Rape Archives

Meet Seema Kushwaha, the Lawyer Who Fought Alongside Nirbhaya’s Mother for 7 Years

Seema Kushwaha, a young lawyer from UP, was still studying when decided to take up the Delhi gang-rape case in 2013. But even before that, she had joined the fight for justice – attending candle-light vigils and protests.

Arré Bench July 28, 2016

Gender

What Do We Do About the Sexual Harassers’ List?

There's plenty right with Raya Sarkar's sexual harassers' list, and plenty wrong. But what if we think of it as an instrument to strengthen our processes?

Poulomi Das July 24, 2016

POV

Daisy Irani and the Dark Reality of Children in Showbiz

Daisy Irani’s story of abuse has put a spotlight on children in entertainment, a distinctly adult industry which is no place for a child. The world of showbiz is a murky one that commodifies children and catapults them into adulthood.

Dushyant Shekhawat July 23, 2016

Bollywood

Step Up, Saroj Khan: Stop Defending Bollywood’s Dirty Dancing

Three-time National Award-winner and arguably Bollywood’s most respected choreographer, Saroj Khan defended the casting couch today. In doing so, she singlehandedly put the film industry light years behind in ensuring that it can also be a safe workplace for actresses.

Poulomi Das July 23, 2016

Gender

While India Let Down Its Women in 2020, Our Courts Protected Their Rights

In a year where sexual violence and misogynistic portrayals of women dominated news cycles, Indian courts have quietly been passing rulings that recognise and protect the rights of the nation’s women.

Rhea Arora July 21, 2016

Bollywood

How the Meenakshi Seshadri-Starrer Damini Taught Me My First Lesson in Feminism

In Damini, which released 28 years ago, Meenakshi Seshadri plays a housewife who beats impossible odds in her quest for justice for a rape survivor, the family’s domestic help. In some ways, the movie is the origin story of a conviction that has defined my life and given it purpose — that women are not second-class citizens of the world.

Sonali Kokra July 10, 2016

Pop Culture

F/riction: Asaram, Spotlight, and the Unchecked Power of Faith

Welcome to F/riction, a column on films and books that mirror the big nasty of the week. This week, the conversation around sexual assault and the sentencing of Asaram, the godman who raped a teenager in 2013, takes us back to Spotlight, which lifted the veil on systemic child abuse in the Boston area by Roman Catholic priests.

Vishwas Kulkarni June 28, 2016

Bollywood

Mardaani 2 Review: The Rani Mukherji Movie Has a Myopic View of Rape and Punishment for Rapists

Mardaani 2 is nothing more than just an excuse to ride on the overwhelming public rage against the inaction towards violence against women. It looks to satiate the dangerous demands of mob justice to such an extent that the film ends up romanticising it.

Poulomi Das June 18, 2016

POV

The 3 Mistakes of Chetan Bhagat

Dear Chetan Bhagat, you don’t get to play the victim card at a time when women are coming forward to share their stories of real oppression. To whine about how the controversy about your “wooing” chats has prevented you from promoting your latest book only makes you look like a self-serving schmuck.

Dushyant Shekhawat June 16, 2016

Gender

Candlelight Marches in Assam, Gang Rape in Delhi: Eight Years After Nirbhaya, Sexual Violence Still Plagues Indian Women

In Delhi, a 14-year-old girl was raped by four men aged 17 to 30. In Bengaluru, a 20-year-old nursing student from Assam was raped and murdered. It’s horrific but headlines like these have become far too frequent in 2020.

Arré Bench June 13, 2016