When I was in service, one day a class 4th employee made unwelcome advances towards a female officer. There was an uproar but then the case was hushed up in spite of a writing complaint lodged by the victim. Actually, the employees Union there had the accused their active member, pressured the concerned Managing Director to go slow on the case. That Employees Union comprised odd fifty members. As of now, that lady officer and almost all those Union ‘Naitas’ including the accused class 4th employee, the Managing Director of those days and I also, have retired from services, but that incident has not yet completely faded out from my memory.
That incident reminds me of a cover feature entitled “Dirty Tricks At Work” of a reputed Journal. The said Journal had raised a question:
“Where do you think many an Indian male lives out his sexual fantasies? Or rather give vent to his sex drive? Not in his bedroom, it would seem. The workplace is the place. Whether in the computerized workstations, the high flier’s world of aviation, the hallowed precincts of legislatures or rundown government offices, women are considered the easy game”.
“Males cajole, coerce or even blackmail colleagues and juniors to satisfy their lust. Most working women cultivate an immune system that makes them apparently indifferent to any assault on their sensibilities, verbal, psychological or physical. The motto is: Pretend nothing happened. This is how the brave new woman takes it like”.
Long back, I tried to find out on the causes of this sexual harassment and worked on this account vigorously. In fact, we need to make a thorough scrutiny of the causes of this menace. I arrived at the conclusion that indiscipline has gripped most of the government, semi-government and private institutions and they miserably lack the work culture, as a consequence, this type of menace and unlawful activities have given rise and now no end in sight.
“Me too” movement, which had started some time ago and wherein victims had disclosed their trauma, is a proof of that. “#Metoo” movement had exceedingly surfaced sexual harassment cases in the workplace. Although I am of the view that all women cannot be absolved from such wrongdoings and in my opinion, many women too are equally responsible for these “unwelcome” activities as they have been allowing themselves to be a part of such “intimacy”; whatever the reasons might be, material or service carrier?
There are multiple factors which are responsible for this trouble, or one can call it a problem. Inefficient officers lack the capability and skill to control this sort of harassment. In most of the cases, they have been found themselves responsible. And in the private sector, the situation is worse.
I asked an employee of an office as to why he always keeps on passing loaded remarks on female colleagues? “They dress seductively, that provokes me to make fun of these dolls”, he replied naughtily.
When I asked from an ultra-mod female as to why is she dressed that way? She was all fire and retorted, “I have the right to wear according to my choice. Does my liberty end where man dictates?”
“I didn’t mean that”, I told her and added, “but liberty does not mean to stoke the passions of others and to excite them? That way you are making yourself vulnerable. There need to be a limit and a woman should not cross it”.
“The lecherous guy can disrespect a woman even in a veil. And we both know that does also happen”. She argued.
But I am of the view that proper dressing plays a vital role in the safety of women while seductive dressing stimulates the opposite sex. I have already brought this question to the fore, that too in this very Weekly, that though I don’t believe in evolutionary science, it sounds interesting and to some extent relevant too, that the two prominent scientists of evolutionary science named Palmer and Thornhill said, man, is born a rapist. An American researcher commenting on this theory of these scientists says: “That rape is “a natural, biological phenomenon,” Thornhill and Palmer emphasize, does not mean that it is justified or inevitable. But to be effective, preventive measures must take into account rape’s evolutionary roots. Young men should be taught “to restrain their sexual behaviour.” Young women should be told the truth: “that sexual attractiveness does . . . influence rapists,” that provocative dress “can put them at risk,” and that they should be careful about being alone with men.
I have seen a man who would frequently heap sighs before his lady office-mate. He justified his uncivilised acts by saying that her presence stimulates my animal instinct, so forces me to moan!”.
Sometimes female colleagues are made indirect targets by their male-mates while later resort to vulgarity. Sometimes male employees make vulgar jokes and praise the appearance of a female colleague with indecent comments.
There are some worst men who stoop so low and lower themselves morally by framing obscene graffiti on the walls and toilets bearing the name of their female colleague.
Long time back, a reputed Journal had carried an investigative story in one of its issues regarding the sexual harassment of women at the workplace. A nurse at a private nursing home had told the reporter of that Journal that she has a tough time keeping doctors at bay. She said that one of the doctors always holds my hand when I am alone with him in the duty room. The reporter had revealed that a headmaster of a government school had his dirty habit of uttering obscenities in the presence of lady teachers and making enquiries about their private life. Since the attendance register and other records were kept in his office, the teachers were bound to enter. And that was when he would corner them.
So it continues the same way. The question remains. Who is responsible and whose duty is to fight the evil!
We cannot hide this fact that moral standards and spiritual values are witnessing tremendous decline and deterioration in Kashmir. Who cares? Is there anyone who could admonish the people running these tuition classes and asking them not to allow boys and girls in the same session but do it separately? Politics, in most of the cases, has become a profession used for majestic living and fulfilling other appetites of baser-self. Is there anyone in the political arena here who can genuinely and reasonably evaluate his political philosophy? I guess, not much! The contradictory, erratic behaviour and split personality of most of the politicians have rendered them a confused lot! So if people find their-selves distressed, can’t be blamed.
Not long ago, a student stabbed another student to death because both were reportedly in love with the same girl. “Ek Phool Do Maali Waala Moamla!” All three were taking tuition in the same class. These incidents occur now frequently, obviously the outcome of mutual gatherings.
It is true that every culture has deteriorated over the course of time. But it is unfortunate that our society has crumbled more swiftly. The decline in morals here, which was once called a ‘Resh War’ (Land of Pious People), has made everyone defenceless and helpless. Now we see that even the shadows of our historical piety and glory are fading out from our minds
Does it make sense to claim to live in a civilized society when there is an increase in crime rate, killings, and assaults on a woman? No gentleman can feel comfortable in such a “Civilized World” where human values are jeopardized.
It is not men only, female folk is equally responsible for making our society worse.
When power is controlled by wrong hands, the decay in human values starts. Economical factors are weakly related to moral degradation. When plundering becomes the way of life, ethical and moral values not only diminish but vanish also. Greed attracts crises. The system with commitments and checks and balances give rise to a value based society where morality flourishes.
Parental negligence is the main cause of moral degradation in youngsters. Majority of parents does not take much interest in character building for their children; instead, they addict them to bad tastes.
Government is also responsible for the degradation of moral and ethical values among youngsters. How can a person learn about morality till he is not taught about it and this kind of spirit and commitment is inculcated in him? It is necessary that the government introduces religious education in the curriculum so that the moral behaviour of children is upgraded. Wrongs and rights are traced in religious teachings.
Media too can play an important role in character building and up-gradation of moral values in society. Obscenity needs to be condemned and media should not promote it.
Let us go 1500 hundred years back in Arab history and see how much worst was the Arab society before the Annunciation of prophet Mohammad (Sallallahu allihi wassallam). Burying daughters alive, gambling, selling women, drinking alcohols, killing each other on flimsy issues, fornication, and adultery was practised with pride. It was Islam that made those cruel and wrong-doers so much committed and pious that today we draw the way of life from their traditions and they became the torchbearers. They are the people who became models of morality and human values.
Nazir Jahangir is a freelance writer and columnist
