‘Satyamev Jayate’: Brings back Nirbhaya to the fore

Gayatri Sankar

Mumbai: Aamir Khan has returned to the small screen with the second season of ‘Satyamev Jayate’, a television show that has managed to stir the national conscience. The actor raised a number of pertinent questions in the first season and continues to do so this season as well.The opening episode of the latest season of ‘Satyamev Jayate’ dealt with the most horrific crime against women - rape. The December 16, 2012, Delhi gang-rape of a paramedical student that shook the nation, was recalled on the show. Several other cases of gang-rape that happened across the nation were also brought to light, thereby substantiating the fact that there hasn’t been any change in the system since the horrific December gang-rape case in the capital. Parents of a victim, who was burnt alive after being gang-raped twice, spoke about police apathy and shared their tragic story with the nation. By not registering the FIR, the police denied them justice and ironically protected the culprits. The first segment helped the nation in learning the fact that FIR is a victim’s fundamental right and the police cannot refuse to lodge a complaint. The second segment of the show highlighted the immoral and insensitive approach of the medical authorities in the hospitals where women seek medical attention. The medical staff members have least sympathy for the victims. They try to evade the formalities of conducting an examination for collection of evidences by scaring the victim or insisting on a police complaint first. Under no circumstance can the hospital authorities deny medical aid and assistance to the victim. The show also brought out a startling fact that most victims, who succeed in reaching the threshold of the courts for justice, are often humiliated by the advocates. Their cases are fought by lawyers appointed by the government who rarely know the victim. The lawyer appointed by the culprit often humiliates the woman by asking her derogatory questions thereby multiplying her agony. Despite the Supreme Court’s order, advocates often resort to immoral ways of questioning the victim. And it only deepens the wounds a woman has sustained after the crime. And lastly, the final segment dealt with society’s attitude towards a victim. The victim is often alienated from the society. People at large and their mindset reflect what the society, the judiciary system thinks about a rape victim. And hence, in order to bring about a change, the society must evolve. The first episode of the second season of ‘Satyamev Jayate’ laid emphasis on having a strong judicial system that gives justice to victims of sexual harassment/rape without troubling them. Aamir even interacted with two rape victims, who chose to reveal their identities on the show and live life to the fullest yet again, thereby instilling hope in several other women who are living with similar wounds. The superstar actor has returned to the small screen with a mission of creating a louder noise against the system and the inadequacies it nurtures.