By Abhishek Jha:
With close to half a million views, the video by the BomBaebs duo- Uppekha Jain and Pankhuri Awasthi- is a viral phenomenon. Instead of just highlighting rape as a problem, their Rap Against Rape asks us to examine our society to understand why rape happens. Interestingly, these causal agents appear to be some of the common innocuous things we all participate in, in our daily life. Thus they question our notion of an ideal girlfriend and wife, our disgust of menstruation, and the “kanya puja” favour for which people go to their neighbours.
However, it is not without its problematic aspects. For instance, it is right that “a girl who has been raped “need not” hide her face”. But in the same breath, it seems to suggest that it is wrong for a porn star to achieve celebrity status. A lot of people might derive the conclusion that while a girl who is a rape survivor should be allowed a normal life, probably it is the porn stars who need to be shamed. That would be a wrong conclusion to make. Saying that rapists’ “dick should be split” also immediately reminds us of the Nagaland lynching and what must not be done in response to crimes or alleged crimes.
Watch and tweet to me @abhi5285 if you agree, or even if you disagree with their views?