After the horrible attack on a defenseless girl in Guwahati that shocked us all, many have questioned why the video was put on Youtube. They say that people watching it are voyeurs and that the dignity of the girl is destroyed each and every time it’s watched. Apparently, they would have been happy if it was merely handed over to the police who would have quietly identified the culprits. I feel that this is entirely wrong. Putting the video on Youtube was one of the best and most important aspects of this case.
When I saw the video, the girl’s face was blurred out. Even if I saw it, I’m not going to know who she is and I won’t remember it if I see her on the road. But anyway – with the girl’s face blurred out, there’s no danger of her identity being revealed to all and sundry. But the Youtube video is the ONLY reason we’re feeling as much rage as we are.
How many times have you read newspaper reports about a woman being stripped and paraded naked in public? I read them all the time and feel a short moment of outrage…and forget about it. It happens so frequently, we can’t constantly feel outraged. For us to sit up and take notice, it has to be in our face. We need to see the pain and feel the distress of the victim. We need to experience her helplessness as the men converge around her like a pack of dogs.
What the Youtube video did was to take the Guwahati molestation case and press it right up against our nose. The country was stirred to disgust, and outrage because of that, and that alone. Otherwise it would just be another forgotten incident. The police would still be sitting on their asses and no massive manhunt would be launched.
If I was a woman and harassed in this way, I would pray for some video to be taken of it happening and broadcast to the entire nation. It’s the best thing that can happen. Not only will the culprits be identified, the police will be under pressure to catch them and the country itself will react violently sending a strong message to these uncivilized brutes that what they did was NOT ok. Never again will they smile into cameras and think that they’ll be viewed as heroes.
Pretend that the Internet didn’t exist. Do you think this Guwahati case would have achieved such importance? No.
It’s only when we see these incidents with our own eyes do we truly feel the full horror of the situation and the pain of the victim. For that, Youtube is a godsend. We need more clips like this put up for everyone to see so we know exactly how bad things can get and raise our collective voices against it.
I’m conflicted here. You’re right—the furore created by the internet would not have been possible without the video. But I also see people sharing the video and some screenshots asking their facebook friends to identify the people. Commenters to these screenshots on facebook have named people and shamed them by pasting links to facebook profiles.
What if the commenters are wrong? What if some of the people shamed by the internet merely resemble the guilty? The people accused of rape and molestation have some basic rights. We need due process to prove them guilty. But society when it gets wounded acquires mob mentality. A public accusation of sexual violence is as good as a conviction. I just wish people would tread lightly, and not turn vigilante with their keyboards.
In reply to Bharatwrites
Certainly I agree that people mustn’t jump to conclusions recklessly. But that doesn’t fault the person who uploaded the video on youtube…
Also, police regularly put up pictures of absconding criminals in public places asking people to inform them if they suspect that they’ve seem him/her. I don’t believe that this is any different – just on a bigger scale where many more people are invested in the process.
Hello, You are right. But for Internet and YouTube… this ghastly, demeaning incident wouldn’t have reach and enraged the entire Nation or the world. Like a coins has 2 sides, there are 2 sides – good and bad, to this incidence too. Those who are concerned shall be enraged, may be motivated to do something constructive. And voyeurs shall continue to look at the video tastily. But that’s no justification to not use Internet or YouTube, or to kill good intention in doing so. Methinks, the key is in applying due sense, sensibility and moderation while doing so. Regards – KRV
In reply to K R Vaishampayan
I agree. Regardless of the fact that there may be a very few people getting a perverse pleasure in watching this, far more individuals are genuinely outraged and shocked. It’s exactly what we require to ensure that violence against women is taken seriously.
Friend, What is sickening is: Overexposure on mainstream TV channels. More sickening is attitudes of and advice dished out by so-called thinkers from TV screens. Open political lobbying continues even while discussing such a sensitive topic. This malaise of being insensitive and being unconcerned is reaching ugly heights. And I think…we need a very strong medicine to this cancerous disease. But the moot question is: Who will bell the cat or Who will tell the emperor that he is without clothes? Regards – KRV
In reply to K R Vaishampayan
I don’t think people are unconcerned. If anything, this whole incident has shown that people are outraged by this kind of thing. We need as much exposure for these things so people won’t forget about them.
Hello! Do you sincerely think that more exposure equals to more awareness and more action? Re-think to find answers and what such vulgar exposure truly achieves other than rising TRPs. Also, you will easily agree that we just can’t wish away this muck of muddled thinking or the habit of killing the messenger or throwing away Baby with the bathwater. It calls for strong action by way of implementing provisions of laws strictly and punish the guilty severely to avoid future incidents. But will it happen here? Chances appear to be bleak. Regards – KRV
In reply to K R Vaishampayan
Of course I think that more exposure equals more awareness and more action! We’ve seen it happen so many times. The Anna Hazare movement was successful because of the 24hr media coverage. More exposure, the better it is.
Of course, the laws have to be implemented strictly. But where will the will come from? Us – the people.
“Do you sincerely think that more exposure equals to more awareness and more action?”
As opposed to less exposure equals more awareness and more action?
Yes i agree with your point of view. Very few who have not been similarly abused will feel the humiliation unless they perhaps see it with their own eyes. Even then, many will have their own ideas about it :(