2014 Bangalore Rape Case: A Troubling Reminder of Child Sexual Abuse and Rape

Returning back from a long vacation and getting back into the groove of things, quite a few things have happened. Nisha Pahuja's The World Before Her (2012) has been nominated for a long deserved Emmy! I will be presenting a paper on it during the next South Asian Studies Conference in Madison, Wisconsin in mid-October! Due to the hectic travels and summer, I have not been as frequent as a blogger as I should be but now the time has come to draw attention to quite a few important issues that have gained my attention.  

          A couple of days ago, my bhabhi (sister-in-law) messaged me on Facebook telling me about a shocking rape case of a six-year-old student in one of the most prominent schools in Bangalore. For the purposes of security, I will not highlight the name of the school. Until now, it seemed as if women and young girls were not safe in the streets, walking out late at night, going out on dates, and so on. But the recent rape of a six year old in Bangalore has raised more concerns about the safety of children in India and the necessity of sex education in India. Children (and adolescents) have the full rights to know about sex and its repercussions as it was highlighted in a very popular satire video ending with the statement - "Sex is not a stigma, but ignorance is!" Indeed and more recently, ChildLine recently released the video on child sexual abuse! I will not speak more about it here as I will be discussing about it in my latest Anokhi Media article. However, the focus on this particular blog entry is on child sexual abuse and rape in particular.

 

          Both intellectually and emotionally as an Indian and an American, I am in quite a shock that despite the media cry that took place in 2012, these rape cases seem to be increasing rather than decreasing. Truth be told, my passion to find the answers to these questions is growing more and more with it! As a scholar and as a woman who belongs to this country, I cannot help but overlook these continuing issues that make up India's social culture. Politically, I feel that it is the responsibility of us as individuals to make a change and rely much more on our power as civilians to make a difference within India. While I do trust our government and am willing to see what happens in the next 5 years, I am more concerned about the young, innocent, and marginalized who are left to the sidelines. 

The image (above) is the photograph taken during the protests taken place for the six-year-old rape case that has taken place in Bangalore. Much more interesting than the image itself was what it meant for the people who understood and received it in social media forums such as Facebook and Twitter. Apparently, the issues of religion and race has also intersected and intervened in to this horrifying cauldron of lust, abuse, and crime.A rapist or someone who commits an act of sexual violence or molestation is a criminal. There are no two ways about it! Rape and child sexual abuse is a universal phenomenon. Perhaps, what makes me more passionate about this particular incident is that it happened in one of the most "safest spaces" for a child - his or her educational institution - but the sad reality is that most cases of child sexual abuse or even rape happen in places that the victim is familiar with. The rapist in the case was a Muslim skating instructor, whose laptop has also been confiscated from him. Before the rape case went public and became an international news, a petition was signed by more than 60,000 supporters to draw attention to its severity and directed towards the Karnataka Education Minister Kimmane Ratakar. It is disheartening to hear that this is the first case in which an arrest has been made! 

         I am writing this blog both as a scholar and as someone who is concerned about taking responsibility and ownership for what has happened in India thus far  I want to say this is a wake up call for those who are in India and outside of India to bear personal responsibility towards the issue of violence against women, children, and any other marginalized human being in the society! Its easy to have a comfortable life, to have a great materialistic wealth to accompany the life, but the true meaning of life is when one gives to those who need it! I think this particular incident is a strong reminder for us as human beings, first and foremost! I would encourage all and everyone to speak out, to become strong individuals who are not afraid of voicing out and taking a stand, and draw attention of those in power to make appropriate changes where they need to be - educate your child about sex (and sexual abuse), become strong men and women who accept and tolerate one another, and most of all respect one another as human beings. It all starts from one - pay it forward! 

Unconventional Heroines: From Shuddh Desi Romance (2013) to Holiday (2014)

           As I enter the stages of achieving Ph.D. candidacy in this upcoming year, I had taken a little more than a month off to essentially vacation and spend time in Singapore. During this time, I didn't get a chance to update my blog sans the movie review of 2 States. I did, however, publish a play review of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice and another article that spoke about the fun night hot spots to party in Singapore. Now, that I am back and after taking a couple of days off to recover from the travel and climate change, I am back with vengeance and more than ready to take all you readers in the journey of India's popular culture, my observations, and discussions that I find important to our understanding of India as a country, nation, and a home to a population of 1.237 billion people. 

Although initially I had planned to write a movie review of Holiday (2014), I came to a realization that the film industry is now exploring and creating characteristics of heroines that are unconventional. Each time the recent films have pushed the boundaries and has arguably represented characteristics in women that were earlier either unaccepted or viewed as immoral or perhaps even unfeminine. I will elaborate these examples through the examples of three films I recently watched this year: Holiday (2014), Hassee to Phassee (2014), and Shuddh Desi Romance (2013). In the string of films that have been challenging the stereotypical representations of Indian women, earlier films include Dev D (2009) and  Luv Ka The End (2011). 

