Though violence is condemnable, on some occasions it is required, such as when a 23-year-old woman from Kerala chopped off the genital of a so-called godman at her home in Pettah, near Kollam. She charged that he had been sexually molesting and raping her for six years, which means it began when she was a teenager. Some reports indicate that her mother had been aware of her torture for years, which is heartbreaking.

Apparently this time around, the scoundrel demanded oral sex and the woman, armed with a knife, did the deed which has cheered lakhs of Indians, and got the support of her chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, who described her act as “courageous; no doubt about it”.

This heroic act once again tears the curtain off the murky goings-on in many ashrams and religious establishments of other faiths too, where men sexually exploit women, all the while hiding behind the sanctity of god and religion.

Right response

It is fitting that a girl from Kerala had to commit this violent act, end her agony and teach the rapist a lesson. It is not that all is perfect on the gender front in Kerala society, hailed as a matriarchal one. But Kerala’s women and men, especially the young, do display spunk when required. No other State has taken on or defied moral policing, be it the anti-Romeo squads or the Shiv Sena goons enforcing a behavioural code for young couples through a more stinging slap than the ‘Kiss of Love” campaign held at Kochi’s Marine Drive on March 9.

On the eve of Women’s Day, at this favourite hangout of Kochi’s young, a handful of Shiv Sena activists had attacked young couples. Armed with canes, these moral policemen had carried a banner saying they would put an end to “romance under umbrellas” in the city. The leader of the group, swinging a cane, chased away young boys and girls who he thought were a potential threat to morality. People watched in horror and the police accompanying the procession remained mute spectators.

But the response came soon enough, in a day. At the same venue, and elsewhere in the State too, the ‘Kiss of Love2’ campaign was announced to proclaim that Kerala will not accept moral policing. A large group of young activists, cultural organisations and even politicians — yes politicians — held rallies and meetings, the largest one being at the Marine Drive, where hugs and kisses were exchanged by couples. Hundreds of youth turned up, dancing and kissing in a rare public display of affection.

This was the second ‘Kiss of Love’ campaign in Kerala; the first was organised in November 2014 after some members of the Sangh Parivar attacked youngsters in a Kozhikode restaurant. But while that event was marred by minor incidents of violence, this time the police threw a protective ring around the hugging and kissing couples, who said they had come out to protect their public spaces. With the couples wearing floral garlands, crowns and coloured masks, the event acquired a festive air. Icing on the cake: the hugging and kissing were done under umbrellas painted with images of smooching couples by Kalakakshi, an artists’ collective!

Dark, ironic

The irony that hangs over these two separate incidents — a rapist being bobbitised and a section of our political class increasingly taking on the moral policing role, can’t be missed. While in recent years the noise over Bharatiya sanskriti and the “corrupting” influence of western forces has been growing in its cacophonic might, the debauchery and lust displayed by Pettah’s fake godman is the tip of the iceberg. Surely, this is not the only woman this pervert would have sexually molested. Hopefully, in the next few weeks more brave women will speak up against his atrocities and their exploitation.

Of course most parents or spouses will baulk at their women speaking up, fearing the media circus that will follow such disclosures. But this one case has once again restored faith in the leadership qualities shown by this small southern State. For long years it has led in parameters such as literacy and education, maternal and infant mortality, and related spheres. Economists and industrialists often ridicule Kerala for its trade unionism which is hampering industrial growth as industrialists are afraid to set up shop here. That the skilled from Kerala have to seek jobs outside India, the Gulf in particular, is sneered at in some circles.

But education brings awareness, and Keralites are passionate about not allowing polluting industries upset their fragile ecology. For instance, for its energy security, the government is partnering with Odisha to set up a coal power plant in Odisha to meet Kerala’s power needs. But along with economic development and industrial growth, human development parameters are important too. And above all, the guts to stand up and fight for your rights.

comment COMMENT NOW