To My FELLOW POET
LEENA MANIMEKALAI,
(*Facebook Anaamikaa Rishi)
Dear LEENA,
You are one of the few who is open to dialogue, I know. Many out there
in our realm, despite all their tall claims about ‘freedom of speech and
expression’ rarely allow others to voice their view on any subject, but nip it
in the bud in the name of caste creed colour and what not. Hence I wish to
write my impressions on the issue you and others have taken up in right
earnest.
First and foremost, I want to record here that I know you to be a
forthright person, one who has suffered more terrible slanders than this and
had faced them single-handed, with grit and determination. And, even at those
terrible times you had your friends and supporters who stood by you, I
remember.
As an avid reader of Poetry I know you have penned poignant poems.
Though I have not seen movies in the past one decade or so, I know you make
meaningful movies with social concern, not like the usual junks minting money,
portraying women in a demeaning manner and have the audacity to voice
high-sounding words on women empowerment and gender equality and about treating
women with the respect due to them.
And, you are not selective like some women from the fraternity who raise
their voice against predators of their opposite wing or party but prefer to
keep mum when it comes to the predators of their own wing or political party.
And I know you are not backed by any political party to be able to say anything
and get away with it.
Even in this issue the views expressed by you and Dr.Shalini are
refreshingly honest compared to those cliche type articles that are churned out
in the name of socio-psychological analysis of the issue at hand. You have
spoken about the way the cine-field, especially the main-stream cinema portray
women, all too often, if not always, as exhibit pieces and secondary citizens.
Same way Dr.Shalini has spoken against the way the whole issue here is
given the colour of ‘upper-class, fair-skinned women coming out and ‘playing
the role’ of victim when it is not the case really.
I saw your interview where you were being asked questions about the Me
Too Movement and about that ‘psychologically terrifying moment’ that you had
suffered at the hands of some X from the film world. The calm and poised manner
in which you answered is commendable.
Why keep saying that the whole society is against you? Aren’t there
those supporting you? I think they are in sufficient number. Also, when even
people like you who have always been open and vocal about social injustices
took so much time to muster the courage to speak about these things, is it
right on your part to expect all others to come at once and be open about their
stand in this issue?
There are one-time offenders and serial offenders. Whatever be the case,
the resulting trauma in the psyche of the affected woman is the same. So, it is
incorrect on the part of those who expect and insist that the affected woman
should distinguish between the two. Why should she?
Yet, a man might have erred when young or once (I want to repeat, I am
not taking his side)but now leading the life of a real gentleman. When an
accusation against him comes at this stage won’t it affect his family members
also, for no fault of theirs?
And, won’t the fact that even brave, outspoken women taking so much time
to come out and speak cause a great psychological impact in the minds of young
women? Won’t it hinder them from fighting against such injustices then and
there?
If the concerned ‘accused’ happens to be a constant offender, won’t he
be emboldened to harass more and more hapless women or newcomers to the field
if the women suffered at his hands prefer to keep quiet for so long?
Can it be said for sure that no woman would use this opportunity to
slander a man against whom she has some grouse? How is the Movement going to
weed off such elements?
Also, when women who have come out to speak against go on complaining
about social ostracism and victimization _ it is there, true, yet _ won’t it
cause fear and apprehension in the minds of young girls and prevent them from
fighting against such injustices meted out to them?
Such questions notwithstanding I STAND BY YOU AS SO MANY OTHERS, EXPRESSING
MY SOLIDARITY.
My best wishes to your goodself
Latha Ramakrishnan
