Is India Tolerant of Feminist Protests?

Freedom of expression is a broad concept that cannot be explained simply. Expression includes what we speak, what we eat, how we react, what we wear, and much more. When I set out for work, I look into the mirror and decide what to wear; I just wear it. My loved ones express opinions, but they don’t dictate. If I don’t have something, I buy it with just a click on any shopping app. Irrespective of whether I am a working woman or a homemaker, I admit, I am blessed. I chose my educational path, I chose my career, I chose my life partner, I chose to quit work for kids, I chose to resume my profession, I chose what I eat, I decided what I wear. However, many are not blessed to have the independence to even make basic decisions in life. Being born and brought up in India, more so in Mumbai, my upbringing and broad-minded family allow me the freedom to express, decide, and protest.

As the theory of relativity rightly explains, compared to some countries, India is relatively a safe place for women who can raise their voices and still hope to lead a safe life. Especially in comparison to some Islamic countries where women do not even breathe without a man’s permission, India seems much more tolerant. In some countries like Iran, Dubai, and Pakistan, women are so suppressed that their frustration either finds a drastic path to explode into the world of freedom or they choose the most uncomfortable paths to feel relieved. In countries like Syria, women may look up to the women in Iran and Afghanistan who dare to protest. A recent example of an Iranian female student who was arrested after she stripped in protest against alleged assault by security guards over an improper hijab. Many countries witness horrible repercussions for women after they raise their voices. Some countries give them the right to express themselves freely by law, while others don’t. Many women like Malala Yusufzai have paid a huge price for objecting to the norms. Movements against the oppression of women in Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and many such Islamic countries are not new to our knowledge. Some women chose to protest, after which they faced horrible consequences from the moral policing monitors, while others unknowingly fell prey to mob lynching after their attire didn’t match the ideology of the fanatics. For example, just a few months ago, in early 2024, Syeda Shehrbano Naqvi of Pakistan saved a teenage girl in Lahore from falling prey to horrible consequences after an angry mob accused her of blasphemy after mistaking the Arabic calligraphy printed on her dress for verses from the Quran.

Some women lack the courage to defy societal norms and openly seek discreet ways to fulfill their desires. Mumbai-based photographer Veena Gokhale shared how a Sheikh's daughter in Dubai secretly hired her for a bikini photoshoot, expressing her frustration with always being fully covered."

While I’m grateful for my freedom, it’s too simplistic to generalise India’s approach to women. Many areas still dictate what women must do. Not a single day the sun sets without bringing unfortunate news of a woman or a child being harassed, raped, or murdered in India. Women's safety has long been a concern across both cities and villages in India. Safety concerns keep many women from relocating to the national capital. Children face harassment in school vans. From domestic violence and dowry deaths to gang rapes and daily harassment in crowded spaces, women in India constantly struggle to lead a safe, healthy life of their choice. So, the question remains: what is the difference between India and these oppressive countries? The difference is that India's approach to the protests raised was in contrast to that of others. Take the classic example of the 2008 protest by a young lady in Gujarat. It was the same way of protest that the Iranian girl chose. 22-year-old Pooja Chouhan had taken to the streets of Rajkot in undergarments in protest against police inaction in arresting her husband and in-laws who were allegedly abusing her mentally and physically over dowry demands. Was she killed or arrested after that? The answer is no. Rajkot police arrested Chouhan’s husband and others involved and initiated a probe into her grievances within 24 hours of her protest. She chose to take an extreme step to be heard, and her voice was heard. While India has a long way to go in ensuring equal rights for women and safety for women in all corners of its landscape, India’s legal system has allowed India to be tolerant of thoughts and counter thoughts that pave the way to break age-old stereotypes.