick man doesn't seem like a bad idea. Once again, all we are doing in outraging and wondering what happened to all those promises of women safety.

Celebrating Woman's Day this week with all this looming over our heads is a mere farce. It is a lie that we want to weave around ourselves that everything is glorious in this wonderfully beautiful country. The reality is women are not respected here, and a few flowers and making your wife/mother/sister feel special by making her breakfast is not going to change that.

We women are all just subconsciously living a life of fear. Every day when I walk down a dimly lit street, or when I see some guys loitering around and talking, or a guy walking behind me – all I can hope is I wouldn't be next.

Manshi Sinha
Msc.Media || PG:1