In the wake of rise in crimes against women and the ‘me too’ fallout, author and journalist Meghna Pant stressed on the importance of speaking up against injustice. “The state and the legal system are not always friends of women in India. We must raise our voices and nothing can silence us, not even injustice,” she said, at the Jaipur Literature Festival.
While legal course might not always yield the desired results, it is important to raise one’s voice to give courage to other women, she said.
Despite the Supreme Court’s direction allowing the entry of women into the Sabarimala shrine, Kerala continues to be on the boil. Condemning the violence inflicted on women who attempted entering the temple, Meghna said that the law of the land is often not respected in India.
Me Too: ‘When Legal Course Fails, Social Justice Is the Way Forward’
“The rich, powerful and privileged men have been given impunity in our country for centuries and it will take a long time for us to overturn that,” Meghna said, on justice for survivors in the ‘me too’ movement.
When legal justice does not take its course, social justice is the way forward, she said, stressing on the importance of women coming forward to support one another.
Talking about abusive relationships, Meghna said, sometimes women don’t realise when they are are in it. “I was stripped of my self worth and self confidence when I was in an abusive relationship,” she said, throwing light on her experience. No matter who the person is, get out of it and save yourself; there is always a way out, she added.
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