Just like a woman

एक झटके में तुमने उसे चरित्रहीन कह दिया,

ये भी ना देखा कौन किसके द्वार खड़ा था।

The news on the television is full of furore against Rhea Chakravarti, for all the wrong reasons. The poor girl merely from allegations by one section has been brutally trialled by the media, it’s venomous anchors and the newly indispensable part of Indian news channels, it’s “music directors”. Videos of Rhea are surfacing all over the web and a high level of mental trauma is being given to this girl. This whole episode reminds me of the infamous scandal of Monica Lewinsky.

The first word with which Monica Lewinsky describes herself is anti bullying activists. When she was merely 22 years old, she had an affair with then President of USA, Bill Clinton. As soon as the media came to know about this news, all hell broke loose on Monica. She was publicly shamed, harassed and exposed to a ferocious and devastating public. All this while Bill Clinton maintained his stature as the President, unharmed and untouched. Monica on the other hand was removed from her job, couldn’t find another employment opportunity and was slut-shamed at every nook and corner for a very personal event.

Today what is happening with a girl in our country for her boyfriend’s suicide is simply what has happened with many other girls all over the world. Women have since ancient times been judged for their character and intentions irrespective of culture and traditions. It is so ironical in fact that while there is a massive uproar happening in one part of the world against domestic violence triggered by the gruesome murder of Pinar Gültekin, there is a 24×7 media trial going on of a woman who lost her partner a month back. Today let’s all remember the verse from one of the four Hindu Vedas, the Atharveda.

यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवता:।
यत्रैतास्तु न पूज्यन्ते सर्वास्तत्राफला: क्रिया:।

अथर्ववेद