#Me-Too movement

Thanks to # Me Too movement, incidences of sexual harassment and assault on women by men are being increasingly brought to light by women themselves. Earlier women perhaps felt shy of making public the sexual misdemeanour meted out to them for fear of social stigma. Time has changed; now women come forward to speak their mind openly if they are sexually abused, no matter how influential the perpetrator of the offence may be. What’s more, our society takes such matters seriously and mobilise their opinion to bring the accused to book.

# Me-Too movement originated abroad to highlight allegedly wide spread  men’s  sexual misconduct with women ,particularly in work place, more often than not taking positional advantage in their professional  domain. Now in India #Me Too movement has gained sufficient strength with more and more victims venturing to tell their stories of sexual abuse and as a result many accused, mainly celebrities, have already been caught in #Me Too net. However, in most of the instances both the accused and the victims go to court to seek justice. In such cases we should wait till court pronounces its final verdict but nevertheless, in the mean time, admittedly, the stories of inappropriate sexual conduct made public is enough to do immense damage to the social status and professional careers of the victims.

In fine, the probability can’t be ruled out that in some instances of #Me Too allegations of sexual harassment might have been  slapped on the victim for some malicious intent or an episode of consensual sex  projected as sexual misbehaviour either. So each incident of sexual misconduct needs to be thoroughly probed without any preconceived opinion. However, it’s likely the #Me Too movement would help lessen the incidences of sexual harassment of women at work place or elsewhere.

SC's Sabarimala temple verdict!

In Sabarimala temple in Kerala entry of women of ‘menstrual age’ (10 to 50yrs) was banned since long. Supreme Court in its recent majority (4-1) historic verdict lifted this age-old ban to allow women of all ages to enter the shrine. However, one of the judges, who is incidentally a woman judge, opposed the majority view and opined SC shouldn’t interfere in the religious practice of the temple and ban should be allowed to continue. In fact, menstruation is only a natural physiological phenomenon like many other biological processes in human body. So menstrual age shouldn’t  stand as a hindrance in the entry to a shrine and offering worship to the deity. The ban infringes on the constitutional right to equality of women either.

The SC verdict, however, triggered mixed reactions among people. Most of the people have welcomed this judgement whole heartedly including Kerala govt. But a section of people vehemently protested against this verdict. They consider it an unwelcome and unnecessary intervention of judiciary in the age-old religious tradition of Sabarimal temple, although they have no logical or scientific standing either. It is purely based on faith and unwavering adherence to age-old tradition. What’s most interesting, almost 5000 women devotees of the temple participated in the protest rally against SC verdict. Even a review petition has been filed against this judgement at the Apex court. Incidentally, it’s nothing new that SC has stepped in to alter the traditional practice being followed by temple management in the greater interest of people at large. For instance, SC has asked to allow non Hindus to enter Shri Jagannath temple at Puri where only Hindus are eligible to enter the shrine. Interestingly, traditionalists everywhere oppose such a move and tussle between tradition and rationality  continues.

SC's Aaadhaar Verdict

A 5-judge bench of Supreme Court  heard the Aadhaar case and 4 judges were unananimous so far as the final verdict is concerned and the 5^th judge C.K.Chandachud differed altogether in his opinion. While majority view considers  Aaadhaar  constutionally valid and validates the Money bill passed by the Central govt in Lok Sobha,Mr. Chandrachur,  treats  Aadhaar constutinally not valid and  terms Money Bill  a ‘fraud  on constitution’ as govt bypassed Rajya Sabha while passing the bill.Mr.Chandachur further adds Aadhaar is an attempt by the govt for ‘State surveillance’ on people. However, majority view is considered a balanced judgment by most of the people.          

To begin with,Aadhaar was conceptualised to allay misuse in public distribution system , govt subsidies and other benefits offered to people. Introduction of Aadhaar served these purposes to a large extent, though in some instances needy and marginalised people were denied such benefits for lack of  Aadhaar or mismatch of their biometrics, particularly finger prints with centrally based data base for no fault of their own.                                                        

However,  in course of time, Aadhaar was made mandatory in umpteen  fields including banks, telecom services, UGC fellowships,CBSE board exams and many more. At times leakage of Aadhaar data was alleged and need to protect them was urged upon.                                                                                                         

A host of public interest litigations were filed against Aadhaar challenging its constitutional validity in Supreme Court as it is supposed to infringe on right to privacy which the Apex court had already accepted as a fundamental right. As many as 38 hearings were held on Aadhaar issue  and it was perhaps the longest run litigation against a particular issue of public interest. However, verdict on Aadhaar was kept on hold for couple of months until recently it was made public.

