Pink Chaddi Campaign
At first, it sounded like a funny idea … but after some thought, I don’t think I am for the Pink Chaddi Campaign.
I hope it does bring some results … but even if it does, I don’t think I’d ever come around to appreciating the approach. Reactions as such only give the perpetrators more reason to do what they are doing. Best approach always is to swallow anger, think rationally and proceed with discourse in a manner that the opposing party is left with no reason to react aggressively.
Campaigns like Pink Chaddi Campaign don’t do that. They work against my philosophical understanding of the world and its ways …
… and hence, I can’t support.
I wish I could write more but health won’t allow. ta-da fer now. :)
Edited to add: Afterthought – antibiotics seemingly have devoured my funny bone. :/ Sux to feel like this though. I am listening to spiritual-themed songs. Go figure! I guess these are the situations when this God entity begins to feel like a reality. When you’re about to give up and cling on to that last strand of hope … put faith in an unknown entity … and hope that it will all be better.
You still sick? Get better Roop!
- solil, docs don’t know what it is. trying another course of antibiotics. let’s see. :/ im so mentally drained.
Surprisingly, I agree with the campaign. I think the point is not just *not* rational discourse. It is more of an activity that will disgust them but is a part of every woman.
In India, we hide our undergarments. Almost. We hang them elsewhere in the back. We take them off the clothesline before the man of the house or anyone else can see them. In some places, we are not even allowed to dry them in public. So, this is to tell all the Sene people that however disgusted you are with the most basic of us, we are like this only. Similarly, drinking is not good or bad, its just a way of life for some people. It does not make us good or bad Indians.
Sorry for hogging the space!
P.S. – And this is what we can do right? the people, young girls – much like Obama’s movement? Give $1 if that is all you can do. Rational discourse is for intellectuals, feminists and possibly even the Govt to do, right? Isn’t that why we elect them? We can only do this :) If we could, then we could have run the govt!
Nandi: u make a point. husband asked me today, ‘if not this, then what would u do?’ … i told him that i can’t think yet … dunno if i’ll ever be able to if this sickness never goes away … but if i do manage to get better, i will have to think of something … until then, i have no right to condemn any effort that’s being made. so yay to pink chaddis or chaddis of any color there is.
hmm i am sounding quite lifeless, arent i! :)
I’m with you– ignore.
Much improved blog title!
thanks to you, m’lord. :)
hey you still not ok? is it some stomach flu? :( I would suggest getting some tests done. Are you running fever/loosies? hope you feel better soon. Hugs
Hey, hope you feel better.
about the pink chaddi campaign, It is meant for people who can not think rationally, people who aren’t ready to give women a chance before they drag and beat them up. So to the irrational, who one can not argue with, you do something just to irritate them while we have fun.
hi sunita!! thanks, hun.
i can understand the us having fun part but i am not sure if irritating them would be productive in any manner. if it is just for fun sake, yay! i am in! :)
Get well soon!
Am all for a lil non-violent fun while putting the message across…because i think silliness is the remedy for silliness..
Anyway the cultural sena has retorted with promises of sending sarees in exchange..so a pretty good bargain I say ;)
hehehe wsw … can we put in orders in advance regarding the color we want?
an intersting take on the campaign.. i guess each of us has a diff approach .. the intentions behind the campaign wud have been the best…lets see the result it yields..
get a second opinion.. seriously..how can the doc still not know wats wrong?
mandi: i am convinced i know what it is … piper confirmed. so i think i’ll take this course of antibiotics. let’s hope it fixes itself. mc. sorry i swore. hehehe
Pink Chaddi blues seem worthy, but i agree with u on them aggravating n providing reasons on a platter for the party to take up in defense.
