Holi, the colour of festivals, for women, has been nothing less than harassment.
However, this time the sense of entitlement has gone a notch higher and has taken a communal turn.
A TikTok video recently created buzz on social media where a man chases a burqa-clad woman to smear colours on her face.
“Chaahe naqaab pehan ke niklo bhaijaan ke sath, ragad ke rang lagega suno mohtarma seedhi baat” (Even if you go out in a veil with your brother, colours will be thrown at you. Just listen to this simple thing).
https://twitter.com/ayesha_minhaz/status/1235995749109788672
A burqa, words like mohtarma and bhaijaan to make the intentions very clear.
Afterall burqa, mohtarma and bhaijaan are the signifiers of Muslim women. Stereotyped much!
However, the misogyny does not end with this bigoted video.
Some social media users shared the video and openly called for the molestation of Muslim women in much-romanticized pop culture words.
Mainstream Bollywood has, over the years, normalized this kind of harassment by showing the male lead running after the female lead with colours.
While, the lyrics blaring out in the background in male voice will be about drenching the woman in colour.
And of course they also mention of her clothes like “dupatta and blouse.”
Twitterati criticized the molestation with Muslim women and demands for the safe environment during festivals.
Unfortunately this kind of account will not be suspended because I believe tweeter also welcome the gunda gardi.and other hand pleas watch the video closely if the man is abusing the burkha girl then why she smiling and playing holiday with the man?that part is gray area?
— Sofia_0721 (@Sufia0721) March 6, 2020
no woman is safe on holi, doesnt matter which religion n what they wear. bitter truth.
— Monica Sharma (@Indian_ByChoice) March 6, 2020
I am getting too tired of this hindu v/s muslim narrative. Wasn't on board to start with. But now…this narrative is being used to encourage & get away with all kinds of crimes by some people
Sad part:
•No one is looking beyond narrative
•A fellow human is being abused— Somya Mishra (@SomyaMi27373408) March 6, 2020
https://twitter.com/WhatTheFuckErie/status/1236126802969604099
https://twitter.com/Rehan57439591/status/1236041384823525384
@Twitter @TwitterIndia @MinistryWCD
kindly block this account— asad.ijardar (@AsadIjardar) March 6, 2020
@MumbaiPolice @DelhiPolice @CPDelhi @CPMumbaiPolice
they are provoking people to molest Muslim women on the women's day ,
is that right ok or will be any action take against hate monger like this
we lost 53 lifes because of hate ,— Er. Peer (@PeerMDAnsari) March 7, 2020
