BY SONAM MIRPURI
LOS ANGELES,CA-‘India’s Daughter’ is a documentary based on the 2012 Delhi gang rape of Jyoti Singh who was beaten, raped, and tortured as well as the movement for women’s rights which was catalyzed by the event and her death. The story was part of an ongoing BBC series called ‘Storyville.’ India’s Daughter directed...
LOS ANGELES,CA-‘India’s Daughter’ is a documentary based on the 2012 Delhi gang rape of Jyoti Singh who was beaten, raped, and tortured as well as the movement for women’s rights which was catalyzed by the event and her death. The story was part of an ongoing BBC series called ‘Storyville.’ India’s Daughter directed...
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by Leslee Udwin was recently screened here.After the screening Venice Arts and Women’s Voices Now held a question and answer session with the director moderated by actor and activist Roopashree Jeevaji. Women’s Voices Now is an organization which advocates for gender equality worldwide through the power of film, writing, and art.It works continuously to inspire and challenge women and men to overcome obstacles in the advancement of women. Heidi Basch-Harod the Executive Director of Women’s Voices Now is based in Rolling Hills Estates, California.
Every rape that occurs is a horrific crime. However, it was not the rape itself that brought the director to India, it was the response from the citizens against the horrific incident. “It wasn’t the rape that took me there, it was the protests. India … the only country in my lifetime that has stood up with so much exemplary passion to cry enough is enough,” said Udwin in response to Jeevaji as to why she choose this particular rape case to make the documentary.
The responses to this film have mainly been positive; unfortunately there are some individuals who choose to stay stuck in their mentalities that may need to change. “Most people find the film moving and shocking and enraging and it invariably encourages them to become activists or at least not to put up with this devaluation of women and girls any longer,” said Udwin.
‘India’s Daughter’ was made with many hopes and goals. It was to give an outlet of expression to the protestors on the streets who knew it was time for a change and wanted to make a difference.
“To join the protests and to amplify the voices of those extraordinary Indian men and women who poured onto the streets,” said Udwin as to why she made this movie. Additionally, she hoped that this film would create a change in how society treats women as second class citizens. “With this documentary viewers need to recognize that it is all about perspective and that it needs to change,”she emphasized. “I hope they will understand that rape stems from a mindset of gender inequality and that the only way to stop violence against women is to change that mindset,” said Udwin.
Calling the men that commit such crimes monsters does not help the situation. It is our duty to teach every individual how to treat every other person with the respect that they want for themselves. “These men believe what their socio-cultural thinking has taught them and they act accordingly. We should stop dealing with the fallout of the problem, after the fact, and start tackling the root cause. And we can only do that through systemic and serious education of values when children are young enough to be cognitively modifiable,” said Udwin. ‘India’s Daughter’ ends on a hopeful note from Badri Singh, Jyoti’s father, who hopes that his daughter becomes an example. “Jyoti has become a symbol. In death she has lit such a torch that not only this country, but the whole world lit up. But at the same time, she posed a question… ‘What is the meaning of a woman? How is she looked upon by society today?’ And I wish that whatever darkness there is in this world it should be dispelled by this jyot (light).”
Every rape that occurs is a horrific crime. However, it was not the rape itself that brought the director to India, it was the response from the citizens against the horrific incident. “It wasn’t the rape that took me there, it was the protests. India … the only country in my lifetime that has stood up with so much exemplary passion to cry enough is enough,” said Udwin in response to Jeevaji as to why she choose this particular rape case to make the documentary.
The responses to this film have mainly been positive; unfortunately there are some individuals who choose to stay stuck in their mentalities that may need to change. “Most people find the film moving and shocking and enraging and it invariably encourages them to become activists or at least not to put up with this devaluation of women and girls any longer,” said Udwin.
‘India’s Daughter’ was made with many hopes and goals. It was to give an outlet of expression to the protestors on the streets who knew it was time for a change and wanted to make a difference.
“To join the protests and to amplify the voices of those extraordinary Indian men and women who poured onto the streets,” said Udwin as to why she made this movie. Additionally, she hoped that this film would create a change in how society treats women as second class citizens. “With this documentary viewers need to recognize that it is all about perspective and that it needs to change,”she emphasized. “I hope they will understand that rape stems from a mindset of gender inequality and that the only way to stop violence against women is to change that mindset,” said Udwin.
Calling the men that commit such crimes monsters does not help the situation. It is our duty to teach every individual how to treat every other person with the respect that they want for themselves. “These men believe what their socio-cultural thinking has taught them and they act accordingly. We should stop dealing with the fallout of the problem, after the fact, and start tackling the root cause. And we can only do that through systemic and serious education of values when children are young enough to be cognitively modifiable,” said Udwin. ‘India’s Daughter’ ends on a hopeful note from Badri Singh, Jyoti’s father, who hopes that his daughter becomes an example. “Jyoti has become a symbol. In death she has lit such a torch that not only this country, but the whole world lit up. But at the same time, she posed a question… ‘What is the meaning of a woman? How is she looked upon by society today?’ And I wish that whatever darkness there is in this world it should be dispelled by this jyot (light).”
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