  The film Holiday (2014)'s primary focus is on the army officers who dedicate their time to saving and protecting the nation against terrorism and other threat that seeks to destroy the lives of civilians. As one of the major themes in the film, the constant reminder that Virat Pratap (Akshay Kumar)'s character reiterates is the notion that if a suicide bomber can give up his life for the passion he has for his faith or "revenge," why cannot a civilian also sacrifice his life to protect the lives of millions? While this was a troubling question that the film explores, the heroine (Sonakshi Sinha)'s character could be deemed as unconventional. From the start, the media in the film industry has been pushing the idea that Sinha is unlike other heroines in the industry because she has had to cope with weight issues and so on.

 What I liked about her characterization in this film in particular was that Virat initially rejects her because both him and Saiba (Sonakshi) because she is delicate, soft, and beautiful. Virat longs for a life partner who is physically strong like him and lo and behold, in the next frame we see him getting a pleasant surprise as Saiba transforms from a delicate flower to a strong boxer who wins the match. Hence, one could argue that the societal expectations for the unconventional heroines is gradually growing because as early as films in the early 2000s, such characterizations would have been viewed as tabooed and to a great extend unfeminine.

While for a lot of audiences this moment goes unrecognized, I found this representation in particular to be a step forward in India's fight for violence against women. However, Holiday is not the only film that I would say that has pushed the boundaries of unconventional characterizations for the heroine of the film industry. Earlier this year, I had watched Hasee to Phasee (2014) and Shuddh Desi Romance (2013). 

Both starred the international star, Priyanka Chopra's cousin sister, Parineeti Chopra in two completely different roles that argued that girls did not have to shape themselves into the classic Miss India like characters who are traditional, delicate, and are represented as women who inhabited the domestic space, which is where their role is as nurturers and providers for their family and husbands. However, both these films challenged these notions and showed that the heroines in both these films wanted much more than just domestic bliss. Meeta (Parineeti Chopra) is intelligent, quirky, bold, and dares to risk her family and reputation to pursue the career of her dreams. Unlike her sister in the film, she is simple and tomboy-ish. 
Throughout the film, her sister's boyfriend, Nikhil (Siddharth Malhotra) tries to get know her and eventually ends up falling for her. While it may seem initially quite surprising, the fact that the filmmaker, not surprisingly, Karan Johar presented us with unconventional heroines, she is accepted into the family and for once, she is shown as empowered. The earlier notions that a woman has to leave her career and aspirations when she gets married is left behind, instead, we see that the couple support each other in their careers, which enables for perhaps an even more successful marriage. Earlier, if I remember correctly, parallel cinema films represented women who were intelligent as ugly and nerdy who did not know how to have fun and enjoy life. This misconstrued notion also further suppresses a girl's desire to pursue education and become successful in her own way. This was perhaps one of my most favorite films after Highway (2014) this year. 
               

This was not the first time, though, that Parineeti broke the conventions as a heroine. Shuddh Desi Romance (Pure Indian Romance, 2013). The film's particular focus was on commitment, marriage, live-in relationships, as well as, arranged marriages. Raghu Ram (Sushant Singh Rajput) and Gayatri (Parineeti Chopra) both are involved in a relationship and eventually move in and start living together. Unlike many films, this particular film explored the idea that sometimes it is okay to be with someone without signing the dotted line. While personally, there are some traditional expectations such as marriage that I continue to agree with. I found this to be a film that spoke volumes about the cultural changes that are taking place in India and to be sure, not just in cosmopolitan Indian cities but indeed even in small towns and cities that exist in most of India. The film also shows Gayatri smoking, engaging in pre-marital sex, and being bold and independent. At the end of the film, both Raghu and Gayatri still end up living together but not signing the dotted line. Even though many may not necessarily agree with the conventions or their decision on many levels (morally, socially, and so on), I think again this is a step forward (albeit an uneasy one). 

            To sum it up, this is the time when the Indian film industry, in particular, Bollywood is making strides in producing unconventional heroines in mainstream cinema. As the time continues, it will be interesting to see how these trends start reflecting within the Indian culture. Secondly, these type of representations also show that even though there is an overarching problem in India if a woman or girl child's life is valued, these type of representations do emphasize what Nisha Pahuja has stated that there are multiple Indias and indeed these representations become a lens through which we see a multi-layered and multidimensional India! 

Image Sources: pinkvilla.com, apne.tv, ecx.amazon.com, 1.bp.blogspot.com, intody.in

© Nidhi Shrivastava 2014 This content is subject to copyrights. Please ask for my permission before using this content for any purpose. 

