TNN | Jan 31, 2013, 04.15 AM IST
KOLKATA: Eminent feminist and literary theorist Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak expressed her deep anguish at what she termed the "culture of rape" at the Kolkata Literary Meet on Wednesday.
The brutal rape and death of Nirbhaya seems to have shaken Spivak. On Wednesday, she equated this with an essential erosion of ethics that has enveloped us and looked for long-term solutions to this evil in a thought-provoking discussion with scholar Chinmoy Guha.
Spivak spoke at the Sunil Gangopadhyay memorial session, where she likened him to a world poet. After reading out a poem from 'Ami Kirokom Bhabe Beche Achi' by Gangopadhyay, she went on to explain how he constructed and de-constructed life and its philosophy, making the reader ponder deep about existence in its many facets.
Taking off from this point, Spivak wove her argument and spoke about several wrongs against women and, as a result, against humanity. "Human rights are women's rights...," she repeated one of her most-acclaimed lines.
"It was such a ghastly case of rape and torture. I found the reaction wanting. There was a sort of aloofness. I was reminded what one of Bengal's best known communists had once said: 'Such things happen'. There was a show of urban radical outrage, but that is certainly not enough to bring about the change that is needed," Spivac said.
In characteristic fashion, Spivak struck at the roots of our existing value system. She donned the philosopher's hat and said there needed to be a paradigm shift, and that would be possible only through training the soul and mind through proper education.
She went on to say that India is about to adopt a culture where Wal-mart would be a reality soon. "I cannot identify with this culture." Calling herself a pure Bengali who takes care to work at her Bengali, Spivak said she had noticed a complete disregard for the language among the community. "This picturises an erosion of ethics and we need to take better care," she said.
Link: We are harbouring a culture of rape: Spivak
The brutal rape and death of Nirbhaya seems to have shaken Spivak. On Wednesday, she equated this with an essential erosion of ethics that has enveloped us and looked for long-term solutions to this evil in a thought-provoking discussion with scholar Chinmoy Guha.
Spivak spoke at the Sunil Gangopadhyay memorial session, where she likened him to a world poet. After reading out a poem from 'Ami Kirokom Bhabe Beche Achi' by Gangopadhyay, she went on to explain how he constructed and de-constructed life and its philosophy, making the reader ponder deep about existence in its many facets.
Taking off from this point, Spivak wove her argument and spoke about several wrongs against women and, as a result, against humanity. "Human rights are women's rights...," she repeated one of her most-acclaimed lines.
"It was such a ghastly case of rape and torture. I found the reaction wanting. There was a sort of aloofness. I was reminded what one of Bengal's best known communists had once said: 'Such things happen'. There was a show of urban radical outrage, but that is certainly not enough to bring about the change that is needed," Spivac said.
In characteristic fashion, Spivak struck at the roots of our existing value system. She donned the philosopher's hat and said there needed to be a paradigm shift, and that would be possible only through training the soul and mind through proper education.
She went on to say that India is about to adopt a culture where Wal-mart would be a reality soon. "I cannot identify with this culture." Calling herself a pure Bengali who takes care to work at her Bengali, Spivak said she had noticed a complete disregard for the language among the community. "This picturises an erosion of ethics and we need to take better care," she said.
Link: We are harbouring a culture of rape: Spivak
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