#MeToo: Dear harassers, just because it's quiet doesn't mean you're off the hook

Pulled back by fear, threatened by smear, prospective harm to career and lacking legal care had resulted in the victimization of women over the past several years, especially at workplace. 

Women may have finally acquired the right and freedom to work, but in a safe environment? Debatable! 

Women, have more often than not, in order to achieve what they want, have been asked to 'compromise'. 

While some women, at the cost of their career, walked away from undignified situations, others fell prey to it, while some others survived it, but none of them never really opened up about it.

However recently, the world witnessed the motivation women derived in the country from actress Tanushree Dutta who accused actor Nana Patekar of sexually harassing her while shooting a special song on the sets of 2008 film Horn OK Pleasss.

But these accusations were said to be nothing but a publicity stunt by a not-so-famous personality. 

After all who could believe a 'woman's' story after a 'decade'?

"People said I am doing this for publicity. If I did want publicity, I would have gone ahead with the song and later performed it for stage shows. But I chose to walk away," Tanushree Dutta said. 

But this spirit with which Tanushree came out and spoke about her ordeal, fanned the vanity bonfire. 

Several women found courage in the actress' words and actions. They then chose to not walk away and stay mum, but instead address their fear, even if anonymously.

After all what more can the society do other than defame them!

Director-writer Vinita Nanda too later accused an actor of raping her. Even though she didn't name the actor in the harrowing account she shared on her Facebook page, every word she jotted, pointed at the 'sanskari babuji' Alok Nath.

Soon, accusations from several women started snowballing.

But what was shocking about these outpourings was that the incidents were an open secret and the perpetrators were predators known but unleashed.

By this time, Bollywood biggies including Vikas Bahl, Sajid Khan, Kailash Kher, Mukesh Chhabra, Subhash Kapoor and several others were named as alleged harassers. 

Comedians Utsav Chakraborty and Gursimran Khamba were also called out.

A string of other film and media personalities came under the #MeToo spectrum as well. 

But nothing about other industries came to the fore including other Indian film industries, considering how a few months back a few southern actors were named alleged  perpetrators. 

However, as far as Bollywood and media is considered, things heated up, and looked like #MeToo movement had finally arrived in India. 

In fact, parallels were drawn between India and United State's #MeToo campaign.

But the striking difference between the campaigns in both these countries is that strong steps were taken against the accused abroad, while here only a few names stood in support of the victims, including Aamir Khan who refused to work with any perpetrator alleged or otherwise. He even opted out of a film in lieu of such charges. 

A list of ace women filmmakers including Meghna Gulzar, Zoya Akhtar, Kiran Rao, Nandita Das, among others pledged to never work with any person who was found guilty.

Even CINTAA suspended Sajid Khan for year.

But is this enough? 

Now, even the #MeToo waves that were once soaring, have hit the hay. While predators have been named, no substantial legal action has been taken against them.

Media channels too have taken a backseat as accusers and accused take on their battle.

Certain norms and laws too have caused hindrance in punishing the harasser (mental or physical). 

Wondering with the torch bearer of the movement, Tanushree Dutta gone back to US, and the campaign cold stoned, what the final discourse be like?
      
The #MeToo wave, even if short lived, has been a feminist wave which gave voice of courage and determination to several women, and even men.

Whether this movement has a far-reaching implication or not, it certainly challenged the status quo, and with names of 'biggies' finally called out, a deterrent of sorts has surfaced for exploitative men or people with power.

Harassers now have a fair idea of the fact that if they attack, they will be wounded too.

While time will only indicate whether India's #MeToo movement will gain momentum and carry on robustly, just the way it started; whether the predators be punished and victims get justice, we would like to believe that a meaningful change has struck a modern, pragmatic India- the land where women are worshipped.