"Modern" Marriage and Love in India: Karan Johar's 2 States (2014)

      Karan Johar and Sajid Nadiadwala's adaptation of 2 States: The Story of My Marriage (2009) recently released in the theaters world-wide last week. After the end of the first year as an English PhD student, I was looking forward to this film. Although I have not read Chetan Bhaghat novels, his phenomena as an engineer-turned-writer enigma has made him a celebrity. Perhaps, because he is emblematic of the creative gap that exists among the youth in India. Science, mathematics, medical, and economics are among the valued subjects in India while subjects in humanities continue to remain undervalued as career prospects for future generations. That being said, I have noticed in the recent years that many Indians are pursuing successful careers in all types of fields including music, writing, and so on. Chetan Bhaghat's success and intervention into this particular issue is also symbolic of the growing acceptance of careers in Humanities. His novel, Five Point Someone (2004) was adapted into the famous Aamir Khan starrer, Rajkumar Hirani's 3 Idiots (2009). 

A selfie moment: Chetan Bhagat with his wife, Anusha (left) and Alia Bhatt and Arjun Kapoor (right)

           A semi-autobiography, the film stars Arjun Kapoor (Krishh) and Alia Bhatt (Ananya). The film depicts the journey of a couple from their college days when they meet each other to the time when they are able to win the hearts of their parents. Although the film is a romantic comedy, it addresses many issues that still remain apparent in modern India: dowry, skin colour, domestic violence, premarital sexual relations in modern India. In addition, it also speaks of inter-regional marriages that do indeed take place within India. While I will try my best not to discuss the plot in detail, please excuse me this time if there are spoiler alerts. I do recommend this film for any Bollywood-film lover or any one interested to see how the romantic films are depicted the various contemporary relationships through their films. Since this past year, there are three romantic films that I highly recommend: 2 States, Hassee to Phasee (2013), and The Lunchbox (2013). I have been focusing mostly on films and documentaries that focus on the representations of violence against women, but I think its also important to see how the film industry is illustrating films which focus on the complexities of contemporary Indian relationships because it does give us further understanding of the status of women in India right now. It also reminds us that not all women in India are vulnerable to violence, instead are able to pursue their careers and become empowered individuals. That being said, this film also reminds us of the issues that I had mentioned earlier that we, as Indians, are still coping with. 

          Unlike other films that have recently been focused on the evolving "modern" relationships such as couple co-habitation in Shuddh Desi Romance (2013), the retelling of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet in Ram-Leela (2013), or the melodic and haunting love story of Ashhiqui 2 (2013), Two States is more than just a love story. Perhaps, the most touching moment of the story is that it hearkens back to the 90s romantic films in which the opinion and approval of families was important to the couple. Although Krishh and Ananya love each other, there is a need for both of them to gain approval from their parents before they can get married. Both of them make an effort to win over their future in-laws. Perhaps the most touching moment is when Krishh proposes with rings not just to Ananya but places a ring for her father, mother, and brother. Although the film does indeed give off Hum Aapke Hai Kaun (1995) vibes, it shows that modern relationships are a complex amalgamation of traditionality, modernity, and uncertainty with a hint of adventure. 

           While the couple are in college, the film shows them engaging in pre-marital sex, in many ways, "normalizing" that these type of relationships do indeed take place in contemporary universities and removing the taboo that was illustrated perhaps in Anurag Kashyap's Dev D (2009). While the couple are able to enjoy a utopic relationship in the college, the film does not get interesting until after the couple decide to commit and get married. It is at this time their parents meet each other. Amrita Singh plays Arjun's mother (Kavita Malhotra). As a strong Punjabi woman, she is convincing and memorable. Her husband's role is depicted by Ronit Roy who is known to play the stern father in films such as Udaan (2010). Even though her personality is dominating, her role as a heartbroken mother with a sensitive side is hard to overlook. Unlike her counterpart, Revathi who plays Ananya's mother who is passive, Amrita Singh plays a stark contrast in many ways enforcing the stereotype of "scary" Punjabi mother-in-laws (although it may never be true in all cases). Furthermore, what I liked about this film was that although it did speak of the North and South Indian stereotypes, it also showed them as multi-layered and multi-faceted. For example, Revathi seeks to become a singer but no teacher wants to take her. Krish's mother and aunt are both shown as judgmental people. However, when Ananya wins their heart during a wedding addressing dowry, they become more "humanized" and less of a one-dimensional stereotype. 
    Although Krishh belongs to a dominant patriarchal family in which his father is an alcoholic and also physically abuses his father, the film does not paint the picture that dysfunctional families are one-dimensional. Instead, towards the end, we learn that despite his father's shortcomings, there is a desire for him to recover and crave love from his only son. The film does not presuppose the notion that children who belong to dysfunctional families will not turn out to be good citizens unlike children who are born and brought up in a tight-knit nuclear families. 
                The film also complicates and further pushes its viewers to think about love and arranged marriages. Love marriages, to this day, in many parts in India continue to be viewed as tabooed as the involvement and approval of parents is seen as vital part of a marriage's success in India. However, that being said. It shows a love marriage that has failed via Kavita and Vikram (Krish's father) and a successful inter-regional marriage via Ananya and Krish. Therefore, it argues that it is the relationship between two individuals that matters and how much both of them are willing to work towards making their union successful. Even though there is domestic abuse and alcoholism that has seeped into the veins of their happy family life, both parents strive to make efforts to stabilize their family when their son chooses to get married. 
                Although I am tempted to speak more about the moments I found touching in the film, it is a must watch for any one who is interested in fun, romantic comedies but also keen to learn about India's complicating marriage culture. Marriages in India are viewed as a union not only between the couple, but also between the families. This particular film highlights this point to the T in a humorous and endearing manner. Even though there is a happy ending at the end, it does not come without a realization that there are cultural changes that are indeed taking place in India, which was once rampant with caste-ism, classim, and so on. 

