A few days back, Indian twitterati went ablaze when our PM started the #IncredibleIndia campaign. Everyone who wanted a piece of the pie shared pictures to prove the point that India really is incredible. Getting re-tweeted by the Prime Minister suddenly became the new show-off-quotient. #IncredibleIndia trended for a few days and maybe even helped the country to be better placed on the world’s tourism map after all the negative publicity about India being unsafe for women (which,I am not denying). Now, #IncredibleIndia is something I completely support and hope that it resurrects the lost interest of the international traveller in our nation. Some things are relatively easier to rectify and in such cases Social Media can prove a huge boom to spread the word.
But, there are things that need much more attention than armchair-resolutions. The state of women in this nation is one out of many grave issues which need real activism and not just a social-media trend. A #SelfieWithDaughter won’t make India safe for women, or control female infanticide, or stop dowry deaths or keep a check on domestic violence. These are issues which have been neglected by our leaders since time immemorial and my #AchcheDin will come only when these issues are taken seriously instead of just starting campaigns and not digging deeper. These are issues that are not skin deep, these are beliefs that are rooted into the bloodstream of our nation. Also, given the attention span of people these days, it is futile to invest in something that’ll be as easily forgotten as it got trending. It would have made better news if the PM did something real to support one single girl child in any way. That would have created a larger impact and a bigger news to influence people, if that was the thought behind starting a selfie-campaign. Armchair-campaigns won’t resolve the twisted mindsets of those who might post a #SelfieWithDaughter for being a Modi-Bhakt but will still believe that she is #ParayaDhan.
As much as I support Gay rights, I don’t need a rainbow colored profile picture to show that. I wrote my heart out for Jyoti Singh Pandey, not once but a number of times without reducing myself to a black circle on Facebook. My support for the Indian Cricket Team is regardless of the fact that my blood is red( I don’t bleed blue, and so does anyone else)
#SelfieWithDaughter is nothing more but another one such thing for me. It’s just a campaign which will trend for a while and die a natural death. Unlike many daughters who were burnt alive for dowry or killed in the womb. Sigh.
I fail to understand why we don’t accept that there are things which are clearly wrong with the nation? Why do we glamorize hollow initiatives instead of pushing for bigger reforms? Why do we want to settle for mediocrity of accepting whatever little is available instead of asking for what really is needed? Why are we happy that a campaign as shallow as #SelfieWithDaughter is trending instead of worrying why there are no real ground level initiatives to change the way the nation treats its women. One that might not be a real issue, but still bothers me – Why Sakshi Maharaj and the ones with similar thought process are allowed to speak and spread venom against women but a documentary which only reinforced the reality of #IndiasDaughter is banned?
Maybe, I should wait and watch if there’s more to #SelfieWithDaughter than just what is trending. There’s little hope, though. Little, because a few months back, PM Modi urged people to plant five trees when a daughter is born. It’s a noble thing to do, but then cutting those trees off to sell the timber to be able to fund her wedding – how 21st-century is that? Interestingly, he doesn’t ask people to do the same for funding a boy’s wedding, because, well, you know why!
Maybe, I should wait and watch if there’s more to #SelfieWithDaughter than just what is trending. There’s little hope, though. Little, because a few months back, PM Modi urged people to plant five trees when a daughter is born. It’s a noble thing to do, but then cutting those trees off to sell the timber to be able to fund her wedding – how 21st-century is that? Interestingly, he doesn’t ask people to do the same for funding a boy’s wedding, because, well, you know why!
 |
| Picture Credits- Narendra Modi for PM – Page on Facebook |
#SelfieWithDaughter created a fair share of controversies and Ms Shruti Seth then came into limelight after a lull in her acting career. Her open letter to the PM brought her into the centre of political attention. It all could easily be a stunt to grab some publicity, but I would still defend her right to free speech. Even before she (or her PR team) uttered those words, #SelfieWithDaugher made no sense to me as a woman who is at crossroads of a freedom struggle with her own nation.
India, as a whole needs to wake up from slumber right now. It’s already too late for minimalistic things like selfies to work. It’s time for real action now or else we’ll lose a war. Today, some states like Haryana have such a skewed sex ratio that there are no brides for their boys. Tomorrow, this might be the country’s plight and worst nightmare of India’s parents might come true. Then, people might remember their #SelfieWithDaughter and hope those girls were treated with a little respect.
