Acharya Tulsi
In the summer session of Parliament, 1987, a bill was passed according to which the pornographic use of the female body in obscene posters, newspapers and magazines, and in advertisements becomes a punishable offence. Enacting the law is one thing, but its implementation quite another. And unless a law is implemented, it has little significance. In the Indian Constitution, child—marriage is banned. And yet thousands of such marriages take place every year. The law in respect of dowry was enacted in 1961, and yet dowry is openly demanded, given and exhibited to date. The number of dowry—murders is progressively increasing. Are people not aware of it? There may be more prohibitory laws like that, which have no affects whatsoever on the public life. Can such ineffective laws change the life- current of the nation?
Laws will be carried out only when there is a change in social values and in man's thinking. Unless there is an awakening of consciousness on the social and individual level, no evil can be wholly rooted out. The change in the administration coupled with a change-of-heart, could eradicate any inveterate tradition. Otherwise, no matter how many posters are torn up, how many advertisements inked out, and how many dharnas effected, the public mentality would continue as before.
The question arises as to who is responsible for the obscene presentation of the female body’? Some people lay the blame on films, others on the advertising agencies. In a way it is true. The film producers use the device of the female body to produce a hit; the editors to boost the demand for their newspapers and magazines; the producers of goods to monopolise the attention of the public for their product. But what is of far greater concern is the fact of woman agreeing to an obscene presentation of them—they cannot resist the temptation of making a big pile. Whatever the cause, if women refrain from going into ‘modelling’ altogether, their pictures would not be available for misuse.
It seems to me that the ambition of a businessman to prosper his business is perhaps more than matched by the ambition of those women who, ignoring the value-standards of society, unashamedly present themselves before the camera, for the ultimate exploitation of their bodies in obscene advertisements.
That a woman should become financially self—reliant is all for the good. lf, in order to bring about a change in the social outlook as regards women, or to win appropriate social recognition, a women advances towards financial independence, it is perfectly in order. What is important, however, is the nature of the means she adopts to achieve self-sufficiency. To fight social evils in order to be free from them does not mean that she is free to violate social decorum.
That the women-organisations concerned with the deteriorating image of women, should protest against the misuse of the female body in advertisements, and is understandable. However this protest is chiefly directed against the advertising agencies or the film producers. Will it not be more to the point to try to change the mentality of the women who are allied with such enterprises?
If women themselves will not keep up the dignity of woman kind, no ground is left for protest against others. l believe in woman- power. l am all for awakening their religious, social and political consciousness. A lot of work has been accomplished and -more is being done in this sphere in our community. But taking the Indian society as a whole, the exploitation of women has not occurred only on one level. On the one hand, slogans like "Freedom for women!" and "Women Must Awake" is being raised, on the other hand, we find one woman exploiting another. In these circumstances, the validity of the campaign started by some women organisations becomes doubtful.
A simple way to rid society of all undesirable happenings is to bring about a change in the existing mentality. Until there is a change in the public outlook, money will continue to command the utmost importance, and no possible effort will be spared to amass it. If the immoderate attraction of money comes to an end, and right values established in society, and an atmosphere of vigilance is created, and no woman offers herself for advertisement, posters, etc., then the bill passed by the Parliament will prove effective. All classes of people are responsible for the exploitation of women, but the greater responsibility lies upon women themselves. Only through commitment to their obligations can they keep their image bright.
