The people in “power” in our country never fail to inspire us with their histrionics. For better or for worse. Among the latest being former Supreme Court judge Justice Ganguly, US-based Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade and Euphoria singer Palash Sen. And considering we’re probably busy drafting our resolutions for the new year, here’s what all Indians must add to their 2014 to-do lists:
Resolution # 1: Enough of the sex games
Inspiration: AK Ganguly a.k.a. Justice Ganguly
The story: Justice Ganguly. The moniker might just prove to be the perfect oxymoron in the sexual harassment case of the law intern versus the former Supreme Court judge. About a month ago, the 23-year-old woman revealed to a three-judge panel that the 66-year-old “father figure” had “outraged her modesty”. Then, about a week ago, we had all the gory details. Apparently, the man wanted to share a hotel room with her, asked her to relax in his bedroom with some red wine, kissed her arm and tried to embrace her. His alleged words: “You know that I’m attracted to you, don’t you? You must be thinking, what, this old man is getting drunk and saying such things. But I really like you, I love you.” Interestingly, all of the above transpired in December 2012 but the intern spoke up only in November 2013. And the latest update: Ganguly has written to the Chief Justice of India flatly denying the charges and maintaining that his “moral strength lies undiminished”.
Moral of the story: Though this story might seem lame compared to the Phaneesh Murthy debacle or the Tarun Tejpal tehelka, can those in positions of power please stop abusing those at their mercy, sexually or otherwise? Whether it’s subordinates at the workplace or your good old hired help…
Resolution #2: Enough of servant power play
Inspiration: Us-based Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade
The story: The former Deputy Consul General in New York was accused of Visa fraud and giving false statements with respect to the entry of an Indian women called Sangeeta Richard into the US. The 39-year-old Foreign Services Officer was arrested, strip-searched, cavity-searched, subjected to DNA swabs and locked up with common criminals and drug addicts, all of which led to India demanding an apology from the US and deciding to withdraw identity cards and airport passes of US diplomats in the country as well as stopping import clearances for the US Embassy. There’s also talk about gay partners of US diplomats having their Visas revoked and being jailed, which prompted CNN to carry an alarmed opinion piece on why the States must apologise to us. Of course, it also carried another piece three days later —in a not-so-alarmed vein — about India over-reacting to the situation. Opinions are obviously divided about Khobragade’s guilt and all of this is definitely not conducive to relations between two of the world’s largest democracies. As for Richard, who is now absconding, lawyers declare that she was grossly underpaid and her family has alleged that she was made to work “like a slave”, from 6 am to 11 pm, and even on Sundays, her supposed day off.
Moral of the story: Do read what a few maids have to say on the matter and start treating yours like a human being. Or if you’re the victim of maid domination (they call the shots, fall “ill” at will, work half-heartedly, etc.), take the initiative to share a more humane relationship. Oh, by the way, please don’t get carried away and take a leaf out of a certain Shiney Ahuja’s book.
Resolution #3: Enough of gender stereotypes
Inspiration: Euphoria singer Palash Sen
The story: If you’re asking “Palash Sen, who?”, I won’t blame you. I just had to include him in this “people in power” list because of the ridiculousness of the words he deigned to utter on a platform as prominent as IIT-B’s music festival. “Are there good-looking girls in IIT-B?” he asked the Mood Indigo crowd. When the answer from the male-dominated crowd was a unanimous, resounding: “No!”, he consoled the poor boys: “Don’t worry guys, you will find the best looking women when you leave this campus. Aur woh tumhaare liye roti belenge (The women will make rotis for you).” The icing on the cake was when he equated women with beauty, and men with intelligence. “You have to agree that men are more intelligent than women, don’t you?” However, a back-up vocalist with the band called Kamakshi Khanna defended Sen, maintaining that it was “harmless humour”. Well, such statements definitely don’t tickle my funny bone. And they’re far from harmless; why reinforce already ingrained gender stereotypes? Please find something else to joke about, Mr Sen.
Moral of the story: Let’s read this open letter by IIT’s Arpita Biswas, a Caste and Gender research student and decide to grow up and grow out of blind gender stereotypes. Whether it’s to do with the sexual objectification of men or women, the MCP or the FCP attitude.
More resolutions to come next week. Watch this space.
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Image courtesy: BCCL
