(Dr. Shashi Tharoor is a two-time MP from Thiruvananthapuram, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, the former Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Human Resource Development and the former UN Under-Secretary-General. He has written 15 books, including, most recently, India Shastra: Reflections On the Nation in Our Time.)
The Government has caused, and is causing, deep embarrassment to India worldwide with its ridiculous campaign to ban a BBC documentary on specious grounds.
I haven't seen "India's Daughter," Leslee Udwin's film on the tragic rape-murder two years ago of J****, euphemistically dubbed Nirbhaya. With YouTube having been coerced into removing the film from that site, I am unlikely to be able to see it now. But my arguments relate to issues of principle and policy, not to the merits of the film. After all, bad or mediocre films are screened every day in India. What justifies a ban?
But the government's and the ruling party's arguments are, frankly, a disgrace. We have the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Venkaiah Naidu, delivering the mother of all political cliches: "This is an international conspiracy to defame India." The BJP's Meenakshi Lekhi protests that "this will certainly affect tourism." The 'this" she refers to is the film, not the reports of previous rapes of tourists, nor the advisories issued by every Western country warning female tourists against travelling alone or after dark in India. Home Minister Rajnath Singh's statement invokes "the dignity of women" and fulminates that the Government "will not allow any attempt by any individual, group or organization to leverage such unfortunate incidents for commercial benefit." The restraining order obtained by the authorities against the BBC specifically states that one of the accused, Mukesh Singh, "had made offensive and derogatory remarks against women, creating an atmosphere of fear and tension with the possibility of public outcry and law and order situation."
This is exactly the attitude we witnessed half a century ago when Satyajit Ray was condemned by Nargis and others for showing India's poverty to the west in his masterpiece, Pather Panchali. It wasn't our poverty that shamed us, but its depiction to the outside world. On that issue, fortunately, the Congress government of the day didn't ban Ray's work. It understood that truth is its own justification and that we need mirrors turned on us to understand ourselves better. History has shown that such self-examination has only made the world better.
But our government, as usual, prefers to brush reality under the carpet; ignore the message and shoot the messenger. The home of the BBC co-producer in Delhi is ringed by police; the order of an Indian court is sought to be imposed on the freedoms of other societies; people worldwide are decrying the thin-skinned intolerance of a supposedly democratic government. And of course, far more people are rushing to see the film than would have been the case if the Indian Government hadn't reacted with such childish petulance.
This government certainly doesn't speak for me. Nor does it speak for Badrinath Singh, J****'s father, who openly attacks the patriarchal mindsets of the Indian establishment. "How will we protect our daughters if we don't tell our sons what is wrong and should not be done? Isn't it time to admit that there are both good and bad people everywhere and that certain ways of thinking have led to the death of our daughters?" he asked the BBC. And he added to the Economic Times: "many men, even from good families and with good degrees, seem to think like this. How can our daughters study and work freely if society thinks like this?... We ask parents to treat their daughters as they treat their sons. Educate them but at the same make them strong and, more importantly, teach your sons to respect women."
The film's contribution lies in making us aware of the mindsets in our midst, the attitudes and ways of thinking that enable and legitimize rape. It is sadly not such a long leap from condemning girls' clothes and believing women's place is in the kitchen and the bedroom, to assaulting them sexually and torturing them with iron rods. The fact that such opinions are widespread, and the dangers they pose, are what the film reveals starkly to us. Rape, remember, is not about sex, but about the violent assertion of power over women. How will denial, or burying our heads in the sand, prevent Indian rapists with such views from claiming new victims? Has a "see no evil" attitude eliminated evil from our country?
The last word should go to Badrinath Singh, the father of India's most famous rape victim. "Our daughter has shown society its true face. She has changed the lives of many young girls. She remains an inspiration even after her death. She fought back those devils. We are proud of our daughter." He tells the BBC his murdered daughter's name means "light ... a light that I wish will dispel whatever darkness there is in this world".
I appeal to the shame-making BJP government not to snuff out this light again. Even while struggling for life she had spoken to the police in order to pursue justice against her tormentors. Do not brush her courage under the dusty carpet. Let us honour her and confront our own demons within. I don't care what foreigners view or not; there is too much information and disinformation available about India anyway around the world for any one film to make a major difference. It is we Indians who need to see it and be provoked into changing our own society. Let it make us ashamed. Let it make us angry. Let it shame us into changing our society's misogynistic attitudes.
Let the film be shown.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
Shashi Tharoor Gets Relief In Defamation Case For Remarks Against PM Modi Shashi Tharoor Approaches Supreme Court After No Relief In Defamation Case "Something Wrong With Indian Men If...": Shashi Tharoor On Mollywood #MeToo AAP Asks Its Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal To Quit Over Atishi Remarks "Your Duty...": Chief Justice On Bengal's 'No Night Shift For Women' Note AAP's Atishi To Be Delhi's New Chief Minister, Chosen By Arvind Kejriwal "He's Boss Even After Congress Lost Thrice": Kiren Rijiju Jabs Rahul Gandhi Study Shows How Long Covid Is Debilitating Children's Health Arvind Kejriwal Resigns After Choosing Atishi As His Replacement Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.