Month: December 2018

Me Too Movement has made its voice heard in India.Predators are dueling battles with fear and shame, while survivors are finally finding courage and liberation. It has hit various sectors of India, from politician to superstar to religious head all are facing the brunt of their actions. But along with it rises the public interrogation, trials and the unsure path of justice.  

For instance, let’s take two charge sheeted cases that is at present under the judiciary. First, Jalandhar bishop Franco Mulakkal, who is now relieved of his duties, is accused of sexual abuse by a senior nun, which occurred in the time frame 2014 – 2016. She filed the complaint in 2018, after her pleas for justice were ignored by the church hierarchy.Second is Malayalam superstar Dileep, who is accused for the crime of orchestrating the abduction and molestation of a popular Malayalam actress. The said victim reported the assault within 24 hours and is facing the trial head on.

In both cases some disturbing similarities glare hard. Once the allegations were out, the first response was of denial, not just by the accused but by the power structures in which they thrived. Not to mention the clout and support they received from various powerful personalities and their own home organizations. If not for the frenzy the cases created with media and civil society joining hands in cultivating pressure, perhaps the accused finding their way into court rooms would also have been jeopardized.

But the grand welcome bishop Franco Mulakkal received at Jalandhar after his bail and Sister Lucy Kalapura, who supported the survivor, getting banned from performing duties at Church, which got revoked only because of opposition, just goes on to reflect the imbalance of power play.  Actor Dileep getting movie offers while the trial is going on and the survivor and her supporters getting invisible from work space is a similar parallel.

Another factor that is common to both cases is how the word malign is used by the religious body and film body AMMA of which the perpetrators, survivors and their supporters are part of. When opposing voices are heard loud and clear,they suddenly become sounds that are out there to malign the organization, not voices that point out the errors committed by the organization. Such propaganda is created to confuse the narrative.  When supporters of the survivor question their institution for their own safety, their actions are misrepresented as maligning!

Another similitude that can be discussed is how loyalty dictates court proceedings too. Even if we ignore the mysterious calmness around Father Kuriakose’s death, how to look beyond Sister Anupama’s words on the warning letter issued to Father Augustine Vattoly and how they fear for their lives after Father Kuriakose’s death. Sister asserts that authorities are trying to silence them with fear to protect status quo and the warning letter for Father Vattoly implies just that.

 In actress case too, the way AMMA organization delayed the ousting of accused from their organization following the Vishaka guidelines and did nothing to redeem themselves despite the survivor and her supporters leaving the organization speaks of a loyalty like no other. Women in Cinema Collective  repeatedly points out how the organization not taking immediate action or denying basic safety to the survivor within their own organization, passes on the message clearly to other members, who the organization stands with and its definitely not the survivor; and that is going to affect the trail. These are indeed warnings,to not dare the status quo.

Nuns, priests who support the survivor, including Late Father Kuriakose, have spoken about the pressure and ostracisation they face within their own institutions. WCC members have also spoke about this familiar epidemic of ostracisation that catches up with the ones who ask questions. The evident sidelining from projects is another striking resemblance.

Not to forget the victim shaming. A politician from Kerala insulted survivors in both cases; he went to the extent of calling the nun a prostitute. The massive online trolling is another example of the pressure and shaming survivor and their supporters has to go through. Yet some wonder why survivors don’t speak up sooner. Above is a case of a woman who reported the assault within 24 hours of the incident and a woman who reported it after years.In both cases, evidences are found, trial is going on. End result is still a dice throw, yet the backlash, victim shaming, opposition from power structures remain identical.

The light at the end of this dark tunnel is how bravely the survivors and their supporters are fighting this battle tooth and nail. They are not ready to back off. They are ready, at the cost of their lives and career, to stand by truth for a better tomorrow. Their determination,courage and efforts are the only rays of sunlight in this dark alley. And this is, one of the masterstroke twinning in both the cases; sadly, the only relevant and positive similarity.

Hello Friends, 

I’ve created this blog space to share my thoughts, feelings and interpretations on various topics that feel close to my heart and mind. Hope we’ll have an amazing time together bonding over similar and different  point of views. Looking forward to this amazing journey as a blogger. 

With Love, 

Adhiti

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Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton