The media coverage of Ranveer Singh’s nude photoshoot is proof of our shallow integrity—here’s my take. 

A minor girl was gang-raped in Rajasthan some days ago. A woman was killed because of dowry issues in Kanpur. A 12-year-old girl was raped on her way to school in Noida. But what are we busy talking about? Ranveer Singh’s butt.

So far, 3 FIRs have been registered against Ranveer Singh for his ‘obscene pictures.’ We as a society surely have our priorities straight. 

His latest photoshoot has sparked a nationwide debate. The actor is not only trending on Twitter for the past week but has become the main topic of discussion for ‘prime time news shows.’ But is this an issue that needed so much attention? Has our country and the so-called ‘media’ run out of real problems? A question every Indian should ask. 

This whole controversy reminds me of the ‘Padmaavat’ row when the Karni Sena threatened to chop off Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone’s nose. Apart from their dangerous misuse of an outdated law, what was worrisome was the whole attention the controversy received.

A baseless argument stirred by attention-hungry jokers. But who is to be blamed? The media who covered it, the politicians who failed to act, or the people who enjoyed the debates? Think. 

India’s economy is at an all-time low. Communal tension is at an all-time high. A girl is getting raped every 10 minutes. And the police are filing FIRs against an actor posing for a magazine? Is this our ignorance, or have we decided to live in a delusional world where “sab changa si”?

Panelists appearing in debates are targeting Ranveer Singh for outraging a woman’s modesty. Where were they when a 6-year-old was gang-raped by 3 people in Uttar Pradesh some days ago? Does that not outrage a woman’s modesty?

Isn’t that a serious issue that deserves attention? Or has news become a mode of entertainment and a medium for attention-seeking pseudo-intellectuals?

Also, this isn’t the first time an actor faces the consequences for posting ‘offensive and obscene pictures and videos.’ You will be surprised to know that Sushmita Sen became the talk of the town for humorously saying that ‘no Indian is a virgin anymore.’ Several petitions were filed against the former Miss Universe for hurting the sentiments of Indians. 

Aamir Khan, too, faced severe legal issues after releasing his naked poster for his film PK in 2014. There was an FIR registered against him and the makers of the film because some members of the society found it ‘offensve.’

Now ask yourself, was this really necessary? Did these cases require such massive media coverage and nationwide attention? I wonder if the rape and dowry cases were followed up and investigated with such sheer dedication, wouldn’t India be safer for women today? But is it? Oh, the irony of it all. 

Should a Woman’s Modesty be Insulted by Ranveer Singh’s Nude Photoshoot?

I am a woman, and my modesty is not outraged by Ranveer Singh’s pictures. How can an actor’s butt in a picture offend or insult my modesty?

What actually outrages my modesty as a woman is when I received rape threats on social media from the defenders of ‘Indian culture’ for posting a picture in a bikini. I feel humiliated when I get abused for expressing my opinions on Twitter. 

But when these trolls and potential rapists don’t spare top actresses, how can I expect an honest probe? Will the police listen to me and file a case against those eve teasers who harass me on my way to work every day? Will that become a topic of national debate? Don’t think so. 

It took Nirbhaya 7 years to get justice. There are so many rape cases that do not even get registered by the police. So many women are forced to stay quiet after an assault. Even the women leading the most prominent companies are threatened not to expose their harassers. So what about their modesty? Why no debate on that?

Exactly when we thought that movements like MeToo and the powerful tools of social media would be a sigh of relief from the endless atrocities of women, reactions to a photo shoot by a male actor shatter the hope. 

Source: Quartz India

But I still believe in the judicial system of the country. The optimist in me still wants a world where women’s modesty is outraged by ‘actual horrific incidents’ and not a baseless controversy.

Is the Maharashtra State Commission of Women listening to me? I hope they do. Because I am furious about the fact that in a world where women’s safety should be the utmost priority for the police and women’s panel, all I can do is watch them use their power to attack a celebrity. 

I sincerely hope that there comes a day when people will show the same outrage when a girl is raped, a woman is threatened, and a wife is beaten black and blue. 

I am living to see India become a country where women can roam freely, without any fear, knowing that the law is protecting them and their fellow women are fighting for them.

Where the media works for the people and not the TRPs. Where the politicians use their power to protect their people, not attack them. An India without fear. An India that worships women. 

“Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high.”

-Rabindranath Tagore.

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