Image sources: situated.in, images.indianexpress.com, static.ibnlive.com 
             
             

Anthony Bourdain's Visit to Punjab: A Reminder of India's Nation-Making in Parts Unknown (2013)

                   Anthony Bourdain, a celebrity chef and world traveller has been making his name with his larger-than-life demeanor. Known for gaining success through his hard-hitting book, Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly(2000), the man made strides in the media and television industry with the first show that aired on Food Network called The Cook's Tour (2001) where he began his journey to visit world wide locations to sample their cuisine, meet people, and understand the dynamics and diverse cultural systems that are in existence globally. The man then began filming for Travel Channel's No Reservations (2005-2012) and The Layover (2011-2013), before moving on to CNN's Parts Unknown (2013). I have been following his shows like a travel fanatic and foodie since The Cook's Tour aired on the Food Network. I loved his rhetoric hard-hitting and truth-telling style with his openness to culture and a transparent honest approach to the way he filmed, wrote, and hosted the shows. Parts Unknown started its third season and its focus was on the subject that is near and dear to my heart: India. It is not as if Bourdain has not visited India before. He has filmed in Rajasthan, Kerala, Mumbai, and Kolkata but none of the episodes really delved into the heart of India's nation-making and history like his Punjab episode did.

The episode was rich in its discussion of India's colourful history, its troubling history of the Partition, and nation-making process, exploration of the relationship between India and Pakistan in its present form, and a visit to the colonial past with the journey he takes to Shimla. Although I have never been to the regional states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, these states are still on my bucket list. Heck, all of India is. That is the reason why I am so passionate about my heritage and culture because it is so deep rooted, so diverse, and together - an amalgamation of amazing people, cultures, and customs.

              Bourdain begins his journey in Punjab visiting the area and trying out delicious Indian vegetarian cuisine in dhabas (or roadside stands spread across the region and in high ways). Then, he has an opportunity to visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar (another location I am dying to visit someday). He speaks profoundly about the Sikh community that welcomes people from all religions, caste, and creed into the temple to partake in the langar (a vegetarian meal served and prepared by volunteers).

            Today I write about The Partition, an event that was taking place simultaneously as both the nation of India and Pakistan were coming into being. I have been concerned, touched, and baffled by India's history. From all the documentaries, historical accounts, and people whom I have heard from about the time of Partition - India's largest mass migration which led more than a million displaced and many more violently killed. I have not been able to forget that as the nation was coming into being in 1947 when Nehru was giving his tryst with destiny speech, there was utter chaos and displacement. Bengal and Punjab were among the two states that were divided into the East and West Pakistan then. Part of my own research tries to understand the lived experiences of women during this time period and the ways in which their subjectivities were defined then plays a strong role in the way women in contemporary India are treated now. It is part of India's history that is hard to overlook and forget. Furthermore, it was part of the nation building process although people sometimes view this time period as separate from post-independence India in academic and non-academic scholarships. However, I would argue that it is part of India's colonial history and part of the decolonization process even the two nations were in the process of becoming their own nations during this time.

           Perhaps, there are two endearing moments that are part of this episode that were emotionally and intellectually revealing to me: the discussion that Bourdain has with a documentary filmmaker making a film based on the India-Pakistan border and the stay and meal he has at the guest house in Shimla where a grandson continues to maintain his grandfather, a man known to entertain the English at his home during the colonial past. After 1947, the royal families who had supported the English had to convert their homes into museums and guest houses. You see, India's process of de-colonization with the intervention of capitalism and the rise of modern cosmopolitan India has not been an easy one at many levels. 1947 and the years leading up to this fateful year were the defining moments of India's current situation. India as a nation prior to 1947 was an amalgamation of feudal states that were run by Maharajas of those regions. 

