A Lamentable Ban on "INDIA'S DAUGHTER"

When I read about Mr. Arun Jaitley , our  Finance Minister and an eminent scholar ,defending the ban on documentary “India’s Daughter “ ,I was shell-shocked because I am damn sure his  personal views on the aforesaid topic are entirely different from the one he has been endorsing and being evangelic about .The realisation also dawned upon me that being a political figure leads to loss of freedom of expression as  an individual  and anything you say is a direct manifestation of intent of your political party .but having said  that, does not absolve Mr. Jaitley because  a man of his stature and eminence should understand that his comments as an individual do have a bearing on public mindset. Also the way Government has reacted to this documentary , puts every Indian in ignominy and gloom .The ban on “India’s Daughter “ is a vociferous attack on freedom of expression in so called “largest democracy “   of the world. It  antagonises  me how can the government be so blunt and obtuse to not understand that documentary  was an eye opener showing the extent to which our values  have eroded .Views of Mukesh (one of the convicts ) shows the moral depravity , lack of humanity and sensitivity in our society .

The reasons for the ban raises some serious question on inadequacy of our system .As put forth by govt. the video will have a  bearing on the case which is  under trial and also it might provoke further protests as was witnessed  during Nirbhaya case . Sorry to say but the reasons are preposterous ,baseless  and in a way offending .The lack of remorse in Mukesh’s opinions and the way he was still defending his heinous act was outrageous and repugnant. I am of the strong opinion that this lack of remorse and guilt should  and must have a bearing on the case . and as for the protests ,it is within democratic discretion.
Had the government appreciated the efforts of BBC in general and Leslee Udwin (film maker ) ,it should have sent a strong message to perpetrators of such vicious atrocities . Instead what ensued was a kind of “witch hunt “ against Leslee Udwin which was appalling and unfortunate .
BBC planned to broadcast  this documentary to commemorate International Women’s Day in 7 different countries simultaneously to elucidate the plight of women and gender inequality prevalent in the countries across the globe .The documentary did not show a problem just limited to our country ,but it apprised the women safety issue with Nirbhaya case being a symbol  of all forms of abominable and horrendous  sexual crimes being committed worldwide And this particular case was chosen to laud the momentous courage of Indian masses who took to streets and to show the world an example of  what  civilians are capable of . but  alas ! thanks to efforts of our government ,this noble cause was deflated and defeated .

Reaction of government  borders on fringes of categorical and abject ‘Denial’ ,one of the psychological defence mechanisms where you simply choose to deny eye glaring fact or truth . It was case of violation of liberty,the basic tenet of any thriving democracy .It was perceived as if BBC had purposefully chosen India to taint its image as a liberal country and we Indians  have a habit of taking it too personally .How could someone “insult” us  and tell us  how pathetic our social plight was ? How could someone raise a finger on us and show us  the true picture of “deplorable and pitiful “ conditions of  ‘better half’
of our population ? how could a rank outsider (read BBC) dare to expose the inherent gender bias in our mentality ? and more especially how a woman (read Leslee Udwin ) dared to challenge the ubiquitous ‘patriarchal clout’ of our Indian society where we decide for our women “what to wear “ and when to go out “.? Indeed we are offended and our government took a “ righteous “ course of action by banning the film . Our Govt made a brave decision of “hiding “ our shame rather than ‘Saving Our Women ‘(as quoted by Ms. Udwin).
 Kudos to government !!!!

thanks to our govt every ‘thinking Indian head’  today hangs in shame .
why are not we offended by panopticon of sexual predacity  in which our women are grilled everyday ??
why does not it  gall us to see our women objectified by our patriarchal mindset ?
 more even why does this Patriarchy itself doesn’t offend us ?
Why are we so opaque to male domination in all walks of life ?
why  this insolence towards women ?
why for a woman today  ‘going out’ equals to risk of getting raped ?

I wish our government could channelised its energy in searching answer to such quandaries rather than to ‘abuse’ a noble gesture as put forth by BBC’s documentary.