Perpetually Perplexed

ನಿರಂತರ ನ್ಯೂಸಾದೆ. ತಾಯೆಂದು ಗುರುತಾದೆ ಸೇಡಿಗೆ ಹಗೆತನಕ್ಕೆ ಆಯುಧವಾದೆ ಸತ್ತರೆ....    ಸಮೂಹ ಸನ್ನಿಗೆ ಕಾರಣವಾದೆ ಹರಿ ಹರಿ ಗೋವು ನೀನು

There was a Bapu, who was fasting unto death to stop communal violence. And here are his children. All of us. Killing each other in the name of religion. And then using the murder for electoral gains. Bapu, it is good that you are not here to see all this.

While most of us just whined and cowered, she had the courage fight the system. And thanks to her, the draconian section 66A of IT act has been scrapped. The vague 66A had been previously used mainly by politicians of all hues to arrest citizens for flimsy reasons. For example, a Bombay girl was kept in custody for just writing why the city must be shut down after the death of a politician. Her friend was sent to custody for liking the post. We all remember that incidence. We fumed, but did not do anything. Not Shreya, she filed a PIL against this law. In the historical judgement, this section has been scrapped. As some one twittered, politicians will bring in some other law for restricting our freedom of expression. So we just have to enjoy this freedom and express our true feelings online, while we still have freedom.

India is in ban spree.  After Murugan's book, Shireen Dalvi's newspaper over Charlie Hebdo cartoon and India's daughter,  now it is the turn of Debate over 'Mangal Sutra' in Tamil TV channel 'Puthia Talaimurai.  The channel had recorded a debate over the relevance of  "thali" or mangalsutra - the chain worn by married Hindu women. The debate discussed how relevant is this, particularly in the case of estranged women or women who are abused by their spouses.  The show was about to be aired on last Sunday. But the channel received around 3,600 threatening calls. People were asking why does the channel question the thali worn by millions by Hindu women.Will the channel debate over burka worn by Muslim women or cross worn by Christian nuns. The channel has decided to abandon the telecast of the program. Long live democracy and freedom of speech.

We all know the unfortunate event in Charlie Hebdo office in Paris. And we all condemned it vociferously. We - all Indians did that. But do we know about a similar incident which happened in our own country. Perumal Murugan a tamil author whose book 'One part woman' has angered the religious fundamentalists is forced to give a written statement that Murugan the author is dead. Even the administration has not helped him. On January 8th, on police advice, he fled his hometown with his family. Perumal Murugan has stated that protest against the book has nothing to do with the book. But the people are trying to settle scores with him for his stand against casteism. Murugan has compiled 32 articles of his students who bore the brunt of casteism and he also has dedicated his latest novel to the victim of casteism. But the literary world of Tamilnadu is expressing its solidarity with Murugan.

Among all freedoms to humans, freedom from fear is very important. Because most of our actions and inaction are controlled by this fear. We see injustice, but we dare not protest it. Because we are afraid of antagonizing people or authorities. We, most of Indian women wrap ourselves in 4,5 layers of clothing. Lest men feel attracted by us and try to harm us or pass lewd comments. And we are afraid, these comments some how reflect on us, not on them. Family members of some of us go even further and ask us to cover our faces too with a burqa or a ghoonghat We see our boss fire a co-worker for trivial matter, and we feel angry. But we do not protest. We have to protect our own a###es. Some of us - men and women sometimes do muster enough courage and protest injustice. But inevitably we will be punished - get scolded or beaten, or get arrested on some false charges. What ever happened to the dream of our forefathers who said? "Where the mind is without fear And the hea...