Striking irony

#Striking #irony

The brutal rape and killing of the two young girls at Valayaar shocked the conscience of society, yet the public outrage and organised agitation that followed were far less intense compared to the protests triggered by the assault on a well-known cinema actress. This discrepancy raises uncomfortable questions about the selective sensitivity of certain activist groups. 

When the victims are poor, voiceless children from marginalised backgrounds, the response seems muted. But when the survivor is a public figure with visibility and media reach, the same organisations suddenly become hyperactive. This unequal response suggests a partisan approach where the identity of the victim, rather than the severity of the crime, becomes the yardstick for concern.

It is undeniable that publicity plays a major role in shaping modern-day agitations. Some activists appear more eager to engage when a case offers media coverage, public attention, and political mileage. The tragedy of Valayaar did not receive the sustained spotlight that a celebrity-related case naturally attracts, and thus failed to energise the same voices that otherwise claim to fight for women’s rights universally.

The irony is striking. Activism itself seems influenced by visibility, and not by the magnitude of suffering. This selective outrage exposes a troubling truth. that in the arena of public protest, even human rights issues can be overshadowed by the lure of attention and relevance.

K. A Solaman