I am terribly sorry but I would like to respectfully disagree with Dr. Gandhy, on many counts but especially on her remarks and advice to the woman who came to her and told her that she had been raped by a politician. (26:00 onwards)

Dr. Gandhy says she left it on the woman the decision of whether to go to the police or not, by broaching issues such as “will you be able to handle it?” “What about your family, your children?” “If you do take it up, then you must take it up for every woman who has been raped” (My quotes). Furthermore, she told her to forget about it, and went on to more or less blame her for it as she did not listen to her “inner voice” that should have warned her of the impending rape.

May I now say that I don’t just respectfully disagree with her, I am aghast.

I am not sure as I am not a lawyer, but the only mechanism by which the Dr Gandhy can escape criminal culpability here is through doctor-patient confidentiality, much like a priest’s confession conundrum. Otherwise, at least in my book, not reporting a rape, especially when the raped woman has narrated the horrific crime not under duress, is a criminal offence. And patient-doctor confidentiality doesn’t apply here as the doctor herself has narrated the incident.

Secondly, she advises suffering women to be like Sita – in other words take the injustice with dignity. “Raise your children so that they may one day slowly change things and help the oppressor realize his crimes/injustices” (My quotes again from roughly what I heard the doctor say).

Since when did dignity mean compromise? If at all one must look for a female role model from mythology, let it be Durga.

A little words here about Madhu if I may – knowing her I am certain she’ll take it in the right spirit.

Soon after the doctor told Madhu about the fact that she blamed the raped woman for not listening to her inner voice, that, in her opinion would have saved her from rape, Madhu asked the doctor a pertinent question: “The lady who got on the bus three months ago also didn’t listen to her inner voice, that probably cautioned her not to climb onto the bus in which five monsters were waiting for her. Was it her fault that she got raped?” (My quotes again).

But I’m afraid Madhu wasn’t riled enough by the preposterous logic of doctor Gandhy – if she had been, she would not have spared her.

Twenty years ago the same Madhu had interviewed Memom – the interview that I watched recently on HT. She was relentless and she didn’t spare him and she asked the most difficult of questions and what’s more based her subsequent
questions on his unsatisfactory answers. It was a sight to behold, and I dare say I haven’t seen an interview of that quality on Indian television ever.

That same madhu was needed here, I’m afraid.

I do hope Dr. Gandhy, if she get to read this comment, takes it in the right spirit of debate and reflects upon it. It is not meant to be disparaging in any way.

Ram (The Raja Rama)’s example is for the politician on how personal gratification is below the public.
Sita took the decision of leaving Raja Ram not the Ram the husband.
Cross the “rekha”: was to keep the raghu vansh’s riti of not rejecting or giving alms to the Brahman.
I agree with Anand (below) to take example of Durga or Kali and not keep saying Sitaji the victim!!