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When will moral
policing end?
Why everyone in this country, be it politicians, the moral police, Right-
wingers, religious leaders, celebrities, school principals, the college lec-
Backlava turer or the “auntie” next door, seem to be obsessed with the hemlines
of the pretty young things that flit across the Indian landscape
Reena amos Dyes
he debate on what ‘good’ rape squarely on the women and their
Author is former News girls should and shouldn’t “provocative” dresses.
Editor, The New Indian wear is old hat. Everyone in For instance, RSS head Mohan Bhag-
Express and former this country, be it politicians, wat in a talk in 2013 said, “Rapes take
Founding Editor of a T the moral police, Right- place in cities …. Such incidents happen
Dubai-based lifestyle wingers, religious leaders, celebrities, due to the influence of Western culture
magazine Pose. She school principals, the college lecturer and women wearing less (sic.) clothes.”
has 25 years of experi- or the “auntie” next door, seems to Soon after, in October, 2014, the BJP
ence with various news be obsessed with the hemlines of the chief minister of Haryana, Manohar Lal
organisations under pretty young things that flit across the Khattar came out with this ridiculous
her belt and used to Indian landscape. statement: “If a girl dressed decently,
write columns on Real While some rave and rant against a boy will not look at her in the wrong
Estate and Personal the freedom of sartorial choice of way…”
Finance for Gulf News women in the country, and froth at the So frequent is this outpouring of vit-
mouth while spewing venom against riol, that it comes as a breath of fresh air
the ‘offensive’ miniskirt, the ‘brazen’ when someone like Amitabh Bachchan
halter top or the ‘slutty’ little black comes out and tells his granddaugh-
cocktail dress, others are almost or- ters Aaradhya and Navya Naveli and
gasmic as they describe in detail what other women around the country in
should be done with these Little Lolitas an open letter that it’s ‘ok’ to wear what
who seem to be oblivious of the fact they want and not to bow to bullies and
that they carry the heavy burden of close-minded people. “Don’t let anyone
upholding the very moral fabric of this make you believe that the length of
great nation on their frail shoulders. your skirt is a measure of your charac-
Ever-so-often, self-appointed moral ter,” writes the great star in the poign-
policemen and sadly women, (read ne- ant letter.
tas and religious leaders) scream into However, what made me sit up and
the microphone that these nymphets take notice of this usual humdrum bat-
should be punished for being una- tle of sensibilities, is the fact, that young
ware of the power their hemlines and women in India are now no longer
cleavages hold over the imagination of content to sit back and let the media or
the Indian male who still seems to be celebrities fight their battles for them.
emotionally and mentally stuck in the They are taking matters into their
70s, blissfully unaware of the fact that own hands and calling out the bigots.
urban Indian women have come of age A case in point being the recent public
and long overtaken them both in terms shaming of a middle-aged woman in
of intellect, and also emotional intelli- Gurugram for passing some unbeliev-
gence and are totally comfortable with ably appalling and judgemental com-
their sexuality and in their skin. ments on six young women over their
Others, and this is worse coming as choice of attire.
it did from senior SP leader Mulayam The woman, who got into a spat with
Singh, say “boys will be boys” while the young ladies over some issue, al-
placing the blame for molestation and legedly made offensive personal com-
Tehelka / 15 June 2019 42 www.Tehelka.com