Well said , to much talk and too little action is the norm in India! I loved the pic of Namo, where did you find it?
Exactly. Only talks and no action at all. It is beyond me how a selfie can save a girl child. Hypocrites. And I found that picture on the Narendra Modi for PM Facebook page. It is another fact that the people of this great nation found it a great vision. 🙁
Gosh, I completely agree. What is a selfie going to achieve when you are still talking about girl's marriage as this huge thing that needs a whole lot of planning! I feel he sometimes blows things out of proportion, the silly way of support becomes bigger than the cause itself, which is just sad! Rightly said Akanksha, I was nodding throughout the post.
There are too many changes which India should have taken care of long back but are still being talked about. Only if strict laws are implemented, can a change happen…there are no achchedin to talk about till then (for me at least).
Rich have only gotten richer after government change and poor have been bearing the brunt of it all.
While I agree that we need action more than symbolic steps, the soft approach of symbolism can go along with actions. You have some valid points there like controlling fringe elements like Sakshi Maharaj. I think he has been given a signal to keep shut. Sooner or latter these stupid voices will get sidelined.
I am all for small positive steps that change mindsets. Even though it is a painful protracted affair. However, credible action needs to be taken to ensure that the soft approach isn't squandered away.
Very well said Akansha!
I didn't understand the hoopla over a selfie hashtag either. It was a shallow, baseless and stupid campaign and it made the PM look like an attention-seeking teen, who was screaming, “YES, I am doing SOMETHING”.
And great post! If the PM saw this, I am sure he would say, “#DespiteBeingAWoman, great job!”
he seeks attention in everything he does… politician hai, bina apne matlab ke kuch nahin karega..
I agree that #SelfieWithDaughter is pure rhetoric. Many (NOT ALL) Indian men paw women and rape them with impunity. It has gotten worse in the last few years. They've started saying boldly that women are to blame for rape because bad women need to be taught a lesson. By violating them physically? By gratifying their own physical appetites without a woman's consent? How will a selfie with daughter keep that vermin under control? They need to know in no uncertain terms that they are breaking the law and that is a punishable offence under our central leadership.
I was as disenchanted as you with this selfie with daughter campaign that's all about grandiose gestures with little real value.
Totally agree with you.How can these flimsy gestures make any difference?
Totally agree Akanksha. Actually such initiatives are good in the sense that they keep such initiatives in the national consciousness. But the basic problem is that these initiatives won't really work unless we go to the grassroots and make a difference. For long, we have paid lip service to protect women, girl child and so on and so forth. But things go from bad to worse day in and day out.
Moreover, in such things, the change needs to come from within us as well. Each of us needs to inculcate habits in their children what a role of a woman is in life. And also how equality is the name of the game in today's world. A woman's life is not just about getting married and in the kitchen but in the corporate world or sports grounds as well.
Akanksha while I understand your angst with women's issues I certainly can't figure out your animosity with a campaign that only aims at invoking pride for your daughter. Perhaps I don't share your cynicism. Maybe you'll feel that the Sarpanch in the Haryana village whose idea the PM put his weight behind also was looking at a gimmick. A man who sees this reality every day that you and I talk about. As far as female foeticide is concerned or rape or other issues, laws are there. Yet female foetuses are aborted even by the moneyed. It has to do with mindset change which no law can help change. That happens slowly with soft campaigns like these. Santosh Desai wrote a great column in Monday's TOI about how these campaigns can be effective. Come to think of it posts like what you and I write including this one are empty gestures too. After all what action is associated with it if that is the yardstick by which you measure efficacy or sincerity. Of course it is a democracy and there will always be dissent. I just hope the dissent stays civil, logical and sensible.
Agree with Akansha and with also would like to point her to Santosh Desai's slightly different take on the matter. Everything is right now only gestures, change is not a sudden shift. Specially change that is not agreed on in full by all in the same social collective. sometimes we in the urban elite tend to be just as narrow monded and closed as those we wish to change. I am in no way a supporter of slefiewithdaughter, but after thinking more about it, can see how and why it can also be a positive thing. Not that Namo did it with any such great thought. On him, I am narrowminded! As yet.
Well said! I also believe we need more action than just promises. I recently wrote about something that's related yet different. Have a look when you get time! https://happinessandfood.wordpress.com/2015/07/01…