| Font Size - |
After Pooja Chauhan's striptease act in Rajkot last July, which made it to the national headlines, there have been a string of at least six cases in just the last few months where people, mostly women, have shed their clothes in public in a bid to air their grievances.
Geeta Sava who stripped on Wednesday night at Rajkot is the latest addition to the long list.
While local reactions to this phenomenon are divided, sociologists say this could well assume syndromic proportions in the state.
"This is a result of a complete collapse of all collective movement in the state," said Dr Gaurang Jani, a professor of Sociology at the Gujarat University.
"People are getting disillusioned with the administration and realising that at the end of the day, one has to stand up for oneself for redressal of grievances," he said. Dr Jani said Pooja Chauhan had set a precedent, which is now being emulated across the state, adding that such acts signify a state of social anarchy.
"In a good chunk of these cases, the women have only been shedding their clothes rather than ending their lives," said Prof. Anandi Patel, a teacher of Social Work at the Gujarat Vidyapith in Ahmedabad.
"Gender justice has not been one of the biggest achievements of this state and the lack of it is now forcing women to take the strongest stand possible to drive their grievances home," said Prof. Patel.
Meera Ramnivas, DIG (Crimes) said these cases are a "definite cause for concern," and there is a need to study why such things are happening. "It needs to be understood whether the public has just lost its patience or if the society has become desensitised," she added.
Adding to the list
July 5, 2007 Pooja Chauhan strips at Rajkot to protest against dowry demands from her in- laws. She also threatened to redo the act early this year
July 15, 2007 Rekha Parmar threatens to strip in Ahmedabad to protest police inaction against her husband
August 4, 2007 Nasimbano Pathan tries to strip in front of the Police Bhavan in Gandhinagar to protest police inaction against some criminals, despite her attempts to get a complaint registered.
May 10, 2008 Kailash Damore strips and creates a ruckus at Chotila. Her family says she is of unsound mind.
March 2008 Indravadan Patel strips at the Provident Fund Office at Vadodara in order to recover his PF dues
June 16, 2008 Arti Patel strips at CTM Ahmedabad following a divorce and her parents disowning her through a newspaper advertisement
July 16, 2008 Geeta Sava strips at Rajkot to protest against eve teasing
The sociologists especially and the normal Indians in general should be worried and concerned over the falling standards in the moral values and pollution of the streams of socio-cultural life in Gujrat. To begin with Pooja Chauhan since July 2007 till date so many women were compelled to strip in public to air their grienvances. None of them were threatening to commit suicide. Infact, the ordinary Gujrati is already disillusioned with administration and realizes that the end of the day, one has to stand up for oneself for redressal of his or her grievance. Society in Gujrat is almost desenstized and dehumanized as they have witnessed the worst heinous crimes under the same administration. Kudos to these courageous women and shame on Modiji. I think this article or news is eye-opener for all the supporters and sycophants of Modiji. This is the real Gujrat of Modi and not the glittering one that is advertised by fanatics to extol the virtues of this fanatic politician.
| Most Read Articles |
 |