Can we understand men and their masculinity without comprehending honour?
On the 28 th of May the Prime Minister inaugurated the new Parliament House in India to both accolades and criticisms. But the news of the wrestlers’ protests also dominated the media. For a month the elite wrestlers of the country had been demanding in vain action against the chief of the wrestling federation for several acts of sexual harassment including against minors. Even though there are strict laws against such acts, the authorities have been loath to act, as the person concerned is a senior ruling party legislator and seems to enjoy social and political immunity. This is nothing new in a deeply entrenched patriarchy like ours. Complaints of sexual harassment especially of child sex abuse are routinely shushed up by the family, to protect their own family honour, and the victim is often accused of making it all up or misinterpreting an ‘innocent’ gesture of affection. Many times, she is made to feel guilty for providing some form of ‘temptation’. In this case too, the situatio...