The first edition of Aamir Khan’s television show exposed the brutal reality of the daughters of a nation fondly called Mother India. Social networking sites were full of expression ranging from appreciation to indignation… all in approval of Khan’s call to halt female foeticide.
This is not the first time that the harsh social inequality has been exposed. Way back in the 1920s, Katherine Mayo uncovered the shameful treatment of the women of our country. Over the years, sting operations by journalists have exposed the murderous ways of doctors, educationists, leaders and others. Social reformers have been working for centuries to reclaim human dignity for women.
Indignation happens when somebody else commits the crime. When we are the culprits, justifications emerge. Ultimately, the killing of the girl child does not happen just as a foetus. Even when ‘allowed’ to exist, her aspirations and emotions are often fettered, stifled or butchered. When human dignity is trampled upon, mere indignation is not enough.
It would be better if we indulge in empathetic introspection rather than merely declare our indignation towards injustice and indignity around us. We must investigate our own attitudes. Do we genuinely recognise the rights to equality, liberty, dignity and opportunity of all human beings? Do we shun irrational rituals that treat our women as commodities? Otherwise even well-intentioned indignation is just another transitory emotion with no connect to transformative and responsive actions.
Sans responsiveness, there is little to indignation
Dignity will BE BETTER reclaimed by real actions
- Pravin K. Sabnis
This is not the first time that the harsh social inequality has been exposed. Way back in the 1920s, Katherine Mayo uncovered the shameful treatment of the women of our country. Over the years, sting operations by journalists have exposed the murderous ways of doctors, educationists, leaders and others. Social reformers have been working for centuries to reclaim human dignity for women.
Indignation happens when somebody else commits the crime. When we are the culprits, justifications emerge. Ultimately, the killing of the girl child does not happen just as a foetus. Even when ‘allowed’ to exist, her aspirations and emotions are often fettered, stifled or butchered. When human dignity is trampled upon, mere indignation is not enough.
It would be better if we indulge in empathetic introspection rather than merely declare our indignation towards injustice and indignity around us. We must investigate our own attitudes. Do we genuinely recognise the rights to equality, liberty, dignity and opportunity of all human beings? Do we shun irrational rituals that treat our women as commodities? Otherwise even well-intentioned indignation is just another transitory emotion with no connect to transformative and responsive actions.
Sans responsiveness, there is little to indignation
Dignity will BE BETTER reclaimed by real actions
- Pravin K. Sabnis
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