Kerala is witnessing its second spell of #MeToo; this time, the so-called intellectual bastions come crumbling down. Through social media, women have started coming out against activists in their trusted circles alleging sexual harassment and the revelations have sent shock waves across the state. The first one to open up was Arathi Renjith, a journalist, who, a week ago exposed Rupesh Kumar, a filmmaker, journalist and Dalit activist, for allegedly misbehaving with her during a trip to Tuticorin. That was just a trigger. It took no time to open the floodgates. Soon, Arathi was followed by many who lashed out against their sexual predators. Women such as writer Gargi Harithakam and a girl, the daughter of an imprisoned Maoist couple, revealed abusive experiences from their close acquaintances.
Perhaps the most chilling note came from the girl, who recounted her experience of being sexually abused when she was 16, by Rejesh Paul, an activist and a leader of Amanava Sangamam, while she was on a vist to his place during a summer vaccation. An excerpt from the post reads, “During every school vacation, I used to stay with Rejesh and family at their home in Kannur… One day, he broke down saying his life with his partner was hell and she was suspicious of me. One night, he tried to overpower me and when I reacted, he cried and apologised. I accepted it. There was no other person whom I trusted and loved to talk with, in those days. But during the next vacation, he sexually abused me and threatened that he had my photographs and would put those up on Facebook. For a 16-year-old, it was unbearable. I had even contemplated suicide.”
What comes as more shocking is that the girl had complained about the incident to many other activists, none of whom cared to support her or complaint, which is a clear violation of POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act, according to which anyone who has knowledge of child sexual abuse has the legal duty to report it.
Rejesh Paul
Arathi, who started the #MeToo campaign, by exposing Rupesh, explains their journey from Thiruvananthapuram to Tuticorin to cover the Sterlite protests during which their discussions about politics and life took an ugly turn when he told her that he chose to accompany her after seeing her profile photo. “This was the same man who speaks about women’s rights and Dalit representation in media organisations in Kerala. As time passed, his real face was being unmasked,” it reads. According to Arathi, at night, an inebriated Rupesh came to her to kiss and hug her, but when she protested, he claimed he needed love. When she yelled at him, he started crying and it ended. The next day, when she confronted Rupesh, his question was why she went with him (intending, if not for sex).
In a response to the post, Rupesh puts up an explanation and in a series of admissions, starts with agreeing that nearly all the accusations are true. He claims that he misbehaved with women. “I have chat with many women, flirted with a few, loved a few and have had sex with a few. But this can’t be allowed to be termed as violation. Yes, I have misbehaved with a few and I realise that,” he says, stressing on his ‘privilege’ as a Dalit activist and a social media activist.
There were more revelations, against an percussionist-actor and an sculptor, who were also accused of misbehaving with women. The posts were enough to kick up a storm as activists took sides with both the accused and the survivors. All those who have been expecting activists to uphold humanitarian principles and serve as a safe haven for the oppressed are dumbfounded by witnessing skeletons tumbling out one after another, crashing down the citadels of hope. Has the world been witnessing fake activism till now? “I don’t think so,” says Mini Sukumar, head, Department of Women Studies, University of Calicut “At one level, they are activists, but when it comes to intimate spaces, they behave like any other male. They resort to a moral high-handedness and make the young women in their circles believe that they are not free. More than their inability to understand the concept of consent, what they do is fixing a course on behaviour,” she feels.
“The issue is very grave because these male activists have no regard for a woman’s space and choice. They have utter disregard for liberal, feminist ideas because of this. The ones who get the most affected are these survivors, who have been fighting throughout their life with society and family. It’s the defence, trust and confidence of these women that get destroyed in the process,” says Mini, who appreciates the bold move by the survivors who speak out. Poet V.M. Girija sees it as the result of a woman’s tendency to be drawn into love and trust, especially when she is lonely. “That’s a prime tendency. Each war within and outside them leaves women lonely as they are away from their family, friends and colleagues. The fight is so strong they are not in a position to trust anybody, which is where these men activists enter and extend a helping hand. These fake activists soon gain their trust, which they misuse. Things become different when women think they are in love. The secrecy makes men secure and offers them a privileged position,” says Girija, who doesn’t state this it is a love-and-betrayal story, but her thoughts about the modus operandi of the oppressors. Activism, she stresses, must be transparent in all aspects.
Researcher Ardra N.G. doesn’t think that sexual predators are hiding behind the mask of activism. “There might be people who are genuine activists, scholars and genius artists. During my JNU days I have seen men who have created this space around them so that women could get appreciation, something which we lack. That’s what Rejesh Paul too did by creating an independent space for vulnerable women. We have always had a history of attractive masculinity of geniuses to mediocre men turning abusers, even before the virtual space. The only way, apart from legal intervention, is to stay guarded and cautious,” she feels. Ardra has no doubt that it’s a crucial moment. “Many woman Dalit activists and thinkers are rallying behind these survivors, unfriending these men and creating a comfortable atmosphere as part of offering political solidarity to these survivors. This coming together where they have been true to their identity as intellectuals creates a hopeful atmosphere. I appreciate the healing session being planned to create trust among them. It’s reassuring to see this great movement that has been absent till now,” she says.
