Virginity in Tamilnadu Vital to Tamil-hood

Journalist Swati Das of the Times of India advised readers not to speak the truth in Chennai – Madras for pro Brit people.


What does he mean? Well, the story started with what Indian movie star Khushboo had said. She is now in deep shitttttttt. 


She was detained but just allowed bail with an admonition from the judge for her to shutup. Even movies starring her have been banned or had her part clipped off.


Khushboo had said casually that men should no longer expect their brides to be virgins (what's that?). Then she gave good advice to youngsters to use protection when indulging in premarital sex, because of the danger of contacting AIDS.


This was what Das said of her remarks:

“Anywhere else, Khushboo would have been called an anti-AIDS spokesperson and perhaps even feted, but not Tamil Nadu with its insular politics and blinkered politicians.” 

“It was almost as if the state was being guided by some Taliban-type morality inspectors. Police have in recent weeks closed a star hotel after local papers published pictures of a private party where couples were seen kissing, and hauled up other couples just walking in parks." 

"Over a year ago, a few women poets were lambasted by their male colleagues for writing about women's sexuality. One said these women should be slapped!”

Suddenly Khushboo found that there were 25 defamation cases against her for suggesting to men not to expect their brides to be virgins. Das lamented that as ‘cultural ayatollahs’, courts and police hounded Khushboo, there were very few people in Tamil Nadu who was ready to defend her and her freedom of speech.


However another actress, Suhasini did, apologising to Khushboo on behalf of the Tamil people, but subsequently found she was subjected to the same harrassment by Tamilnadu's cultural ayatollahs'. The pressure was so punishing that she was forced to withdraw her support for Kushboo and instead apologise to Chennai's film industry.


Das pointed out that the Congress Party lacks balls as well (actually he put it in a less colourful manner). He noted that Jayanti Natarajan, a party leader, merely said that people have a right to express their views but Khushboo shouldn’t have hurt a section of people [this having-it-two-ways reminds me of PAS stand with regards to the slaying of Dr Azahari].


Das condemned the Indian media (apart from The Times of India) for remaining largely mute during the controversy instead of providing balanced information.


Das said two political parties, Patali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and Dalit Panthers of India (DPI) have equated chastity (meaning virgin brides and no premarital sex) to Tamil-hood. Hence these Tamil Talibans went for the jugulars of liberal-minded people like Khushboo and Suhasini.


Yes, it happened in India, the world's largest democracy.