Although a nation of more than a million and half people, India's current political situation, its stance of issues on the recent issues such as violence against women all are part of India's historical past and the time of nation building. The reason why I consider Partition so important is because the decisions that were made politically and socially at that time have continued to have irreparable consequences with countless wars with Pakistan, the hot issue of Kashmir, and so on. I do not have any solutions to these problems but have a desire to understand learn about them as I pursue my research. Anthony Bourdain's latest episode is a strong hint that India's current situation must be understood through the lens of the nation's historical past and the time when the nation was coming into being. As I continue forth my research, I will be writing and speaking more about the cultural products such as films and novels that have represented the violence against women that used to happen at this time period.

Image sources: i2.cdn.turner.com

© Nidhi Shrivastava 2014 This content is subject to copyrights. Please ask for my permission before using this content for any purpose. 

"He Let Me Live" - Nisha Pahuja's The World Before Her (and US)

       "He let me live" - these words echo in my mind a day after the screening of The World Before Her at the University of Toronto last night. I was watching the documentary for the second time and this time in an dark theatre at the University of Toronto observing the audience's reactions and finally meeting Nisha Pahuja via skype, Farzana Shammi, and Mariam Zaidi for the first time.

Filmmaker Nisha Pahuja beaming across from India 

       The words "he let me live" mean so much to me because I come from a family where girls are valued, loved, and cared for. Unlike what Prachi Trivedi called a "traditional" family where girls are killed through the act of female infanticide, I was brought up with the rhetoric that I was the first girl after 18 years.  I was the first born. I was the oldest from my dad's side of the family because he is the oldest among the children. Both my parents have given me whatever I wanted, I was allowed to wear what I wanted, travel the world, date whomever I wanted. When I was down and ready to give up on life two-three years ago, when my thesis got rejected twice during my first masters, my father sat me down in his office and encouraged me to follow my dreams. Lo and behold, my life changed after meeting with Bipasha Baruah, professor and Canada Research Chair at the Women's Studies and Feminist Research Department at University of Western Ontario. Today, with her guidance and with the guidance and support of Nandi Bhatia and Julia Emberley. I have started my journey as a PhD student. I am thankful everyday and grateful to have a supportive family system both compromising of my extended family (who have loved me as their own daughter), best friends who are like sisters, and friends and mentors who make me who I am today. Every day I am thankful to the higher being!

Farzana Shammi and Mariam Zaidi 

       And yesterday, when I heard the words from Prachi - he let me live - I realized how much of a privileged position I am in to be able to have the appropriate knowledge and language, write, and study these issues that affect India. This film means a lot to me both intellectually and emotionally because it is not only a cultural product, but also because it has generated a movement that seeks to educate and spread awareness of violence against women. It speaks of female infanticide and the women who are straddled between choosing the "old" and the "new" India. These issues are important to me for selfish reasons. I was indeed allowed to live and allowed to embrace both sides of the ideologies. Many women who belong to India are not given such privileges and support that I have received from my support system and thus, I feel that by becoming a part of the campaign I play some role or if any of spreading knowledge about these issues. It is also my way of giving back to the world I belong to. Like Nisha Pahuja, I consider myself a "humanist." I care for any marginalized and oppressed being whether it be a man, woman, or child who is suffering from oppressive systems.

Before the screening! 

           The campaign is in its last 62 hours. Any amount that you contribute to this campaign will help make a difference in India because I strongly believe that documentaries or any type of a visual cultural product has a different type of impact on our minds when we see the events taking literally before our eyes. By pledging to the campaign, your contribution will be used to fulfill the stretch goals to reach 3 additional grassroots screenings, perhaps even the film can be released in Mangalore, where women were beaten up for visiting bars (which is honestly a personal choice) and Jaipur, the home of Ruhi Singh - one of the speakers in the film. To be honest, its times like this I wish I had been more of a saver than a spender. I would have happily contributed more than I had to the campaign for the goals and mission it has and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. Even if its a dollar or two or more, imagine the power you have to make a change in India. Here is the link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/411325600/the-world-before-her-india-campaign.

Farzana Shammi, Mariam Zaidi, and me! 

These photos are courtesy of people who attended the event including Mariellen Ward and Farzana Shammi!

© Nidhi Shrivastava 2014 This content is subject to copyrights. Please ask for my permission before using this content for any purpose. 

