OFF THE RECORD

Are Dalit girls in Haryana being raped because caste men in the state are sexually starved? A leading politician and member of the Lok Sabha with over four decades of Parliamentary experience thinks, that there are not enough women in Haryana to fulfill the sexual urge of the men. 

He borrows Freudian logic to say that sex is as much a basic need as is thirst and hunger and they all have to be satisfied (even through rape).

Following is an account of the politician’s answers to some of the questions asked by “a novice” TV reporter. The conversation was in Hindi.

Note: Identity of the politician is not being revealed, as intention is not create controversy but to allow readers to “examine the heads” of the political class.

Scene: A TV reporter of an unheard channel, a camera person and a girl assistant come to the politician to seek his opinions on rape of Dalit women in Haryana recently.

TV reporter: (Maintains serious facial expression and struggles to hide his nervousness) Sir, There had been a number of rape cases in Haryana in recent times involving Dalit girls and women. Om Prakash Choutala has said that the girls should be married off at an age of 15 years. What you have to say?

The Politician: Haryana is so close to Delhi, that you all people forget the 2G scam and show rape stories on channel. There are mosquitoes breeding in the gutter. But the focus is on mosquitoes and not the gutter. 

There is caste system in Haryana. Women have no freedom there. Their lot is miserable. They can not go out. They have to stay within the confines of the family headed by men. But there are not enough women in Haryana. Sex ratio is very poor. There are too many men but too few women. (There are 877 women for every 1000 men)

After every 15 minutes you will thirsty you drink water. After every three years you feel hungry, you eat. Similarly, after every 15 or 20 days, you have sex urge. That has to be fulfilled. What would the men do. There are not enough women there. There is too much of restrictions on caste women. Also, there are too few women. So, what these men do. They have to satisfy their sex urges. It’s a basic need. It can not be suppressed. But Dalits are soft targets. So, you see Dalit girls and women being raped.

Reporter: But sir Choutala has said…

The Politician: Leave Choutala. Who is he…you do not understand the problem. There are no rape case in China. Once I had gone to China, I asked a girl in the hotel…are you married…she said no, then I asked how does she satisfy her sex urges. She told me that she had many boy friends and she gets her urges fulfilled. When asked what about marriage, she said that girls in China marry once they meet the men of their choice but they do not wait till then to fulfill their sexual urges. So, you do not come across rape cases in China. 

But the problem here is that the women here are chained, they are suppressed. They do not have any freedom. The conditions of the women are most pitiable in India. They are a miserable lot. They have no freedom at all. So, unless the root cause is addressed there is no point talking about some rape cases happening here and there.

Reporter: Sir, Choutala has said ….

The Politician: You listen to me. Gandhiji never used to attend marriages. Mahatmaji (Gandhi) would attend marriage only if it was intercaste. This caste system is the big problem. Gandhiji fought to break it but it still continues.

Reporter: Sir, but Dalit women are being raped…

The Politician: Dalits have been exploited for thousands of years and continue to be in the same conditions. What has changed for them…

Dhanyawad.

(Cameraperson takes off his camera. Reporter compliments the politician for “brilliant” analysis of rape cases taking place in Haryana.) “Sir, bahut badhiya bola aapne,” reporter tells the politician.

Subtle wind of change in Pakistan

It’s rightly said that you can ignore history at your own peril. It’s history which gives direction to future and strength to shape one’s destiny. Also, a nation faced with crisis in any form needs to look back into history to draw right lesson to march ahead. Incidentally, India and Pakistan are blessed with such historical richness, that they can find enough in common to strive for a shared destiny of peaceful coexistence.

Scores of people of Pakistan watching the parade of the border security forces on
their sides of the Wagah border amid chants of "Pakistan jhu le (live)"

It’s more than six decades now that the voice of sanity was silenced by an intolerant. Sadly, the world is becoming more intolerant each passing day. Hence, people across the world yearn to hear the voice of sanity embodied in Mahatma Gandhi more. Thus, Mahatma’s soothing voice which could heal wounds effortlessly still resonates across the world.

Besides, India and Pakistan are proud inheritors of Gandhi’s legacy. The Mahatma liberated the people living in India and Pakistan from various bondages during the course of his life. Besides, the Mahatma’s lessons for tolerance, inclusion and compassion for all are far more relevant for two nations now than earlier.

So, it was befitting for India and Pakistan to come together to commemorate Gandhi’s birth anniversary at the United Nations. More soothing was the fact that joint celebrations came just a day after India and Pakistan had sparred over Kashmir.

Further, Pakistan’s permanent representative at the United Nations Abdullah Hussain Haroon paid glowing tributes to Gandhi. He said Pakistan owes a debt of gratitude to a person who put himself even further at risk in ensuring that the right thing is done. "We must never forget that it is from one base that we have all risen. We can have minor differences," said Haroon.

Even foreigners can not resist the joy of Indian freedom at the Wagah border.

Importantly, the world leaders are invoking Gandhi’s words more frequently, as scores of nations struggle to cope with growing intolerance. The United States President Barrack Obama too quoted Gandhi, that intolerance is itself a form of violence and an obstacle to the growth of a true democratic spirit. Incidentally, Obama quoted Gandhi to condemn violence against America due to a film made by an amateur to poorly portray Islam.

In further indications that forces within Pakistan aspiring to preserve collective heritage are gaining ground, a roundabout in Lahore was renamed after the legendary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. It’s laudable that the Pakistani authorities renamed the Shadman Chowk after the proud son of Lahore. Incidentally, it was at this spot where Bhagat Singh was hanged in March 1931 in the erstwhile Lahore Jail. The roundabout was built later on at this spot.

Besides, Lahore district administration chief Noorul Amin Mengal’s direction on renaming the roundabout was overwhelming for its underlying spirit. “All Pakistani citizens, including Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus and Christians, have equal rights under the Constitution and no one should object to the decision to rename the roundabout after Bhagat Singh,” said  Mengal. Thus, it’s abundantly clear that there are enough support for the rich historical legacy within Pakistan.

Also, another praiseworthy event took place in Karachi where the police slapped blasphemy charges against a group of Muslims for vandalizing a temple and attacking homes of Hindus during a protest against an anti-Islam film. Clearly, the first of its kind action would balm the wounds of religious minorities within Pakistan. Also, the move is more praiseworthy for the fact, that a number of Hindu families have fled to India in recent times fearing religious persecution.

Besides, the Karachi police registered a case against accused under section 295-A of the Pakistan Penal Code. The section covers deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs. Justifying the action, local police officer Jaffar Baloch stated that desecration of a temple meant blasphemy to him.

Surely, the official interventions in honouring Bhagat Singh and slapping blasphemy case against religious intolerants would reassure many that voices of reason are gaining strength in Pakistan. Importantly, over two dozen groups had campaigned for renaming of the Lahore roundabout after Bhagat Singh popularly known as Shahid-e-Azam. Also, it’s notworthy that there has been overwhelming support from civil society, including Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission, for slapping blasphemy case against accused who vandalized the temple.  

Furthermore, Gandhi laid more stress on nation building by opening hearts of the people. An inclusive society based on principles of tolerance and non-violence would surely take Pakistan to a better future. Pakistan does not need to look elsewhere for inspiration, as seeds for its better future lies in rich history spanning thousands of years.