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The recent tragic attacks in Pulwama, Kashmir which took the lives of more than 40 CRPF jawans left the entire nation grieving. Noted journalist Barkha Dutt shared her nuanced piece on Twitter regarding these attacks; however soon she was horribly trolled.
Some of these trolls also managed to get her phone number and sent her menacing messages, one of which included the picture of a male genital with a crude message attached to it. All this in the name of ‘love for the nation’.
Who are these people? Those fearless men who feel that war is solution to all problems. Respond to bloodshed with more bloodshed. And no, they are not the ones that will go on the front to face the bullets. They are only comfortable making faceless treats to women in the name of patriotism.
This is not the first time a woman has been mercilessly trolled for expressing an opinion that is different. However, this woman is a senior journalist and a recipient of the Padma Shri. Does she not deserve more respect? She stood with our army at Kargil, covering an ongoing war, putting herself in jeopardy – if anyone does have a right to express an opinion on the current issue, it is her.
Barkha Dutt has decided to not take any of this lying down. She has made all the numbers that sent threats to her public. She also requested Twitter to take actions against what looked like a coordinated hate campaign against her. She was supported by several people and Delhi Police responded by saying that they will track down all the numbers and take action.
In 2017, when Gurmehar Kaur, a martyr’s daughter had condemned war, she had been trolled by similar bullies. Fearing her safety, she had to leave town for a few months.
Where online media is a great invention which allows news to travel across the globe in minutes, it has also become a weapon for bullies. Due to the anonymity it offers, many use it as a way to intimidate anyone with whose opinion they do not agree. Intimidating women is their favourite past time.
It is about time that Twitter took serious note of how its platform is becoming a hotspot for cyber bullies. There is no responsibility attached to the user who feels free to express their views, against anyone, in whatever abusive form they want.
Dear Barkha, this fight is not yours alone, but of all those women whose right to express their opinion is being threatened, all those who have been told to shut up or else, all those who have been told their views are not important enough. We are with you.
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People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
14 years after her last feature film Dhobi Ghat, storyteller extraordinaire comes up with her new film, Laapataa Ladies, a must watch.
*Some spoilers alert*
Every religion around the world dictates terms to women. The onus is always on women to be ‘modest’ and cover their faces and bodies so men can’t be “tempted”, rather than on men to keep their eyes where they belong and behave like civilized beings. So much so that even rape has been excused on the grounds of women eating chowmein or ‘men will be men’. I think the best Hindi movie retort to this unwanted advice on ‘akeli ladki khuli tijori ki tarah hoti hai’ (an alone woman is like an open jewellery box) came from Geet in Jab We Met – Kya aap gyan dene ke paise lete hain kyonki chillar nahin hain mere paas.
The premise of Laapataa Ladies is beautifully simple – two brides clad in the ghunghat that covers their identity get mixed up on a train. Within this Russian Doll, you get a comedy of errors, a story of getting lost, a commentary on patriarchy’s attitude towards women, a mystery, and a tale of finding oneself, all in one. Done with a mostly light touch that has you laughing and nodding along.
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