On TV and on social media, the MeToo movement is nowadays all the rage, as if it is the main problem India is facing.
Everyone knows that in the Indian film industry, ever since it came into existence 70-80 years ago, there have been instances of sexual misconduct by many directors and prominent film actors towards females. To get a role, even a minor one, a girl had to often sleep with the director or leading male actor, and yet there was no guarantee that she would get even that minor role.
The situation has been similar in many other industries, e.g. in the media. And yet no one, till now, ever made such a hue and cry over it. So why now?
The answer is that a movement called MeToo was started in the US in October 2017 by American actress Alyssa Milano, following exposures like that of the film producer-cum-woman molester Harvey Weinstein. Since many Indians are fond of aping the West because they suffer from an inferiority complex, they had to start the MeToo movement here too. There can be no other explanation.
What Tarun Tejpal did had been going on in India for ages, but there were no hassles, and it was regarded to be quite acceptable.
For example, a senior Supreme Court lawyer was caught on a concealed video camera literally with his pants off with a lady lawyer, and the video went viral. But within a short time thereafter, it was Raat gayi, baat gayi and business as usual, as if the incident never happened.
So no one ever complained on such a large scale in India till now. But when the 'gora' does something, we must ape it too.
The fact is that in exploitative societies there will always be harassment and assault against women, and so the only way to end sexual misconduct is by abolishing exploitative society. But the MeToo champions never demand that. So, the MeToo movement is really only a gimmick and at best it can only make a marginal difference, but the result will only be that sexual harassment will change its forms and become more sophisticated, relying more on subterfuge.
But why is sexual harassment and the MeToo movement being given such prominence now? The answer is that it is a clever diversionary move. No doubt, sexual harassment at workplaces and elsewhere does take place, and is to be condemned. But the much bigger problems of the people are poverty, unemployment, poor healthcare, malnourishment, lack of good education, farmers' distress, price rise, atrocities on minorities, etc.
When the rulers are unable to solve these bigger problems, they try to divert attention from these issues to lesser ones, and create propaganda that these lesser problems are the only problems, or the main problems.
Some years back, the Nirbhaya gang-rape case was so hyped by the media that an impression was sought to be created that the only problem before India was not poverty, not unemployment, not price rise, not healthcare and not malnourishment... but just rape.
So some issue must be thrown up by the media from time to time, often borrowing it from the West, and it is faithfully lapped up by the gullible Indian public. The same is being done now with the MeToo movement.
A veritable tsunami has been launched by women, mainly from the media and film industry, complaining of sexual harassment by their bosses. Prashant Jha, Hindustan Times chief of bureau, had to quit his managerial duties over allegations of sexual harassment. Tanushree Dutta has made allegations against actor Nana Patekar and also film director-producer Vivek Agnihotri.
AIB cofounder Tanmay Bhat had to quit his organisation, while his colleague Gursimran Khamba was sent on leave. Kangana Ranaut has made allegations against director Vikas Bahl. Writer Chetan Bhagat and actor Rajat Kapoor have apologised after sexual harassment allegations were levelled against them. Allegations have been made against singer Kailash Kher and others. The list is rapidly growing.
While some of these allegations may be true, is it not possible that others are sheer blackmail? A floodgate has been opened, and no one can say where the tidal wave will subside.
So for future guidance to be safe, may I quote a line from Tulsidas' Ramcharitmanas:
Deepshikha sam yuvati tan, man jani hot patang.
"A young woman's body is like a flame; keep away, lest you get burnt."
Justice Markandey Katju retired from the Supreme Court in 2011
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK