Forego Fairness if you are the Fairer Sex
It does not matter if you are a victim or a culprit-the society will always see women exponentially, than any other identity trait they possess.
A human life, and a human death have been made into a joke.
This is what happened in the media trials of sensational cases, from the Jessica Lal case to the Arushi Talwar Murder, leading on to the Sheena Bora Murder Case and now, the Sushant Singh Rajput death row.
What connects these cases are women. In the former two, they were victims of assault and murder, while in the latter two, women have been pronounced of, or accused of crime.
It is an undisputed realization, that being a woman makes one more of a culprit when compared to their male counterparts in crime. Our obsession with female dacoits and masterminds, or focus on them, is enough testimony to the same.
In the ongoing, obsessive media trial of the case, washing tainted laundry in the public has taken a new turn with the accused, Rhea Chakraborty being interviewed by two leading news channels, both of them incidentally belonging to an unconventional media thought when compared to their ‘sensational’ counterparts with one being infamous for assuming judgeship of not one, but many such media trials single-handedly.
It was ironic when several people condemned the interview without even watching it.
What made me wince was prime-time anchors flocking around Rhea’s house today to get a picture of the ‘vishkanya’, the ‘starlet’, the ‘gold-digger’- to me, I saw a woman like me wading through a crowd of vultures. I heard a father lament how his family was torn apart, and assassinated by public verdict.
A public that did not credit Sushant in life, and will not let him rest in peace in death.
I am a journalist, and I am sorry that televisions are flashing this case when the pandemic has crippled our economy and taken a toll on life. But, I am sorry to all the ‘vultures’ the people with mics, cameras and a free thought have become- and you, my dear reader, are to blame for it. You refused to believe Sushant took his life. You posted forensics and you screamed on YouTube that the media is not taking up this case. In a sold, slaggard law and order situation, the media stepped into the shoes of justice, but this jury has lost all respect of justice.
As the public, we are entitled to our views and take on a certain situation. A celebrity high-profile case becomes an epicentre of public discourse, but decency is lost when attacks get personal, and derogatory, thereby transcending societal decency with each turn in the story.
One nascent, yet top-notch news channel had its prime time anchor and psephologist chasing Rhea Chakraborty’s car, and trying to break into their home with ‘loud, bitter’ questions in the tryst of getting it first. It is now a fact to be made peace with- getting it first overtook getting it right in journalism long back.
When people say that Rhea Chakraborty consented to the interview because she was seeking PR, they may have a point in saying so, citing her preparedness, and some emotional answers. But when a party to the case, and the lawyer of the same- Sushant’s family and lawyer make TV appearances every now and then, does Rhea not get to be on the answering side in this media trial? How will it be fair with just uni-directional flow of thought?
The public knows which channel to switch to, and what content to consume. It is them, who have made this desire to know hair and scalp of this case so apparent through Twitter trends and social media posting that corporate media houses have no option to cash in on this opportunity.
Television Journalism is sensational, and has been for a long while now. But it is on us how we receive information- we cannot let personal bias sway narratives because then, the choice of information receipt lowers and becomes autocratic, linear and undemocratic.
Rhea Chakraborty is an accused, and innocent till the law pronounces her guilty. I would say the same no matter who she is personally to me- as a journalist, adjectives, inclinations, hatred- all form a bias which is uncalled for.
Treat her like an accused. Question her role- but do not impose the identity of a woman on her as an attempt to demonise her.
Women from all walks of life relate to the vilification of Rhea because at some point we have faced societal bias against us. So, if you think I am paid to write this, or some Bollywood actress’ tweet is reeking of PR, who has paid you to assassinate a woman’s integrity? It’s a free discourse, you may PAY to enjoy the notoreity this witch-hunt gives. It is profitable to corporate journalism. That is why new lows of defaming the dead and exposing medical history are reached.
The law promises both the innocent and the guilty, the famous or the ordinary- a right to life, freedom and safety. If that is transcended, humanity and inclusivity is deceived.
The next time you opinionate, please step into the shoes of the accused, their family. Empathy is a basic human trait, and imperial at this time because a human life is lost, but we want blood for blood- which is a degenerative social trait.
