In Social Issues - GIVING INDIA A BAD NAME By Lesley D. Biswas, Kolkata, India
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It's all here - Serial Novels, Short Stories, Flash Fictions, Blogs and Poetry!: In Social Issues - GIVING INDIA A BAD NAME By Lesley D. Biswas, Kolkata, India
Dear Les,
It is rather interesting to note the liberal ideas on women empowerment that you hold. Sincerely, I liked the article very much - more so, because, it gives us a lot of food for thought.
But the big question is, how relevant are our comments to specific contexts that we are referring to.
First of all Rchard Gere kissing Shilpa in the manner that he did, certainly did not add impetus to the AIDs Control Programme that was the theme. Perhaps, no brows would have been raised if he had done it in her house, or a park or may be a night club. On the other hand, a series of Smooches in public is good for AIDS control, is the message they seem to send.
I know you would react to this, but what liberties of women you seem to advocate about their dress code seems more like a protest against the deep sense of exhibitionism about the ladies in question. Be it Sania, Katrina, Shilpa or Shabana. I am sure if they had done the same on the ramp, they would have earned a lot of applause than critcism - after all, you see them so often on fashion channels where quite often they are without skirts, why to say about mini skirts.
None the less, I uphold your stand on letting the lovely ladies choose their own attire. My only submission is that it should suit the occassion. After all, we dont go for some one's funeral in our wedding dresses.
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Hi Raj,
Thanks for your openion and appreciation. Going by your logic, Sania Mirza too should be allowed to wear the attire that is suited for the tennis court. Besides we are only advocating human rights like the freedom of speech and expression like you and I enjoy without having to face flank. Also those who blow the trumpet of moraliy and indecency ought to visit the temples in India which are an explicit display of obscenity in the form of ancient sculptures on the walls and are still upheld as the heritage of our naion.
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Hi Les,
Accidently, I always land up getting the wrong end of your stick. But I am not giving up yet. Sincerely, even I uphold the cause for women as seriously as you do. All I am trying to persuade you to do is to not join the band wagon of the hundreds in the media (all inclusive)who mostly like to sensationalise the issues with specific reference to those whom are already gleaming in the lime light. Much that I hope but wonder if any of the flak that they invite, would make any difference to them at all. The subjects in question are the ones who can fight their own battles and have enough clout to have MEN do it for them.
Let the power of your expression and the ability to sway public opinion, be directed towards larger issues of female feoticide, deprivation of the girl child to proper education and opportunities to express their individuality, issues of women being forced into sex trade, rehabilitation of widows and destitudes,dowry deaths,bride burning and wife beating and many such issues plaguing our society.
Try and recall if there are any events of denied justice to the deprived section of women folk, that you have taken up as a cause to uphold the human rights for women. See if you have ever covered a feature on the agony and pain of and insecurity of a soldier's widow receiving a parchment and a medal as a compensation for the supreme sacrifice made by her husband in the face of death. I am appaulled to confess that most us forget it even before the the award ceremony is over.
So Les, use the inborn gift of profound expression that the Almighty has bestowed on you, in service to the those sections of society which truelly deserve our attention. The truth is that the larger picture of attrocities and discrimination against women is much grimmer than causes of Sania, Shilpa Katrina and Khushboo, and that is where you need to shift your attention to. I hope now you would write some about the the unsung but true representatives of womanhood.
By the way, the ancient sculptures perhaps were very relevant to the social fabric and cultures prevalent during the era of their construction. And the other fact about them is that the portrayal of the male human form is as liberal and explicit as that of a woman, so why should only the woman fuss. And thirdly, lets not ignore the whole scheme of things portrayed in those magnificent pieces of art and get stuck to the just physical attributes of an isolated sculpture.
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Thanks Raj for your deep and detailed insight into the plight of womanhood. I will defnitely seek to highlight your perspective, and you will get to see it soon. Keep the faith.
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Dear Ms Biswas,
Pardon my formal address, but I must tell you in advance that I am a male in this predominantly (and meant for) women port. I agree with you that some shady characters raise unnecessary hullabaloo over petty issues for ulterior motives of their own. Such people should be discouraged. Thankfully, our instititions, such as the Supreme Court, are alive to the situation.
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Hi Suman,
Thanks for your assurance. If men begin to think as rationally as you do and seek to earnestly understand women, there would be less issues plaguing our country.
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Welcome to 4iw Lesley. A very pertinent write up. Agree with what you say. I feel as angry at these useless lawsuits and fatwas.
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Hi Irene,
I m quite fond of your writings and its encouraging when veterans like you applaud our efforts. Thanks.
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Very well said! As you have pointed, no one really works for reform. The run is for fame all the time.
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Thanks Kalyani S. Its nice that people understand the reality behind such cheep publicity.
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Where does freedom begin? someone has said that it is where the other person's freedom ends..
I dont understand why someone cant be allowed to do anything if it isnt spreading epidemics or causing accidents...after all we are suffering all these dirty politicians, why cant we tolerate a few women or men who wants to do what they want to?
Moral policing is very well if it holds a gun to anti-social activities...but who is a capable judge of morals at all?
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Hi Lesley,
Your piece was a good read if I go by my literary interests- language, flow, expression, eloquence. However, I can't agree more with Raj in reiterating the fact that reams have already been written on the all time media-favorites--- celebrity controversies, and that we often tend to add to it. I often feel proud at the democratic liberty that the Indian media possesses and enjoys... that allows both sides of the coin to be portrayed, in whatsoever degree possible.This means that your feelings of outrage, annoyance and exasperation at the events mentioned have also been echoed through various media time and again. In this forum we can do far better with innate personal viewpoints on 'real' people in 'real' situations facing 'real' issues, enduring 'real' pain, seeking 'real' strength. All the best...
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hi Lesley, Your article is indeed contemporary. do women have a choice? be it shilpa shetty being kissed by gere or taslima moving around the world like a fugitive? the new social order neeeds to do an urgent rethink. we need more people questioning the logic of all that goes around us. keep writing on such issues. i'll look forwrad to reading your blog.
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You are right Medha, incidents like these in the limelight only reflect what goes on in society and the plight of women.
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