This insightful video (produced by Dalit Camera) is perhaps the most rigorous perspective with regard to the statement made by Prof. Ashis Nandy at the Jaipur Literary Festival (JLF). Baraza has nothing but deep respect and warm regard for Prof. Ashis Nandy. We have enjoyed his support and good wishes. As a forum, we do not hold an opinion with regard to the issue at hand. Though, as the South Asia Coordinator responsible for the South Asia content produced during this academic year, I would like to express my deep disappointment with regard to the manner in which Professor Nandy phrased his observation, as well as the manner in which he chose to react to the backlash.
Protests in India: Who Will be the Final Victim of this Anger?
On December 16, a 23 year-old woman was brutally gang-raped, within an inch of her life, in a public bus with an illegal license that was driving through the streets for half an hour, unnoticed. Like Khaled Mohamed Saeed and Mohammed Bouazizi, this young anonymous woman has become the emblem of an angry nation. For students in New Delhi, this was the last straw. Their anger is justified.
Their reaction is dangerous and misguided.In the past year and a half, educated Indians have been willing to come out on to the streets to demand harsher punishment and more severe laws. As a nation, we are angry. We have been angry for a terribly long time. Unfortunately, we have not directed our anger towards the construction of responsible social values. Instead, in the course of our anger, we are demanding the construction of a brutal and violent tyranny that will only continue to serve those who are in power at the cost of the powerless.
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