        

The Power of Celebrity: India's Upcoming Elections and Satyamev Jayate (2014)

     I was born in Dehra dun, India and  growing up I was obsessed with Aamir Khan. He was my first love (well after my papa), my first crush, and my first hero. I think from what I remember of the stories that I was told, I would calm down if my mother put Dil (Heart, Indra Kumar,1990)'s video cassette and I would quieten down and go about my day! Today, the same man proves to be more than just a pretty face! He is an intellectual and has been called "a social crusader" by the recent media press that has released since the release of his final episode. Although I am not in India right now, I have as an Indian woman who has developed and shaped her career in hopes of bettering and understanding India's future and improving the lives of those who live in the marginalized edges of the nation.
        When Satyamev Jayate (2012) was released, the show sent shock waves around the nation as it uncovered truths about the country through sophisticated research. His views are also very democratic, secular, and speak volumes about the plight of the nation. Although agreeably and perhaps rightfully many will critique them based on their own values (and they are indeed entitled to their opinion). However, his final episode of the second season, which began with a bang explicating the question of rape, ended on a powerful note especially in regards to the current elections that in his words is a historic moment in India's fate. As I talk among my peers, friends, and advisors in regards to India's political elections, I get a mixed bag of reactions. To be honest, I was never really a fan of Indian politics as the government to me, as someone who was living outside of India (but visiting India for short periods of time), seemed to me like an entity of its own separate from the heart of India.I used to say naively: "I love India and its people but not the government" However, as time have passed and I have grown emotionally and intellectually trying to understand the Indian history in greater detail and understanding where I, as an Indian woman, really fit in. I have come to realize that Khan is indeed correct and courageous to bring this show to the forefront just as Nisha Pahuja and her The World Before Her (2012) team has been proactive in bringing the issues of violence against women to the forefront.  As citizens of India, we need to realize our individual power to bring change in India whether we do it through writing, rallying, protesting, or any act that shows one's stand in the future of the country. In order to bring change within a system, you need to understand the system. As easy as it is to blame the government, indeed we need to look in the mirrors and reflect on our selves - what have we done to bring change the various systems that exist within the government? if we don't want to participate in the politics, that is okay. How can we then bring changes as citizens. What can we do? One, honestly, does not need to be in a so-called "seat of power" to bring change to a country. You can do it from wherever you are. I would suggest that this is the underlying message of the show - to make citizens realize their own empowered position within the nexus of the Indian nation. You don't need to be an intellectual or a politician to better your nation. Any one can do it. You don't need higher education degrees. What you do need is a clear mind that is aware of the surroundings, a clear heart, and an agenda to bring change? I think everyone has that. That being said, its a matter of taking one step - of going one extra mile! :-) 

             In the finale episode of Satyamev Jayate, Khan exposes horrifying numbers of criminals - people who have committed grave crimes such as rape, murder, kidnapping, and etc - who are currently MPs and MLAs in the Indian government. While this is a truth that everyone knows and no one wants to speak about, it is something to think about. Of course, as one of his guests had said, that this system of corruption has become so grandeur that it has overwhelmed the country as a nation. No matter whom you support politically, nobody can deny that corruption continues to be a debilitating disease that continues to plague India. I am not writing this to say or urge you to vote for one candidate or another but I am writing this in support of what his show's content is trying to speak of. Perhaps, for me, the most touching moment in the episode was when he takes a vow (a shapath) that he will wear the three colours of the Indian flag as threads as a reminder that he will vote for the right people who will work together to bring India to great levels. 

