Looking beyond PINK

The first time I heard of PCC, I was intrigued and wanted to read and know for myself what the deal was. On reading the page and what they intended to do, it sounded like something in lines of a simple rally or protest which was to be staged. This protest was not on the roads or by sitting hungry at the steps of a building. This is a technologically advanced and internet savvy protest and predominantly with the metropolitan crowd of women.

Women who are not in the cities and independent do not presently fall in the purview of the Sena. They wish to bring the western thoughts and practices down and culturally tie a noose around the necks of women. But isn’t this a more deep-rooted problem and not related to just drinking and wearing a pair of jeans with a noodle strap?

Here is an article by Sagarika Ghose on CNN IBN which has a different view to the problem which we are facing with. She believes that the problems are more of classes than of clothes.

This is a thought which prevails in the minds of many today that an educated woman, who earns a living, can hold a roof over her head and take care of her children will in the days to come have a voice and would want her voice to be heard. Till today, the household ladies did not need to their voices heard as in many cases; their needs were never with the society at large. Their needs were taken care of by the male members of the family but now that they are outside their homes for a large chunk of the day and require the society to accept their role. Unless this acceptance occurs, there can not be a true advancement with each member of the society contributing to the economy.

If there is any hope to bring a small amount of equality to India then, we need to see what is the true issue that is faced by the many who are consorting to religion and culture to show the anger which might be brewing within for some other reason altogether.

And, I do not think I will be doing anything which is going to be of the form of a pink underwear mailed via the India Post.

There have been previous incidents in the west, and this has been only categorized under extremist behaviour, even if for the upliftment/liberation of women. On the face of anger and frustration, one might think that ‘tit for tat’ is the best solution, but how successful have these ideas ever been through history? Do we want to regret the whole project once the aftermath is seen? I do not think that more than media coverage of goons with pink underwear, anything adverse is going to come of it. I do not want the extra media for these goons and I think we require well directed taunts backed with facts which they will have to retort back too. And here I am sure with education to back us, we shall prove that culture and religion can not be the solution to the present...

If we want to bridge the gap between the two fighting sides then the best solution is to look ahead. And, if you are not interested in looking ahead, then keep the ideology which you follow to those who are of the same thought and who see the right in what you preach.

Beating women in hope of making them adhere to your norms will not be tolerated in a free country. There might be many women who see the right in what you say, and you can beam ear to ear seeing these I women. Do not try to change us Indian women who are not interested in your thoughts.

Edited to add this yet another blog entry by Zubin Driver, very relevant to this post.