Still no men pause, Fest takes call @ curtains

After five days of deliberations and lectures of wisdom, the literature gala ZEE JLF concluded with vote upholding that men still have it too easy. They find it easy to exploit and harass their female counterparts that find themselves on a socially, physically and often institutionally compromised ends.

However, even a vocal vote at the concluding session confirmed it being a harsh reality, there were many that were optimistic of things changing for the better direction. 

The conclusion debate inspired by the MeToo hashtag also seem to acknowledge the latent voices of social media that rose against this ‘culture of harassment’. The #MeToo movement had taken the world by storm and exposed of the issue being persistent across social and geographical borders. The ZEE JLF took the debate off social media platform to the front lawns of literary events. 

However, the gravity of topic made it less of a debate and rather different versions of the same idea. The eminent panel comprised author-journalist Manu Joseph, activist Ruchira Gupta, lawyer Pinky Anand, journalist Sandip Roy, writer-journalist Bee Rowlatt, journalist Vinod Dua which was moderated by Namita Bhandare and thousands of the guests all agreed that there is no place for harassment and violence.

A feeble submission though appeared from Manu Joseph and Sandip Roy who attempted to differentiate between the good men and bad men. “I have never harassed anyone,” Sandip said, trying to convey the message of ‘good men’ that find themselves the target of generalised allegation aginst men. 

While Manu Josheph stating that ‘men are also under lot of pressure to be good,’ attacked the ‘political male feminist’ for misleading such issues. Vinod Dua talked of a ‘boys code’ that held women in respect. “We were taught to be protective of our sister and to treat friend’s sister as our own. In those times even if one had crush on her, he would hold it back,” Dua said. 

He also attempted to defend the practice of harmless expression of desire through some romantic prose. His pleas, however, were not to satisfaction of Bee Rowlatt, Ruchira and even moderator Namita who supported a more feminist version of the MeToo movement. To this feminist version of MeToo the answer came as ‘No Clue’.  As for panelist Pinky Anand, her stand as a lawyer was more defined by laws. She said while she supports the cause and the movement, she was unclear about the list of people accused of harassment on basis on online complaints. “If there is a chance of innocence, the person must be treated accordingly,” she said.

Pinky was also undaunted by the rising number of reported cases of harassment. She held the increase in number an reflection of awareness leading to the cases being registered and also a gradual change in the social mindset.

“If anyone accidentally happens to brush shoulder against a woman today, they say sorry. This was not the case a few years ago,” she pointed. 

The session, however, concluded with the vocal vote from public establishing that unfortunately many men still find it easy.