              One cannot deny that unlike many celebrities, Aamir Khan is using his star power to create change in the country. He is a paragon of humility, intellect, and shows great concerns for the future of India. When you watch him or listen to him speak, it is evident that he is down to earth and that fame and its privileges have not spoiled him. Instead, he is ready to talk to the nation at an emotional and intellectual level to bring some sort of reality (which sometimes we do not want to see or hear because it makes us ashamed or embarrassed as a nation). While it is understandable to react in that way - to feel uncomfortable - it is important to give an open minded chance to all who are involved in making a difference in India - whether it be the Right or Left. It is important, however, as citizens to make the decision after much thought and without any greed. I think that is the point of Aamir Khan's finale and something that really should be thought about more.  
               Unlike many other countries, India has had a privilege to be called literally one of the largest democracies yet we do not take advantage of it. We live in a nation where all types of religions, castes, and communities have always come together since the B.C. era. Imagine the power we have together if as Indians, we forget our differences and join hands to better the nation and bring to the heights of success it deserves. You do not need to be a politician to do that but you need to be a good citizen (whether you reside in or outside of India). 
                 Growing up I lived in so many countries including Malaysia and Singapore, but thanks to my parents and extended family, I grew up in an environment where I was taught to always be humble, to be grateful, and never forget and be proud of my roots and heritage. I used to visit India for months on end, live with my progressive (and traditional) grand parents, and even as I grew up - I would find excuses to live in India for the summers and stay with my relatives and family. I would have a chance to wear my salwar suits and be in a country where I didn't have to adapt at all. My passion and love for India never changed even when I moved to the States, I would wear Indian salwars to my high school and would proudly tell my fellow students and classmates that I don't need to wear clothes that signify my culture on a holiday or a special occasion. My love for my heritage has always shaped my life and every day decisions. It is the reason I chose to do a Ph.D - the reason why when the Delhi Rape Case happened in 2012, I jumped to speaking to my entire class on Introduction to Women's Studies trying to tell them to not believe everything that the media speaks of  but to understand and learn about India, its culture, history, and so on. Sometimes, it would even surprise and bother me at the same time that people will be like - either "oh wow, you speak such good English or oh wow, you speak Hindi so well!" - or when I would have to prove my "Indianness" - but I do that now as a writer and a budding intellectual in my actions, words, and voice. I am proud of my roots, culture, and heritage - its strengths and weaknesses - but I am not the one to watch India's future develop as a  mere spectator but my intellectual project and work has been to better India and its future. Its what makes me wake up everyday! 
           All of this being said, the questions of poverty and the fate of women who do indeed still get treated as second-class citizens is still an issue. Having studied feminism and feminist theories as a graduate certificate at University of Michigan and a master's degree at Western (and I am not a "feminist"), I can also say that unfortunately and fortunately, the violence is not gender- or class-specific. Female infanticide, for example, happens everywhere in India not only in rural areas but in families where people hold professions typically known to be more forgiving and understanding of such crimes. The process of dowry (the culprit) behind the increasing rates of female infanticide is still an issue.These are just few examples. It is also hard to overlook the question of poverty that continues to hang like a sword above the head that remains important for India's fate. However, I would argue, that even beyond any of these issues that I think are important for the progress of India as a nation and country. We need to remain united as "Indians" and really think about who we are as "Indians" - what defines us? is it our history? our future? our present? The amalgamation of various and diverse cultures and customs coming together to form a nation? As citizens, we have the utmost right to choose whom we want to vote for. I think we should all participate and vote, as Khan urges, and remember how the nation came to be in 1947. 
          I am aware that my views reflect hope and idealism (which many will think is perhaps too unrealistic) but I think desiring a coherent and united nation was an idea that was pushed by our own ancient political scientist and intellectual, Chanakya who brought together "India" as a nation for the first time. I call for a united nation. A nation where the young and the old work together to bring change in India regardless of religion, caste, class, gender, and creed. To me, that is the India I want to call home and every day of my life I work to bring this idea together. We sometimes forget in our daily lives that we indeed are empowered individuals who have the right to bring change in India (and believe me, it only takes one). So as the election day come near, please take the time to vote (and don't just vote for anyone) but think about the right leaders who bring the nation together as one, whom we can be proud of, and who can shed light to the issues such as poverty, unemployment, women's issues, development, and so on. 
           Recalling what Satyamev Jayate tweeted: Cast your vote, don’t vote your caste. Make an informed choice in the 2014 elections. #MyVoteNotForSale.”

Image sources: www.nrimatters.com and images.indianexpress.com 

© Nidhi Shrivastava 2014 This content is subject to copyrights. Please ask for my permission before using this content for any purpose. 

A Documentary with a Mission: Revisiting Nisha Pahuja’s The World Before Her

On Amir Khan’s prominent show, Satyamev Jayate, well-known RTI (Right to Information Act)activist Shailesh Gandhi talked about India’s current political situation. Passionately, he told Khan “every person is responsible for the flaws of Indian democracy and the problems facing it.” Gandhi then discussed the responsibility that an individual has in transforming and changing India and its situation. Commenting on recent politics, he remarked, “Some say Narendra Modi will fix things. Some say Arvind Kejriwal will, other state Rahul Gandhi will. That’s the discussion. Nobody talks about what they will do. We say that we are in a democracy, but we are looking for a messiah. There will be no messiah.” In agreement, Khan responded “In a democracy all of us will have to work!”

As I watched the episode, I felt all kinds of emotions and immediately couldn’t help but agree with Gandhi’s words; as individuals, we need to play an important and more proactive role in bringing change to India. Ever since the Delhi Rape case happened in 2012, India’s treatment of women has placed the country in the forefront of national and international politics and media. As a result, arguably, there has been a surge of female-centric documentaries and films that have been released that engage with the politics of women’s rights and their position within India. As someone who was born and brought up in India but left the country when I was seven years old, I have always had to consider and struggle with my identity as an Indian woman who has lived in Malaysia, Singapore, United States, and now Canada. I still remember that I had to make a decision at a very tender age when I was 14 years old whether I wanted to assimilate into the Western culture or remain tied strongly to my roots. While I “work” (intellectually and emotionally) everyday to strike a balance between my “traditional” and “modern” worlds, it has not been an easy crisis to face growing up. As I was being educated in the Western realms, I would crave to have a social life with people who belonged to my culture, understood cultural nuances, music, and popular culture. Thus growing up my research has been on trying to understand the complexities and nuances of what it means to be a modern Indian woman in the current era.

