Of Culture, Dignity, Pink lacies and Real Women

When I received an invitation to join the group, I just laughed it off as a silly-billy thing so characteristic of Facebook.

And then I see it on the front page of Times of India today. The Consortium of Pubgoing, Loose and Forward Women, launching the Pink Chaddi campaign to send a box of lacy underwear to the Ram Sene chief; there are already 3000 members of this group and growing by the hour.

I can see where the humor comes from, but I’m hardly amused. The group says its their way to make fun of the culture vultures. Er...who's the joke on?

The attack on the women at the Mangalore pub, was followed by what has become de rigueur shoo-shaa followed. “Who are these people to tell us what Indian culture is!” “Who are they to tell us what to do?" Helo. Did you fail political science in school, people? The entire operation was (an excellent) attempt by a fledgling political party to gain public mileage. And the media and public gave it to them on a platter. This was completely a police - and political - matter. Indian culture and the rights of women (yawn) are far removed from it.

Women all over India were aghast and what not! Arre kya yaar! Itna gussa ata hai aur hain dum, to tod do unke offices! I was at a pub and a crowd of men descended upon it, I’d pick up the first bottle I saw, smash it on the bar and defend myself. So you tell me, ‘It’s easier said than done’. Quite fearsome to have a crowd of unruly men attack you. Completely agree with you. But if you feel so strongly about your right to drink in pubs, you should have the gumption to defend yourself. And if you know you’re the weaker sex, then be careful of the situations you’re putting yourself in. Take karate classes! The world isn’t obliged to take care of you, Princesses! India is a country of vast divisions, in class and culture (you flunked History too, didn’t ya?) The jobless men who attacked the pub haven’t travelled around the world, are barely educated and have antiquated ideas. They are not as intelligent/gifted, or sometimes plain lucky as youth who were born in similar surroundings but moved on in life. But YOU are educated aren’t you? (What was the purpose of education, again? To bridge gaps or build them?) And if you do not understand the divisions in society and /or address them productively, at least maintain your dignity as a woman.

And that is my issue with this Pink Chaddi campaign. So undignified, it’s not funny. I can pass off this joke in an intimate setting of friends, but to bring it up on a public forum is vouching for the circus that media has become. In the wake of terrorism and an imminent economic meltdown, this seems such a pathetic issue to rake up. Awww, c’mmon da, even a baby knows that visiting pubs is not against our culture. But you have to admit, it isn’t something to crow about either! You’re not exactly on the high fringes of leisure or creativity. And I find the “I’m free to do anything I please” attitude a tad childish. If it was a fun thing between you and the Ram Sene, I can understand, but I hope to God, this isn't ment to be a serious protest against the moral police, because its not proving anything and is doing that 'nothing' in very bad taste.

l’m really quite bored of us Indian urban, uber-educated people. We travel around the world, earn so much, talk like we conquered the globe for breakfast, but we’re such sissies when it comes to real issues! Yell at me for raking up the irrelevant comparison, but whenever this entire nonsense about culture/morality/V-day/women’ rights comes up, my mind wanders back to Bhanwari Devi. My all time choice for the defining Indian woman. What guts! What an amazing sense of dignity in the worst possible surroundings life can hand out to a person. What a refreshing lack of whining! Read this http://www.anniezaidi.com/2005/05/meeting-bhanwari-devi.html

I INSIST

So it would be kind of cool if we stop this silly protest to an already silly issue. There is a thick line dividing irreverent and undignified. Let’s please recognize it. Cheers to that