Looking back over 20 years of political and social transformation in India, one fact stands out. To an observer it must appear as if India has become a protest democracy. Practically everyday there is a protest rally or gherao somewhere in the nation - whining, moaning, screaming, shouting, even physically attacking and assaulting - for real or perceived offences. Too many times it doesn’t concern India or Indians directly.
Whether it is protests against suppression of Rohingyas in Burma/Myanmar, war crimes verdict in Bangladesh, Turban/Burkha ban in France, or ban on ISKCON version of Bhagwad Gita in Russia, to name a few, they have nothing to do with India. (In my personal opinion, even the protests against Sri Lanka are the same).
All of above have no direct impact on India or Indian citizens carrying on their livelihood within India. But the loudest protests are heard from within India.
Thus last week when I noticed Femen’s announcement of Topless Jihad for today, 4th April, I decided to hold off writing about it. If the protests attract attention, it sure is going to start another round of counter-protests back home. The Femen’s choice of campaign might even lead to a ban on the Femen website. So why write about it earlier and forewarn the counter-protesters?
Mind you, let me make it very clear - Femen may or may not be right. This article is not about the correctness or wrongs of any movement, Femen or otherwise. But today’s protest by Femen is really provocative. All three,
Amina Tyler created a huge uproar when she posted her image with the words “F**k your morals” written across her chest on the Femen Tunisia Facebook page.
Another image showed her smoking a cigarette with the caption "My body belongs to me, and is not the source of anyone's honour", written in Arabic across her bare chest.
To get back to subject browsing the Femen page, I could not decide on an image to use in this post. Almost all the images are too provocative and in the current environment back home, might well lead to a howl against this blog. And I am not as fearless as Femen.
:-P
Better to use the original Amina Tyler pictures - they’re less controversial.
and…
The Google AdSense moral police warned me to take down the pictures.
Watch out India. Prepare for protests.
Whether it is protests against suppression of Rohingyas in Burma/Myanmar, war crimes verdict in Bangladesh, Turban/Burkha ban in France, or ban on ISKCON version of Bhagwad Gita in Russia, to name a few, they have nothing to do with India. (In my personal opinion, even the protests against Sri Lanka are the same).
All of above have no direct impact on India or Indian citizens carrying on their livelihood within India. But the loudest protests are heard from within India.
Thus last week when I noticed Femen’s announcement of Topless Jihad for today, 4th April, I decided to hold off writing about it. If the protests attract attention, it sure is going to start another round of counter-protests back home. The Femen’s choice of campaign might even lead to a ban on the Femen website. So why write about it earlier and forewarn the counter-protesters?
Mind you, let me make it very clear - Femen may or may not be right. This article is not about the correctness or wrongs of any movement, Femen or otherwise. But today’s protest by Femen is really provocative. All three,
- the name of the campaign: ‘Topless Jihad’;
- the fantastic symbol they’ve thought up of; and,
- the words 'Our T*ts Are Deadlier Than Your Stones'.
Amina Tyler created a huge uproar when she posted her image with the words “F**k your morals” written across her chest on the Femen Tunisia Facebook page.
Another image showed her smoking a cigarette with the caption "My body belongs to me, and is not the source of anyone's honour", written in Arabic across her bare chest.
To get back to subject browsing the Femen page, I could not decide on an image to use in this post. Almost all the images are too provocative and in the current environment back home, might well lead to a howl against this blog. And I am not as fearless as Femen.
:-P
Better to use the original Amina Tyler pictures - they’re less controversial.
and…
The Google AdSense moral police warned me to take down the pictures.
Watch out India. Prepare for protests.
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