In it’s  majority verdict  SC cut the applications of Aadhaar  to size scrapping its necessity in many a field like bank, telcom services and private sectors etc.But Aadhaar was made mandatory in public distribution systems,  issuance of  all govt  benefits , and for filing of income tax returns etc.

SC Verdict-Adultery is no criminal offence

SC’s  judgement that adultery is not a criminal offence does not in any way influence the relation between husband and wife. Husband or wife, whoever indulges in adultery, conjugal relation is bound to be adversely affected, no matter adultery is a criminal offence or not. In fact. when a man and woman get involved in adulterous relation, they hardly care for the law that permits  or prohibits adultery . In our society marriage is deemed a sanctified institution. Here it’s difficult to assume that after marriage husband or wife would give consent to each other or acquiesces to choose an outside partner to sleep with. Nor husband or wife would claim he or she has every right to have sex with another person as it is no longer a criminal offence. However, in the event of sexual dysfunction of husband or wife, one may give consent to another for extramarital sex, that too occurs in rare cases because they would prefer to go in for divorce. However, the verdict might help those people who engage their wives in sexual relation with others, by coercion or persuasion, for earning money or some married women who voluntarily might have sex with others for monetary benefit.

An open letter to Sanghacharyaya, Mahamilan Math, Kolkata

Sanghacharyaya,                                                                                February 7,2018

Mahamilan Math

7/7, P.W.D.Rd,

Kolkata-700108

Dear Sir,                         Sub: Misbehviuor, Misdemeanor  and Mismanagement.

To begin with let me introduce I’m a septuagenarian retired College Professor and quite a veteran disciple of Sri Sri Sitaram Das Onkernath. Way back in nineteen fifties when I was in school I took Diksha(initiation) from Sri Thakur. Sri Thakur, I’m proud to say, paid visit to my ancestral house at Ranaghat,Nadia twice and stayed there whole day and night. I distinctly remember in my childhood days I used to go to Dumurdaha, Thakur’s Birthplace with my parents and other members of my family to have His Darshan.In later life I got the opportunity to come  close to Thakur and had his blessings.

Now let me share my unfortunate experience with you on the Day of Onkar Panchami(Birthday Celebration of Sri Sri Thakur) at Mahamilan Math on Feb 05,2018. There was impressive gathering of people as expected on this August occasion and the management seemed doing well. But I was totally disillusioned when I went to take Prasad at the backyard of the Math premises.  No iota of discipline prevailed there among those in charge of kitchen and serving food. I found people seated in dining hall endlessly waiting for food to be served. Men in kitchen in white robe, probably sadhus moving in leisurely pace, behaved in rude and rough manner with those who enquired to know when Prasad would be served. As the dining room was full I found people squatting at Verandah with leaf plates. I took permission from  a man in kitchen and joined the squatters. At last long awaited and much coveted serving of Prasad began.Alas, little did I know my ordeal  was still to end. While going past some of us those serving Prasad didn’t care to look at us, let alone serve Prasad. I vainly tried to draw their attention repeatedly and ultimately called it a day. Unfed my temper frayed. I protested and a tall duti-clad flabby muscle man asked me to get out with abusive language like a bouncer in hotels and restaurants. I felt insulted and humiliated  like any other  self respecting man and resolved not to step in Mahamilan Math on any other occasion in future.In my view those who can’t pay proper respect to a man and  on the contrary treat people as subhuman beings have no right to serve in any Math and Missions.Thank you.

7/2,K.P.Ghosal Rd,                                                                                                      With  regards,         Belgharia,                                                                                                                                               

Kolkata-700056                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  (Dr.Ujjal.K.Pal)

NB:No acknowledgement of the email  received as yet.