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Kidnapped is a difficult read. Arita Sarkar makes no bones about her presentation either, and that’s virtually non-negotiable because of the topic she addresses.
Through ten real-life stories, Arita presents a vivid – and perhaps graphic – picture of what kidnapping for ransom and revenge looks like, where the victims have all been children – and where, as Arita explains, the possibility of rescue is lesser.
A grim, but much needed introduction sets the tone of the book: a sullen reminder that you need a strong stomach to deal with what’s coming or a quick opt-out while you still have the chance.
Arita puts her points across without bias, as she also talks about the inaccuracies in data and the rampancy of manipulation. A true journalist behind the crafting of the book, you can be sure to see Arita’s hard work in uncovering these stories.
In this introduction, you recognize that every unit that goes into making those numbers and statistics what they are, are very harsh realities and painful stories. You realize that behind each piece of data, are families that have lost a child – by someone they knew. You realize that the fate of such children is almost always sealed by death – because a child who is old enough to cognitively remember is likely to spill the beans on the identity of their kidnapper, or, the kidnapper themselves are novices who kill the child out of panic if things do not shape up as they intend.
In mapping her stories, Arita also presents the lacuna in gathering evidence: one of the biggest reasons why there isn’t a high conviction rate in such cases.
Arita’s selection pans across a smattering of cities in India that include smaller cities like Nadiad and Coimbatore, while Mumbai appears to have the lion’s share of cases among the lot. It is not clear what motivated the choice of cases with respect to the cities / regions, but one may be left wondering what stories we might hear from other parts of the country.
Arita reconstructs the stories with several layers of each incident pieced together carefully. From news reports to conversations with the families, you can see that Arita hasn’t left any stone unturned. Transcripts of conversations with the kidnapper in some cases are chilling reconstructions of what transpired back then. The descriptions can be incredibly graphic in places – especially where injuries are described.
At the very base of every story, you find yourself staring trauma in the face. It is startlingly chilling to acknowledge that these are only ten stories, perhaps the tip of the tip of the tip of an iceberg, to say the least. It is also both scary and a bit, well, hopeless, to know that these families will be left with a lifelong sense of grief and trauma over the loss of their child.
Grim as it is, Arita’s book is an important read: it not only lends a human face to what we brush aside as statistics, but also presents the many gaps in the extant state of things that kidnappers take advantage of. Predatory behavior is largely a product of individual intention and the enabling environment: and Arita’s spotlight on the enabling environment – secondary to the spotlight on the perpetrator – is a significant element in any attempt to engage with keeping crime at bay.
As parents, as teachers, and as society at large, we hold a duty of care that varies from primary caregiving to bystander intervention. Equipping ourselves with what we need to know is the first step to act, and that comes to you on a silver platter in Arita’s book.
Image source: shutterstock; book cover Amazon.
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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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