“On the occasion of the Kharat incident”

 

Nowadays, in Maharashtra and across the country, especially cases involving obscene videos of Marathi women are becoming widely discussed. First the Ashok Kharat case, then the Paratwada Mohammad Ayaz case, and just recently the Kolhapur incident. It seems unlikely that such cases will stop here, because there has been little visible effort to find the root causes behind them.

Today, women in our Marathi society have gained more freedom. But the question is—has this generation received the right values to use and enjoy that freedom responsibly? Are they capable of using it in a constructive way? Are parents explaining that facilities like mobile phones and vehicles are meant to increase productivity and capability? Are we telling girls that life is not meaningless if they do not have these things?

It is also important to note that women are often emotionally sensitive. At times, in an emotional moment, there is a possibility of making wrong decisions. Nowadays, in many Marathi households, not having money, a four-wheeler, grand events, birthday parties, flashy clothes, fireworks, or high-definition videos from multiple angles is being perceived as embarrassing. This creates a feeling of not being worthy of living. Due to such emerging psychological pressures, many girls are getting attracted towards fake and superficial happiness.

Some irresponsible men take advantage of this by showcasing fake wealth, looks, power, and fame, and end up trapping women. Today, instead of spending free time on reading, skill development, exercise, yoga, or exploring nature, many women are choosing activities like Facebook chatting, partying, makeup, making reels, and editing photos using apps.

That is why I raise this concern—have we really taught the coming generation how to use freedom and gadgets in a positive way? Are we, as a society, becoming mature? Are women mentally prepared to handle the personal exposure and overwhelming access to information that mobile phones bring?

Will women use their freedom for personality development, education, physical well-being, and skill development? Considering the surrounding environment, mental health issues, hormonal imbalances, and physical changes at different stages of life, are they receiving support from their families? Do they even ask for that support?

At different stages of life, does our society and family system have the ability to guide and fulfill their emotional needs in a healthy way? What are we doing about this?

These are important questions we must ask ourselves. Otherwise, such incidents are likely to keep increasing.

— Kedar Mukund Kulkarni