New Delhi and After

(This article was published in The Ethiopian Herald on 10th of Feb 2013, with title, 'The Shock of New Delhi')

Is there a shore of solutions?  A picture gratefully adopted from http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/india%E2%80%99s-rape-victims-face-degrading-examinations

Appalled and a bit disillusioned on the New Delhi gang rape issue and consequent death of the victim, many of my Ethiopian friends approached me to know more on it. During a single trip to Addis Ababa from Ambo, I had to answer thrice, ‘Yes, it’s a shame on us…’ to co-passengers. All of them bore the curiosity to know how such brutality could occur in a country that is well known for an ancient culture that upholds shining ideals of harmony.

For me it was not easy to shape a convincing comment on the causes and consequences of the inhuman act that has blemished our prestige.  Some heinous acts are like that – we will be unable to ponder over it further. They send strong impulses that stall one’s thought processes.

If I was able to ponder further on the devil’s act, it was only because of an irrefutable call by sociology, a subject that I love. While placing the New Delhi incident under the microscope of social sciences, exposed were some of the harmful germs of the modernity. Heaving a sigh of relief, I estimated – it must be the fault of the current pattern of development sweeping across the world. Hence what happened in my country is a wakeup call to others. Media deserve kudos for bringing the issue for a serious debate. It was a show of the country’s solidarity to the family of the deceased when our Prime Minister along with his party’s head was present to receive the body at the airport.  To the latest, it is almost decided by the upper echelons of legal affairs that a rapist in India can get nothing less than death penalty.

Social thinkers during all times have tried to uncover reasons behind the attacks on women. Alienation from normal social life and dehumanisation of labour for Karl Marx was a reason that led male workers into a state of frustration. To Marx, when this frustration mounts, males vent their anguish over their female counterparts, leading to sheer atrocities on women.

Almost all planners these days know that development is meaningless unless it is centred on human beings. Still, long winding is the list of neglects during developmental planning. Gender is one such smouldering issue that is conveniently covered under the heaping ashes of neglect. World over, feminist scholars continue lamenting on the multiple roles played by women getting not enough attention. Motherhood and child rearing; domestic production works; and community activities undertaken by the women of the third world nations are frequently found to receive insufficient consideration.  

The modernisation could gain only mixed benefits for women all over the world. On one side globalisation and modernisation have offered more job opportunities for females. The other side of the coin bears some uncomfortable truths. Studies are not scarce to prove that majority of women are clustered on unorganised job sectors with least job security and privileges. Modern day employers become fans of women employees mainly because the latter can be easily negotiated for cheaper wages and terminated anytime at the former’s convenience. The new age jobs have not only provided them insecure job opportunities, but also plucked away the economic agency they could enjoy previously in the traditional systems. Women in the modern world are also exposed to a new range of physical and mental agonies.

Worth remembering is social scientist Immanuel Wallerstein, who observed that ‘no emperor on this earth could continue conquering the world in such an extent as the capitalism could.’ It seems a perfect truth. Capitalism, for over five hundred years has been on a success trail. Country after country surrenders on its feet to marry different breeds of liberalism.

Ongoing neoliberal, capitalist systems are noted for the burgeoning consumerist societies, where woman is tacitly made a commodity. Beauty of woman is essential for promoting flooding consumer goods. Commercial displays among print and electronic media project woman as a medium for attracting consumers to diverse goods and services of new-era producers.

Cultural identity

Cultural identity crisis felt among nations is also a result of modernity. Cultural penetration, a phenomenon caused by globalisation can slowly allow some cultures – mainly that of developed countries – to invade into the social fabrics of other countries – mainly developing ones. In this process, indigenous cultures get abandoned and replaced by invasive cultures. Cultural identity crisis can easily bring youngsters into a hazy juncture where they fail to discriminate between good and evil in a local context. When locally significant value norms are eclipsed, there spreads a dark where only screams and yells reverberate.   

There is a ladder view of social change proposed by social scientists. During their transition from agrarian to industrial stage, each society occupies different levels in the ladder of progress. Question here is how much strongly safeguarded would be their bondage with native value norms, tradition and culture at different levels of this ladder.

Dr. Akhila S. Nair, Asst. Professor in Environmental Sciences with the Ambo University opined that today the world is supposed to be driven by the motto, sustainable development. But to her, sustainable development seems a mirage. Dire truth is incessant degradation of the environment that places a heavy load of extra burden over village women. Deepsikha Saikia, Lecturer in Management observed that usually girls were subjected to more advices and life-guidance than boys. “During socialization of children, more egalitarian approach is needed. But who, when and how such a practice begins is still indefinite…”, she said considering the Indian scenario.

Decency should be a dictum that applies over girls and boys equally. More concern over girl children and imposing more norms of virtues over females is unjustified. In this era of non-stop capitalism and liberalism, such unequal approach would be disastrous for women.

- K.P. Sivakumar