When it comes to Indian culture, Indian politicians can be over-protective. In the name of saving the country’s culture, they go out of their way to stop the functioning of anything that does not appear pleasant to them. They have blamed western culture, expressed their disapproval of women wearing short skirts with the argument that it causes violence against women. There was even a case in which they thought of banning mannequins, as they felt that the lingerie used could trigger sexual violence.
Remarks and speeches by politicians about putting a ban on things like pubs, bars, clothes, etc. are not something new. Many a times it has provoked criticism. To counter such criticism they would even gracefully quote from the religious manuscripts to support their ideologies. We are not very sure as to how sentimental they are but some do make speeches regarding these issues to appeal to the voters.
Taking this issue of safeguarding the so called Indian culture, we take a look at how a politician put forward an idea to ban bikinis at beaches and expressed his view that girls should not wear short dresses while going to a bar as he thinks it could lead to molestation.
Maybe exclusively in India, women are victims to sexual assault for which they are held responsible as well. When the gruesome Delhi gang rape happened, many questioned the victim’s character. Leave aside what the male society has to say, even women leaders, those at the higher authority, blamed the victim.
It is actually absurd that some of our politicians see western food, Chinese food and even use of mobile phones as some kind of evil plaguing the society.
Cultural invasion in the form of western bikini clothing is considered as gradually diluting the sanctity of Indian marriages which have tempted our male counterparts to commit sexual crimes against women. To this, we ask, how many western tourists go to Badaun in Uttar Pradesh, where two minor girls were raped and hanged? How many tourists visit remote areas of the country where woman are raped by their families? To this weakness and vices of our own, are we to blame the western culture?
Beachwear is for beaches and is appropriate there if not on streets. What does bikinis have to do with Indian culture? A ban on bikinis on sandy Goa beaches might actually create a dent on tourism and the income it brings.
Our patriarchal and gender-insensitive comments have to stop. By protecting our men and blaming our women, change cannot take place.
No one can afford to miss Goa. It has been one of the favourite travel destinations – college trips, office trips, family vacation, backpackers and foreign tourists. Now if such bans are to be implemented, Goa will lose its charm. If they are serious about bans, why not put a ban on drugs which are illegally sold on Goa beaches? Why not put in jail the ministers involved in illegal mining?
Our men need to behave. Let these politicians stop pulling themselves to utter stupidity and narrow-mindedness. One cannot protect a woman by changing her wardrobe. You can only do that by changing the mind-set of the men who think they can rape and abuse women without suffering any consequences.
So to those who wants to protect the Indian culture, the responsibility is to first teach the men to behave. It’s high time now that those on higher authority stop interpreting those ancient manuscripts selectively.
Valentina Telien Kom
Image Source [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Arambol_beach_2009.jpg]