A Sex Scandal That Exposes Power Abuse and Patriarchy
Several accusations of sexual abuse have been levelled against Prajwal Revanna, a prominent member of the Janata Dal (Secular) and grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, in Karnataka. Reports from various sources describe a troubling pattern of alleged rape, voyeurism and privacy breaches, suggesting systemic patriarchal misconduct within political circles.
Suffering of Women in Manipur’s Ethnic Violence
Women are often disproportionately affected during communal violence in India; their bodies become battlegrounds for expressing power, domination and revenge among conflicting groups. This not only highlights the gender inequality but also underscores the societal norms that perpetuate violence against women in this country, as we recently witnessed in Manipur.
Supreme Court Gives Justice to Rape Survivor Bilkis Bano
Bilkis Bano, who endured a gang rape while five months pregnant and witnessed the murder of 14 family members, including her 3-year-old daughter, in Gujarat in 2002, expresses relief, stating she can finally “breathe” again. This follows the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the premature release of the 11 convicts, a release previously sanctioned by the Gujarat government.
The Struggle Beyond the Mat in Indian Sports
The ousting of the Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment allegations, followed by the election of his close aide as the new president, is a narrative deeply intertwined with the challenges faced by athletes in a system where political power often overshadows gender justice and sporting merit.