What an irony. West Bengal is at present headed by a powerful leader with Mamata Banerjee as Chief Minister.  She has held this office since 2011, winning assembly elections in 2011, 2016 and 2021. This lady has higher political ambitions to take the office held by Modi at present. But what a contrast. At one level, women have the potential backed by ambition to rise to great heights. At another level, women in the same country also tend to be downgraded to the extent of being abused in various manners. Sadly, despite Indian women showing signs of heading towards greater progress, there still appears no significant change in the social attitude held towards them. The grim reality is that they are still viewed as ones who can be “used” as well as “abused” as and when ones with greater strength desire. Yes, a bias still prevails against women. Of course, India is not the only country which suffers from discrimination of women at practically all levels. India can perhaps only boast of being the one of few countries where women have held the most powerful political position. Even United States falls behind India and a few other countries on this front. Political success of a limited few, however, does not suggest any significant change in bias held against them.
Ironically, this “bias” as well as “abuse” is apparently also partly responsible for increase in cases of women’s molestation and rapes in various parts of the country. Statistically, as per the data of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) for the year 2021, at least 86 cases of women being raped daily were lodged. At least 6,337 cases are recorded for Rajasthan, 2,947 – Madhya Pradesh: 2,496 – Maharashtra and 2,845 in Uttar Pradesh. A significant number may have gone unreported, suggesting that the number was probably much higher. It is perhaps pertinent to note that what has happened in West Bengal recently, that is gang-rape of a law student or the rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College around a year ago are tragic cases reflecting the extremely abusive attitude held towards women. It is pathetic, rather than displaying appreciation for women moving towards higher education and career-oriented pursuits, they were victimized by those viewing them as abusive “objects” in front of the “power” of their “masculinity.” Of course, this attitude can only be condemned. However, this will not erase this weakness from the society as a whole. When men and even women link their strength with that of abusing/using women who they think are in their command/power, abuse of women is least likely to disappear from society for a long time. India is plagued by this problem not simply because it is largely a conventional, developing country. It is a global trend. In India, dowry-abuse leading to dowry deaths still continues. In families, boys continue to be given greater importance than girls. Birth of a boy is considered a matter of pride, while the same hardly is thought of girls. Women are as much responsible for these practices as are men, particularly where domestic abuse is concerned.
Indian women still continue to suffer from matrimonial abuse and though dowry is considered illegal, demand for it continues to lead to dowry-deaths. At the same time, at various levels, there is not much difference between bias/discrimination against women, with this being a global weakness. In the world of movies, be it Hollywood or Bollywood, in general, women stars are paid lesser than men. Their prevails the tendency to usually prefer selection of men over women for topmost and/or high-ranking posts. This stands true in the media world too. Paradoxically, electorally, women’s right to vote bears as much importance as that of men. But, representation of women in legislative assemblies is far lower than that of men in not just India but in other countries too.
Against this backdrop what can be said for demand of Banerjee’s resignation as Chief Minister because of alleged gang-rape of a law student in the guard room of college campus? Undeniably, people have the right to protest and question the law and order situation in West Bengal. Ethically as well as per Indian legal dictates, from no angle, can any crime against any woman in any part of the country be excused. However, one cannot but deliberate on whether socio-political frenzy is being raised because Banerjee leads Trinamool Congress Party (TCP), a rival of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which heads the national government at present with Narendra Modi as Prime Minister? If West Bengal was headed by a BJP leader, would the issue have hit headlines with the same frenzy as it has now? Statistically in India, women continue to be abused not only in West Bengal. As mentioned earlier, states headed by BJP chief ministers are also affected by the same problem. BJP is certainly keen to snatch political reins from Banerjee’s hand. The state is headed for assembly elections in around a year’s time. Not surprisingly, BJP has started its political campaign against Banerjee making most of whatever incident they can exploit to target her. Their apparent plan is to defeat Banerjee politically.
Of course, concerned leaders have the right to raise their voices regarding abuse of women and make political noise about it. But their voice would have greater credibility if its backed by genuine efforts to start giving greater importance to increasing respect of women and their equality in society. The pathetic reality is not simply that of women being abused here at numerous levels but that of substantial attention not being paid to seriously addressing the very factors responsible for the same. Till the society rises as a whole against such problems, whatever be the rhetoric indulged in- whether by Modi or any other leader- chances are that women shall continue be viewed as the weaker section, who can be abused/discriminated against. Whether it is United States or India, irrespective of who is the key power holder, the problem has to be addressed at the very grassroots. With respect to noise being made about it in West Bengal, it apparently has greater linkage with Banerjee proving to be a political headache for BJP!