By Abdul Hannan Siwani Nadvi,
Commenting on the Editorial “The Message from Speedy Trials” of The Hindu dated 22nd March 2014 in the context of Mumbai Sessions Court’s judgment in the Shakti Mills gang-rape case in which 4 accused got life imprisonment, Mr. Siddharth, an ordinary Indian man, raises valuable points. He says that these kinds of incidents will continue to happen unless we realize that the basic cause is the commercialization of lust brought about by films and pornographic industry. “Who dares to oppose them?”
“Whenever a major violence happens, then immediately all feminists come to the air, start blaming Indian Traditions for such incidents, and after this, they go on praising the Media, film actors, etc, for their “open” approach towards sexuality, claiming that we live in 21st century” he criticizes the hypocrisy in the society and the film industry’s paradox. The editorial of The Hindu doesn’t throw light on actual causes that have been playing a vital role in increasing crimes against women with immunity under the banner of modernization and reformations.
Welcoming the speedy trial in the same case, The Hindustan Times too avoided this subject. The editorial “Speed of Conviction in Shakti Mills Rape Cases Brings Hope” dated 24th March 2014, says “The Shakti Mills conviction have set the right precedent. The judiciary must fast track all rape trials”. In fact, all of the mainstream media discuss speedy trials, speedy disposal of cases, police patrolling and security, fixing CCTV cameras, awareness among women and girls, help line numbers, martial art training for girls, but they avoid to examine this ”open approach”. The voices of certain sections to ban and discourage this culture as raised by Mr. Siddharth are being termed as fundamentalist. Siddharth may not know that his views in an era of “Jism”, “Ragini MMS 2”, “Grand Masti” and some television serials, are meaningless.
Speedy trials and disposal of cases in a short period no doubt a good sign and reformative acts but we shouldn’t forget that there is not only one case or few cases. The Hindustan Times in above mentioned editorial says that 24,000 rape cases are pending in various High Courts across the country. This is the figure of pending cases. What about the cases that go un-reported? What about the cases that happen every hour across the country? Moreover, 24,000 cases are related to rapes only; what about harassment, blackmailing, dowry, Live in Relationship, mutual consensual activities etc. The system and the 21st century’s “culture” puts the whole burdens on and accountabilities for police and judiciary. We don’t scream when our so-called reformative culture destroys the whole system from within.
The good sign is that ordinary Indian citizens have started to realize the results of those avenues and sectors as highlighted by Mr. Siddharth in his comment in The Hindu.
The pessimism of the acceptable attitude prevents decision makers to take bold steps in favor of building a society where women and girls live and move freely in fearless environment and crimeless society.