India’s Daughter Insulted?

 

It has been the topic of discussion for last three days. #NirbhayaInsulted continues to trend on twitter and only promises to grow following Youtube agreeing to take the BBC documentary India’s Daughter offline. Of course in this age of internet nothing ever disappears… and links of the documentary uploaded by various people are now being shared all over social networking sites. I managed to watch it courtesy one of those shares. Thankful for that, considering it helps me have a more informed understanding.

 

So what exactly is the question? Is it actually a documentary that should be banned… like Arnab Goswami pointed, “It is immoral”. For your information #NirbhayaInsulted is hash-tag used for his Newshour debate on the same topic.

 

Much has already been said by Arnab and the netizens of the country. Many believe that the documentary is indeed a shame. Plenty are furious over what they call an outlet for the rapist to express his point of view. And quite rightfully, that cannot be allowed. But then, I did watch the documentary and it did not come across as an attempt to provide the convicts a mouthpiece…

 

No I am not ecstatic about the film. It is a rather average documentary if you ask me. My grouse is that it does no justice 

to the topic. In its attempt to stay objective (And I am not sure why a documentary on rape needs to be objective) it almost seems to have been scripted beyond the limits of a documentary. The interviews of the people seem artificial… the emotions of the parents do not quite come across, and the convict Mukesh spoke as if he was prepped up for it and even given pointers as to what he should say. Explain a person like Mukesh using the word ‘juvenile’ in his interview multiple times for the youngest convict [due to be released from jail in December this year]. And some very important ideas were not dealt with.

 

What upsets me is that a film not quite up to the mark manages to get the attention it does not deserve. So much that not only is the entire country talking about it… Freida Pinto and Meryl Streep, on March 9, will be present at the launch event of what is being labeled by its publicist as “a movement that has at its core” captured the “heinousness that was the case of the Delhi Gang rape incident” The event will be hosted at the 20th anniversary of the UN Fourth World Conference for Women in association with Vital Voices Global Partnership and the NGO Plan International. Frieda in fact steps in an associate producer.

 

But no the documentary does not scare me. And I would like to believe that it does not scare  or scar any woman either. In contrast it left me angry. I would not like to demand the lawyers defending the convicts be stripped off their degrees and not allowed to practice. I would like to believe the same goes for everyone who’s watches it. I would like to believe that women who watch the film only come out more determined to fight it out. To NOT be scared. And men only more resolute to make this world a fairer place for the fairer sex.

 

Does this documentary deserve to be screened? If I have stood for AIB Roast, I would be a hypocrite to run this piece of work down. Legalities could decide on that. If the filmmaker does not have a permission to telecast it from the authorities who permitted her to shoot  – then it should not be screened. What we could also discuss – a more pertinent discussion for that matter – how did the filmmaker get permission to interview a death sentence convict when the matter is still sub-judice.

 

Otherwise, Arnab… or anyone else does not really have any business commenting on another channel’s ethics. Just like they did not have the right to comment on Arnab’s histrionics…

 

I would like to differ from Arnab. No sir, this film does not serve as a “subtle warning” to the women of the country and neither should it affect the society negatively. The society is already reeling under the mindset of people. The film need not discourage girls from being themselves… almost every parent already does that.

 

Arnab, I also do not agree to you when you say, “No right thinking Indian would watch it.” I suppose I do not need to explain why. Is journalism “turned upside down,” by the channels who produced this and wanted to air it? Let’s not get into mud-slinging, shall we? Because it may just sound vindictive on your part if we continue this…

 

I do however agree with you on one – The film cannot be shown to kids. The adults can make their own decision. I would say, yes Nirbhaya was insulted… but by the fact that the rapist still fight for their freedom.

 

I am humoured by the attempt to pull the film off Youtube. The Government of India needs a crash course of social media.

 

More importantly I am just happy that this one film has brought back to fore a discussion about the respect that we need to show towards our women folk. For that alone India’s Daughters was required!

 

 

 

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Here’s what Tinam Bora, a young woman and our Associate Editor has to say about the film

“Words failed to express my disgust on seeing the rape convict justify his heinous crime. And it has not influenced me to believe that he is right. Rather, it has only motivated me to be a part of the movement against violence and crime against women. I believe there is no question of people being wrongly influenced by this video. Anyone with a right mind would take it as an eye opener and not as an unethical freedom of expression.”

 

 

 

 

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