By IANS,
Bangalore : Actor-turned-author Suchitra Krishnamoorthi has slammed the “moral brigade” for attacking women in Mangalore and Bangalore in recent times.
“The attack on women in Karnataka is unfortunate. The entire episode seems to be politically motivated,” Suchitra told reporters at the launch of her debut novel “The Summer of Cool” in the city Saturday.
She said sending pink chaddis (pink underwear by women groups to Sri Ram Sene, the group that attacked women in Mangalore) was not enough.
“It is a deeper issue and needs to be looked into. The people who attack women in the name of tradition are hooligans. I think we need to redefine masculinity and assure protection of the rights of women,” she said.
When asked whether she is ready to lend a helping hand to fight against the moral brigades, Suchitra said she was not a fighter.
“But, yes, I would lead my life the way I love to lead. If someone attacks on my choices, I too won’t spare anybody,” she said.
On Jan 24, around 40 activists from Sri Rama Sene attacked a group of young women in a Mangalore pub, accusing them of going against the “tradition of India”.
A few days later Shruti, daughter of a CPI-M MLA from Kerala, but studying in Mangalore was attacked allegedly by Bajrang Dal men for talking to a Muslim male friend in a bus.
Last week, two Hindu girls and a Muslim boy were threatened, again in Mangalore by a group of young men while they were chatting at a juice joint.
In India’s tech hub, four women were reportedly attacked by hooligans in separate incidents in the last two weeks for “wearing western outfits.”
None of the women has lodged a complaint with the police.
Talking about her book, the first among the series titled ‘Swapnalok Society’, published by Penguin Books India, Suchitra said she wrote the first draft in a rush and was happy to get the book published.
The book, released in January in Mumbai, has 205 pages and is priced at Rs.199.
“I am happy to get good response from readers,” said Suchitra, who was accompanied by her father Krishnamoorthi, elder sister Sunita and friend and music director-singer Daboo Krish Malik for the event.
The book set in a typical housing society named Swapnalok Society in Mumbai, is the story of a 10-year-old girl Chitrangana and her search to findher lost father.
“I too have grown up in a housing society in downtown Mumbai, but this is not my story. But, many of the characters of the book have been inspired by real life people whom I remember since my childhood days,” Suchitra said.
Though the book is about a girl child’s story, “I would suggest the adults to read it and try to learn more about children and their needs,” she said.
Her second and third books in the series are almost ready for publication. They are titled “Good News Reporter” and “Ghost on the Ledge”.
“My fourth is yet to be titled and I am working on it,” she informed.
Suchitra started her acting career in television with then popular tele series Chunauti in 1987. She made her silver screen debut opposite Shahrukh Khan in Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa. She is also a singer and has cut popular music albums, including Dole Dole and Zindagi.
At the book launch she interacted with readers, mostly children, and signed the book for her fans.