The logic is that if you want to generate unusual interest in something, you first have to prohibit its distribution.
History is not lacking in books and films banned by several countries for being offensive. Some of them are works of literature, branded obscene for their explicit sexual content. Some are movies depicting ominous situations or making caricatures out of supposedly revered individuals.
And then you have documentaries like India’s Daughter, scheduled to be aired on the BBC Channel tomorrow, March 8 – the International Day for Women — but was banned by a New Delhi court earlier this week. Police feared that since it contained offensive remarks towards women, it could cause a public outcry.
India’s Daughter is an hour-long film by British filmmaker Leslee Udwin. It talks about the rape and eventual death of 23-year-old medical student Jyoti Singh in December 2012. Jyoti, who had just come from a mall after seeing a movie with her male friend, was raped inside a moving bus. She and her friend, who was likewise beaten by the assailants, were later thrown onto the side of the road.
Following widespread protests from women’s and youth groups and global condemnation, four of the six rapists were sentenced to death. One, a juvenile, was given three years in prison and is due for release in December, while another rapist committed suicide before trial began. The four men in death row are appealing their sentence.
The film contains interviews with Jyoti’s parents, with one of the rapists – bus driver Mukesh Singh – the families and lawyers of the rapists, among others. In his interview with the filmmaker, Mukesh does not show remorse. He instead blames the victim for being out so late at night and for putting up a fight with her rapists. If she had not fought, he implied she might still be alive. He said a girl always has more responsibility for a rape than the boy who rapes her.
Further, the documentary exposes the pervading mindset in India about girls and women being expected to dress and behave in a certain way, and about what must be done with them if they violated such norms. Jyoti’s parents, by these standards, are mavericks. They sent their daughter to school and allowed her certain freedoms that others would deem unthinkable.
In response, Indian authorities have threatened legal action against the BBC, asked YouTube to ban the film and proposed an inquiry into how Udwin was able to gain access to Tihar Jail, where Mukesh is held. They also said Udwin broke the terms of her agreement with prison officials when she aired the interview.
BBC, however, showed the documentary on Wednesday. It is now available online.
There is interest because of the ban; even without it, however, the message it delivers and the questions it asks are powerful in themselves.
This is not for whatever controversial graphic content the film might carry. This is, instead, so that we may be enlightened: While different cultures have different ways of viewing things, there are issues and questions that will be universal, regardless of from where one is speaking.
It does not pay to ban. In this age of information, open information and free discourse, it would be, as what some societies say – unnatural.