Today, I read #VintaNanda‘s facebook post that’s been doing the rounds on social media since the past few days. Sickened to the core, I read about what she went through two decades ago. I could recall reading an article many years ago about her ordeal, in some magazine. She hadn’t ventured out of her house for TWO YEARS after being raped and abused by her colleagues. She didn’t mention any name even then. And whose name?
The #AlokNath who went on to enjoy very successful innings in the television world as well as in the movie business. And the lady in question? Well, her career was effectively destroyed after that. Those of us possessing even a basic level of I.Q. will remember that her name suddenly disappeared from the screens of our television sets. That’s the way men put “difficult” women in their place; by labelling them and destroying their lives.
This has been an age old trend in our patriarchal world. Women who have dared to raise their voice against abuse, disrespect, misbehaviour are labelled as “difficult” and “arrogant” ? Because that’s the way the world gets back at them. That’s the reason we had women who were called ” WITCH ” and ” DAYAN ” many moons back.
“Why is she coming up with this after so many years? For publicity? “- This is what most people ( and not just men ) have to say about #TanushreeDutta‘s allegations against #NanaPatekar . It’s not rocket science to understand here that she is looking for “Exposure” and NOT “Publicity”. The pattern is familiar. A promising and upcoming actress suddenly left the movie business and went into hibernation; foresaking vanity, chopping off her hair, spending time in ashrams too. Even she had spoken out against him at that time and ended up being attacked by goons, harassed and victimized.
Speaking about something that happened in the past means that the person has finally gathered the courage and has been so traumatized by whatever happened, that she wants to get the poison out of her very being. She wants closure. Can you imagine what kind of effort it must have taken for her to take such a bold step and how much of her life is at stake here? If you don’t know what she is talking about, then at least don’t mock her effort by shouting “I don’t believe! ”
PLEASE, BE A MAN ENOUGH – TO LET A WOMAN BE A WOMAN ENOUGH!
WOMEN, PLEASE BE HUMANE ENOUGH TO SUPPORT OTHER WOMEN!
#IBelieve
© Oct 2018 Sapna Dhyani
The post The Indian #Metoo – We need to learn to say “#Ibelieve” appeared first on Sapna Dhyani.