And why u to be so sick still???? :(
if no good docs available, i’ll crochet u a doc! He might not diagnose, but he’ll surely crack u up!!! Laughter cures yet another ailing soul! :D
Hope ur next blog’s on how good health can bounce back just as it bounded away!
awwwwwww CS!! That was the cutest ever!!! :)))) i was just a fool not to take my meds properly i think … and not seeing a doc in time … infection has flared up is all (or so I hope) …. it’s tough to control when it gets out of hand. well, lesson learned. i’ve never taken antibiotics before in my life. this was my first and surely learned big! :(
Have linked your post on my blog, I wrote about the campaign. I disagree with you about the discourse. one cannot discuss things with goons. They can only be humiliated and laughed at.
and they’d laugh back ? :/ I dunno, ally. I hope you are right though and I am wrong cuz I really don’t have an alternative solution. :/
I really hope you get well soon, Roop!
me tooo, N. :(
Campaign or no campaign, what I am amused and happy about is the message & philosophy u gave’…..Best approach always is to swallow anger, think rationally and proceed with discourse in a manner that the opposing party is left with no reason to react aggressively’. I have not read a better sentence in the entire blog. Impressed… totally. Even “God” has found some mention here, it’s amazing.
hehe Mahesh: ur happiness does spill over! i wish it was contagious cuz i sure culd use some at the mo. :D thanks for the smiles!
Interestingly, for some reason or the other, the campaign appears entirely focused towards the pub incident and not the one where a Hindu girl and a Muslim boy were attacked for having spoken to each other.
I think they are focused against Muthalik and Ram Sena … who happen to be behind both incidents. I could be wrong of course.
Roop,
Please do get better soon.
As for the pink chaddi campaign, they are giving the issue the seriousness it deserves! I’d say the issue is serious but we’re showing the Sena that it made no difference to us. There also lies the fact that if the Sena wore the chaddis maybe, just maybe, they’d learn what it is to be a woman and respect her. The chaddis have already served their purpose halfway-Muthalik is engaging in non-violent protest by means of the saris! :)
kriti: thanks darl … i must say though that i am indeed digging the sari idea! haha for that i’d surely send in a shipment of the pinkest of pink undergarments i can find at VS hehe.
Hi Roop, Hope you’re better now. Maybe you should ge a second opinion?
I agree with your point of view on this. Somehow I don’t see this campaign having an impact on these men. But the press coverage it’s getting will hopefully draw attention to the people in the government and help initiate dialogues and actions against such outfits. Here’s my take on it – eager to know what you think – http://mysticmargarita.blogspot.com/2009/02/sisterhood-of-traveling-pink-panties.html
Heya Roop,
I support the cause more for what it represents rather than the tactic. I agree that chaddies in itself is a huge thing and probably one to make an impact. Publicity stunt yes? Just to grab the attention of the junta as such that there are women out there that oppose the moral policing and through that every oppressive gesture made to them. You feel uncomfortable talking and thinking about chaddies – a lot of people feel the same way when it comes to hearing about the abuse of women in the name of tradition and culture. That’s my take.
“i must say though that i am indeed digging the sari idea! ”
But then that won’t serve the purpose simply because that’s want the goons want. Women wear saree, sit at home and make hot chapathis.
Chaddi is bold but it was needed to humiliate these moral policing weirdos. Google and see Muthalik is pinked for ever.
Next time any Khaki wearer will think at least twice before coming up with idiotic sanskriti talk.
And Roopie – please get better soon :)
Hey, get well soon.
I know Pink chaddi will never really do much, but yet its something someone has taken initiatve for. Even if I dont do anything for it, it has my support. I am sure thi symbolic protest will not even be understood by these uneducated goons. I will not pull it down, I guess I have written this comment somewherelse on blogosphere as well. :)
roop how are u now? still sick… gosh take care
Get well soon, buddy. Tisn’t nice to see u like this :-(
Bounce back to your bubbly self soon.
Hey Roop,
I feel this pink chaddi campaign is like the spell “Ridikulous” (I think) in Harry Potter books.
A bogart takes the shape of whatever you fear the most and the way to vanquish it to conjure up a silly image in your head. And when the bogart turns into that, laugh hard till it vanishes into thin air.
For me, that strangely makes sense.
It doesn’t seem to be a powerful campaign-Watch out you might get a new tag–pink chaddi–I agree with Roop-This is not something which is gowin to make any impact. It will bounce back-try something like reading abut cultural resistance and cultural pluralism,
I’ll just repeat the comment I left in Silvara’s blog–this is not perfect but we have to start somewhere right? Moving from victims to empowered people takes some doing.no?