I have been grappling with this particular problem (among others) since my high school days I wrote my first research paper on Indian women novelists such as Manju Kapur in 2006-7. When the Delhi rape case happened more than a year ago, suddenly these questions about an Indian woman’s identity became a major topic of discussion for national and international media. For me, Nisha Pahuja’s The World Before Her is a documentary that is more than just a “film”. It is a cultural product. It is a mission. It is the desire to bring a change in India especially with concerns to women’s rights.

 Although politically I do not identify as a “feminist”, my concerns remain with the future of India and as an Indian citizen, my heart sinks whenever I hear the rhetoric in international and national media that women are being abused, attacked, raped, and even murdered for being who they are. It does not matter whether they are of lower, middle, or upper class. The rhetoric suggests that our country is barbaric – that is uncivilized because it cannot respect women although it prides itself on worshiping goddesses or revering mothers. Therefore, as an Indian woman personally who is trying to figure out her own subjectivity in the so-called Modern India, the way women are treated is of major concern to me– perhaps it is a selfish desire, but the desire to understand the complexities and nuances of this issue are important for the future of my nation.

The award winning The World Before Her is a nuanced film, and it engages with different types of issues that concern women in India. It premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2012, and since then has been screened in more than 125 film festivals and has received 19 awards for its efforts to bring awareness of the situation of women’s situation in India. At the heart of the film is the question of female infanticide. It is a topic that Amir Khan too launched his show Satyamev Jayate with a couple of years back bringing the issue to the forefront. It is a reminder that we still need to tackle with female infanticide where we need to value the lives of girls in India. We need to allow them to become educated and independent citizens who are capable of making their own decisions. This was an issue sadly that has been brought up in much academic and non-academic literature since Katherine Mayo’s Mother India (1927) and Elizabeth Bumiller’s May You Be The Mother of A Hundred Sons: A Journey Among The Women of India (1991).

 While yes the documentary speaks of the polemic Durga Vahini camps, I don’t think the intention of the filmmakers is to vilify such camps but to show the two sides of India – the so-called “old” India and the “new” India – and to suggest that both these schools of thoughts are similar and different in their own way. Both of them have a vision for India. Both camps – the Durga Vahini and the Miss Femina India camp – shape a woman’s subjectivity towards certain ideals. Both their ideologies are not wrong in any way, however, they are symbolic of the two extreme ideologies that are currently present and are at odds with each other in India. It is the India that women are born into. However, one must realize that before even women can experience this dilemma – they need to be alive. For me, this is the ultimate concern. 

Nisha Pahuja, FarzanaShammi, and Mariam Zaidi have launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise awareness of the very issue that concerns my own research – to bring the issue of the violence against women to the front and centre of India and Indian politics. The campaign was launched on International Women’s Day on March 8^th. The film will be released in India on April 25^th this year. The campaign has the goal of reaching $50,000 CAD. In less than 20 days to go, the campaign has raised almost $25, 000 CAD. With the money raised, the funds will be used for 4 causes: screenings at educational institutes, speciality and theatrical screenings in six cities, online release after the National elections have taken place in May, and screenings where the rates of female infanticide/feticide are high. To support the campaign, Anurag Kashyap, Nandita Das, Shimit Amin, Neeru Bajwa, Lisa Ray, and Deepa Mehta are playing important roles in the campaign. Anurag Kashyap will present the film a month before its release.

I write this blog urging readers and visitors who are concerned with the current situation of women in India to see the documentary and film in India as well as contribute to this cause. The Kickstarter campaign website is easily accessible and once you make a pledge; you inadvertently become part of an important movement that is concerned with the issue that has brought India into the international map. Any amount you donate and in whatever currency works towards bringing awareness about female infanticide and the other issues that the film highlights. The link to learn further about the campaign is: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/411325600/the-world-before-her-india-campaign.

 I want to thank Nisha Pahuja and Farzana Shammi for being so readily available and informative about the campaign. To conclude, as Gandhi mentioned in his interview with Amir Khan on Satyamev Jayate – we all have a role to play to contribute to the future of India – as individuals we need to play our parts. By participating and becoming a part of this campaign, this is exactly what you will be doing – you will become a part of a change!

Image source: d2nh4f9cbhlobh.cloudfront.net and the world before her facebook page. 

© Nidhi Shrivastava 2014 This content is subject to copyrights. Please ask for my permission before using this content for any purpose.