Famous Dalit scholar Kancha Ilaiah is of the view that it is not mere sexual lust or mental disorder but also some social phenomena that gives way to sexual brutality on women, young and little girls. In an article in The Asian Age on 10 May he writes: “In the Indian society woman has always been considered inferior. Her status has never been more than a maidservant and dutiful being. Man always behaves with her thus considering her inferior and dissolute. And this behavior is in accordance with the ancient religion and culture and has roots in the acts of great personalities of ancient mythology. We have Lord Krishna who stole the clothes of women while they were bathing in river Yamuna. He did so to tease them and for the pleasure of watching the beauty of their naked bodies…. We have Lakshman, the brother of Ramchandraji, who cut the nose and ear lobes of a woman who approached him professing her love…. And there is Ramchandraji who left his dutiful wife on the random outburst of a dhobi so much so that she commits suicide. And there is Shivji, who insisted on meeting Parvati and did so by eliminating a child who was keeping guard at the open door….”
Doings of mental upbringing
According to Prof. Ilaiah, it is these gods and goddesses whose images are installed in homes with much reverence. Rather the images of those acts of theirs the reference of which has been mentioned above are decorated in homes. Children grow up seeing these images. He has also criticized Gautam Buddha, who is considered a god of Dalit sections, about how he abandoned his dutiful wife with an infant child. Besides this history, Prof. Ilaiah has also thrown light on the character of great political personalities who never behaved equally with their women. He has mentioned among them Gandhiji, Pandit Nehru and Dr. Radhakrishnan. While dealing with other phenomena, he has analyzed films. He has written that the film industry has made the exhibition of beauty and physical shapes of women the source of its income right from the beginning. In short, to Kancha Ilaiah, behind sexual assault lie historical realities and the mental upbringing and habits of the inhabitants here.
Consider these aspects as well
Kancha Ilaiah is director, Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad. As a Dalit scholar, he severely criticises social system and the behaviour of so-called high castes here; he looks at every evil found in the country from the same angle. Maybe, there is exaggeration in his presentations but he presents his submission with arguments. Perhaps due to paucity of time he did not mention the sculptural specimens in the caves of Elora and Ajanta that speak of the ancient history of sexual promptings here and serve as prompters of the sexual act. In his future commentaries the Professor must analyse the double standard of this society that they have adopted in ignoring the causes and promptings of sexual brutality. This society does not talk of imposing ban on alcohol and other intoxicants. It also does not believe in moralising women and young girls. It goes out of proportion with the mention of hijab, purdah and modesty. If Professor Ilaiah discusses these aspects too, his writings will be more effective.
16/05/2013 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Abu Yusuf
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