"India's Daughter" - my thoughts!

Starting from 'Neel Akasher Neechey (1959)' to 'India's Daughter(2015)' India has always found reasons (or made up reasons) to ban movies/documentaries. We have a censor board (formed in 1952) to decide what is right and wrong for us! IMHO, it is a wayward solution. It is easy to influence a panel! About the panel and its shoddy operation is a story for another day!

'Indiana Jones and the temple of the doom' was banned initially by the censor board. Later the ban was lifted. And till today I have no idea why it was banned and more than that why it was lifted?! What really changed in between? Thinking of why it was banned gave me part of the answer why 'India's Daughter' was banned. India is not tolerant for criticisms from outside. Period! Remember why several Indians hated slum dog millionaire? Indians will appreciate only when their culture is being praised. A Washington-Post article praising Hindu mythology is welcome. But if that's questioned, we take complete offense to it! Especially it comes from the media of a country which has colonized us, it is going to be double whammy!  :)

No society can improve/progress without criticism. I have seen the documentary two times already. Personally, I see no objection. Yes it is painful to see what Mukesh Singh and the lawyers defending the rapists has to say. It is not their sobbing story but shows their retrogressive mindset. It is also the voice of the few Indians who are roaming freely amidst us. After all they are our people. It is our voice. It has to be heard to understand how silly it is. Let us be honest and introspect our culture. If not now, when are we gonna discuss it? Give a chance for the people to see the documentary and let it be the seed sown for the future.

Not very long ago, what Mukesh Singh said now, were the thoughts of our parents/grand parents. Let's not pretend that it ain't so. How long are we going to pretend that our culture is perfect and shields from all that's happening around us? Jyoti Singh gave her precious life to change this. It has to mean something. Every struggle she went through that night has to be paid for. It is time we all start to respect women.

Ok let's assume the documentary ban is lifted. What could happen? Is "all is well?" No. My understanding is, whatever riots are gonna happen would be a staged one. Not for the reason that the documentary came from BBC.. not for the reason that it gloats Mukesh Singh retrogressive thinking.. not for the reason that it devalues our Indian culture.. but the real reason would be that the lawyer for the rapist asked a very valid question. "If India wants to send a social message, they should start from their own neck. There are 250+ MPs who have pending criminal case that involves rape, murder, robbery." It is for that reason, it would be a staged one.

At end of the documentary victim's father asked, "My daughter has lit a candle asking how we are gonna solve these crimes and stop it forever?" How is India going to answer? Not just for her! For every twenty minutes, we have a new victim... for them :( It is a tough task ahead. It is even more tougher if we are hiding under false pretense.